कुरूक्षेत्र
Kurukshetra
Tourism
Kurukshetra is an important Hindu pilgrimage destination, and there are several pilgrimage sites surrounding the city. The Hindi phrase 48 kos parikrama refers to a roughly 90-km traditional circle (Parikrama) around the holy city (1 kos equals about 3.00 km or 1.91 miles), and a complete parikrama refers to a pilgrimage to all these sites on foot.[15][16] The International Gita Mahotsav, held every year in Kururukshetra on the Shukla Ekadashi - the 11th day of the waxing moon of the Margashirsha (Agrahayan) month of the Hindu calendar, celebrates the day Bhagavad Gita was revealed to Arjuna by Krishna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra.[17]
Hindu religious sites
- Brahma Sarovar: Every year lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of people come to take a holy bath at Brahma Sarovar on the occasion of "Somavati Amavasya" (Sacred No-Moon Day that happens on a Monday) and on solar eclipses. They believe that a bath in the holy Sarovar frees all sins and cycle of birth-death. The Sarovar is one of Asia's largest man-made ponds.[18] Hindu genealogy registers are kept here.
- Sannihit Sarovar: The pond is believed to be the meeting point of seven sacred Saraswatis. The Sarovar, according to popular belief, contains sacred water. Bathing in the waters of the tank on the day of Amavasya (night of complete darkness) or on the day of an eclipse bestows blessings equivalent to performing the Ashvamedh Yajna.
- Jyotisar: The famous site where Bhagavad Gita was delivered to Arjuna under the tree. The tree of that time is witness to Gita.
- Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple
Museums
- Kurukshetra Panorama and Science Centre: A mural depiction of the Mahabharata war.
- Dharohar Museum: A museum about the tradition and cultural depiction of Haryana located in Kurukshetra University.
Historical sites
- Sheikh Chilli's Tomb: This monument is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. It was built during the Mughal era in remembrance of Sufi Saint Sheikh Chehli, believed to be the spiritual teacher of Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh. The Prince's main 'Murshid' or 'Sheikh' (Spiritual Guide), however, is historically known to have been Hazrat Sheikh Mian Mir Sahib, of Lahore,[19] although Sheikh Chehli might have been an additional teacher. Another theory is that the site of the so-called maqbara or tomb. Sheikh Chaheli’s Tomb and the madarasa are associated with the Sufi saint Abdu'r-Rahim alias Aabd-ul-Razak, popularly known as Shaikh Chehli (also pronounced Chilli).[20]
- The Pathar Masjid is built of red sandstone and is known for its fluted minaret.
- Nabha House, a palatial building was constructed by the royal family of Nabha principality.[21]
Wildlife
Educational institutes
- Kurukshetra University
- National Institute of Design
- National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra
- Shri Krishna AYUSH University
- University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kurukshetra University
- State Institute of Advance Studies in Teacher Education, Kurukshetra[22]
- Govt. Polytechnic, Umri
- National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology, Kurukshetra[23]
In popular art
Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' wrote an epic poem titled Kurukshetra, a narrative poem based on the Santi Parva of the Mahabharata. He wrote the poem when memories of the Second World War were fresh in his mind.[25]
Notable people
- Nayab Singh Saini, Member of Parliament of Kurukshetra
- Dr. Pawan Saini, doctor, academician, social activist and former MLA of Ladwa
- Raj Kumar Saini, former Member of Parliament from Kurukshetra of 16th Lok Sabha
- Sandeep Singh Saini, former captain of Indian Hockey team, current MLA from Pehowa and Sports Minister of Haryana
- Kailasho Devi Saini, politician and former Member of Parliament
- Surinder Kaur, Hockey player and member of the national field hockey team
- Rohit Sardana, journalist, anchor and media personality
- Sanjay Chaudhary, HUM Foundation, Social Activist.
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