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Kurukshetra
Population : 641,943
Languages : Hindi, English
Best time to Visit : October to March
STD Code : 01744
Kurukshetra is situated in the north Indian state of Haryana.
The name Kurukshetra was originally given to an area covered
by 48 kosas (an Indian form of measuring land) where 860 places
of pilgrimage related to the Mahabharata exist today. Extending
between 29.97°N and 76.85°E, Kurukshetra is in the district
of Karnal, about 150 km northwest of Delhi.
Climatically, Kurukshetra has three major seasons. The summer
season (April–June) raises the mercury to as high as 110°F.
Rainy season is from July to September. The average annual
rainfall is 58 cm. Winter months are from October to March,
when the temperature dips to as low as 40°F. This is the best
season to visit Kurukshetra.
Places of Interest
Among the holiest of water tanks in India, the Brahma Sarovar
is an important place to visit in Kurukshetra. It is the cradle
of Indian civilization because Lord Brahma, the Creator of
the Universe, conceived the Earth here. The tank has been
renovated and it measures 8600 ´ 1500 feet. Its growing feature
is a small but highly sacred temple that stands within the
Sarovar devoted to Lord Mahadev. A dip in the Sarovar bears
the sanctity of performing Ashwamedha Yajna, which, the scriptures
say, absolves one of all the sins. The months of November
and December are the time when migratory birds flock around
Brahma Sarovar and add an exhilarating environmental setting
to the sanctity of the place.
Sannihit Sarovar is yet another sacred water tank.
It measures 1500 ´ 450 feet and is considered to be the permanent
abode of Lord Vishnu. Legend has it that hundreds of years
ago people, burdened by their sins, sought help from the Lord.
At this, the Lord said “On the days of Amavasyas (nights of
total darkness) or on the days of an eclipse, if you collect
the water of Sannihit tank, your sins will be absolved.” Ever
since, the tank has been the venue of millions of devotees
who perform the Ashwamedha Yajna. The Kumbh Mela is yet another
major event related to the legendary Sannihit Sarovar. There
are also temples of Vishnu, Druv Bhagat, Laxmi Narayan, Lord
Hanuman and the Mother Goddess besides the Sannihit Sarovar.
It is believed that Lord Krishna had taken a dip in the Sarovar
after the battle of Mahabharata.
A few gurdwaras at Kurukshetra have acquired great sanctity
and have become places of pilgrimage. The site where Guru
Nanak stayed is now worshipped as Gurdwara Sadbhiti.
Another gurdwara stands besides it where the sixth Guru Har
Gobind stayed during a visit. Again, the ninth Guru, Shri
Tegh Bahadur stayed at a spot near the Sthaneshwar Tirtha
that is marked by a gurdwara. Another prominent gurdwara called
Raj Ghat is devoted to the memory of the tenth Guru, Gobind
Singh.
SITES NEARBY
Near Kurukshetra, Thanesar is a sacred town for Hindus
because the Shiva in the form of linga (organ) was first worshipped
here. Kuru, the Kauravas and Pandavas’ ancestors meditated
on the banks of the Yamuna and Parasurama killed many Kshatriyas
here. King Harsha was born here, ascended the throne at the
age of 16 and ruled for 41 years, sharing his seat of power
with his widowed sister whom he had rescued from Sati (self-immolation).
During his rule, the renowned Chinese traveler Huen Tsang
lived in Thanesar for a number of years and Bana Bhatt, the
celebrated Sanskrit scholar, met Harsha here.
Sultan Muhammad plundered the city in ad 1014, destroyed most
of its temples and carried away as much gold as he could.
Akbar brought peace, but Aurangzeb just messed things up for
the Hindus because it was a sacred place for them. The tomb
of Sheikh Chilhi Jalal is a fascinating monument, octagonal
in shape, crowned with a dome of white marble and surrounded
by a white marble courtyard. Tourists may also check out Chini
Masjid and Pathar Masjid, two outstanding monuments built
in the Mughal architectural style.
Twenty-seven kilometers from Thanesar, Pehowa was built sometime
in ad 882 although an inscription on a temple claims that
it was actually built in ad 895 during King Mahendrapal’s
rule. Numerous ghats and temples have been built in memory
of king Prithu.
The legend of the Ban Ganga goes back to the final
days of the Mahabharata battle when the patriarch, Bhishma,
lay mortally wounded on a bed of arrows. In his dying moments,
he felt thirsty and, as the patriarch of both the Kauravas
and Pandavas, sent for Arjun. It is said that Arjuna’s arrow
brought the waters of the holy Ganga to quench the thirst
of Bhishma. Today the site is worshipped as Bhishma Kund
and lies some 12 km from Kurukshetra.
HOW TO REACH
Kurukshetra is close to the airfields of Chandigarh and Delhi.
It is a road and rail junction serviced by taxis and buses
of the Haryana Roadways and other state corporations.
CUISINE
Haryana, an agricultural state, has retained its simplicity
in cuisine. One can try a glass of lassi or chaaj (buttermilk)
followed by angakda, small thick rotis made of barley (jau)
cooked directly on fire. Butter made at home, onion, red chilly,
and garlic chutney often accompany the angakda.
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