Kurukshetra Tourist Places : Kurukshetra, a famous pilgrimage site in the northern part of Haryana state, the battlefield of Mahabharata is known as Science Centre. Kurukshetra is surrounded by Ambala, Yamunanagar, Karnal and Kaithal districts. Kurukshetra is considered as a mythological historical city and a pilgrimage site.
Kurukshetra Tourist Places, Hindi !
History – Kurukshetra Tourist Places
Kurukshetra is also considered to be of Harappan period. Kurukshetra is mentioned in the Puranas as the kingdom of King Kuru and that is why this area was called Kurukshetra. Maharaja Kuru was the ancestor of the Kauravas and Pandavas. It is believed that the famous war of Mahabharata took place here. It is not a city but an area of 48 Kos which includes the areas of Jind, Kaithal, Karnal and Panipat. In mythological times, Kurukshetra was between Saraswati and Drishadwati rivers. There is also evidence of the Saraswati river drying up over time.
Kurukshetra was ruled by the Maurya rulers and at that time the city was a major center of Buddhism and Hinduism and culture. After the Mauryas, Kurukshetra remained under the control of the Kushan, Gupta and Pushyabhuti dynasties. Kurukshetra was known as Thanesar during the time of King Harsh. During the same period (about 590-647 AD) the Chinese traveler Xuanzang visited Thanesar.
After King Harsha, Kurukshetra became part of Tomar kingdom. Like other northern states of the country, Kurukshetra was also attacked by external invaders. There were attacks by invaders from the 9th century to the 11th century. Later in 1206, Kurukshetra became part of the Delhi Sultanate and later in the 17th century it came under the jurisdiction of the Marathas. Kurukshetra was also under British control in the 19th century during the British rule.
Significance – Kurukshetra Tourist Places
Kurukshetra is considered very important in Hindu Puranas. It has been described at many places in Rigveda. The mythological river Saraswati used to flow through Kurukshetra.
An interesting fact about Kurukshetra comes from this story. There is a very popular story here about why Lord Krishna chose Kurukshetra as the place of battle between Kauravas and Pandavas. According to this story, when the war of Kurukshetra was decided, Lord Krishna sent his messenger in search of a place where the war could be fought. Then his messenger told that in Kurukshetra, an elder brother had asked his younger brother to stop the water flowing from the field due to the broken dam. The younger brother flatly refused to do so. The elder brother got very angry at this and he killed the younger brother and dragged his dead body to the pond from where water was flowing.
Hearing this, Lord Shri Krishna decided that this is the land which is suitable for war between brothers. Because the war of Mahabharata was not just a war between brothers but a religious war, Lord Krishna said that the traditions of this land will not allow the love of brothers to arise here in a war and hence this place is right. For this reason Lord Shri Krishna had chosen this place for the war of Mahabharata.
Kurukshetra is considered a holy place in Hindu culture and hence devotees come here to perform Shraddha. Geeta Jayanti is also celebrated here every year in the month of December in which lakhs of devotees from India and abroad arrive.
Soil Color – Kurukshetra
The soil of Kurukshetra is red. Devotees believe that the color of the soil here had turned red due to the blood shed in the Mahabharata war, but archaeologists believe that there are Shivalik hills here and the color of these hills is brown. There is also evidence of Saraswati river here, due to which the water from the mountains gradually went inside the soil and the color of the soil here gives the feeling of being red.
Kurukshetra Tourist Places
Brahm Sarovar – Kurukshetra Tourist Places
Brahma Sarovar is the main attraction of Kurukshetra. This is considered to be a mythological carpet pond. This lake is the largest man-made pond in Asia. According to mythological stories, Lord Brahma created the universe in Kurukshetra after a huge yagya with the help of Hitesh. This Brahma Sarovar is considered to be connected to the same tradition. Brahma Sarovar is also mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. This is considered to be the same lake in which Duryodhana took bath before fighting Bhima on the last day of the war.
The evening aarti at Brahmasarovar is a grand aarti in itself. There are ghats also built on the banks of the lake.
Sannihit Sarovar – Kurukshetra Tourist Places
The adjacent lake is an important part of the 48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra. The contiguous lake is considered to be the confluence of seven sacred Saraswati rivers called Sapta Sindhu. According to Hindu beliefs, the water of this lake is considered as sacred as the water of Ganga. According to popular beliefs and notions, it is considered auspicious to take bath in Sannihit Sarovar on Amavasya day and following this tradition, there is a huge crowd of devotees here on that day.
Jyotisar – Kurukshetra Tourist Places
Jyotisar is considered to be the land of Geeta teachings. It is famous as a Hindu pilgrimage site and it is believed that it was here that Lord Krishna preached the Gita to Arjuna and showed his great form. Adi Guru Shankaracharya had established this place as the land of Geeta preaching in the 8th century. The Bhagavad Gita is believed to have been revealed under the banyan tree in Jyotisar.
Sthaneshwar Mahadev Mandir – Kurukshetra Tourist Places
Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Before the start of the Mahabharata war, the Pandavas had established a temple of Lord Shiva at this place and sought blessings from him for their victory. Sri Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, stayed at a place near Sthaneshwar Tirtha, which is right next to this temple and there is a Gurudwara built there.
Bhishm Kund – Kurukshetra Tourist Places
Bhishmakund is another famous place associated with the war of Mahabharata. Bhishma Kund, located in Naraktari village, about 10 kilometers from Kurukshetra Railway Station, is considered to be the place where Bhishma was lying on the bed of arrows made as a result of the fight with Grandfather Arjun and watched the war of Mahabharata from there. It is believed that when Bhishma Pitamah felt thirsty while lying on the bed of arrows, Arjun had fired an arrow in the same ground and brought out a stream of water. This pond is built there itself.
Draupdi Koop – Kurukshetra Tourist Places
This is another place which is related to Mahabharata. Draupadi Kupa means Draupadi’s well. This temple houses a well and it is believed that this well has been there since ancient times. Regarding this well, it is believed that this well was used by Draupadi.
Bhadra Kali Mandir – Kurukshetra Tourist Places
Bhadrakali temple is situated about 3 kilometers away from Brahma Sarovar. This is a Siddhapeeth and it is believed that in the mythological times, when Goddess Sati had sacrificed her life by jumping into the Yagya fire and to free her from separation, Lord Vishnu had cut Sati’s body into pieces which were kept at different places. Had gone and fallen. Devotees believe that a part of Sati’s body had fallen here and that is why this place is considered a Shaktipeeth.
Shekh Chilli Maqbara – Kurukshetra Tourist Places
This tomb belongs to Shaskh Chilli, who was the religious guru of Dara Shikoh. This mausoleum of national importance and historical importance is a beautiful example of Mughal period architecture.
Shri Krishn Museum – Kurukshetra Tourist Places
Sri Krishna Museum, Kurukshetra was established in 1987 and was inaugurated by former President Sri R Venkatraman. This museum depicts Hindu gods and goddesses and Krishna incarnation of Lord Vishnu. His many incarnations described in the Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana are depicted here through sculptures, paintings, relics and manuscripts. Ancient sculptures, miniature paintings and carvings are also displayed in this museum. This museum remains open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Panorama and Science Center – Kurukshetra Tourist Places
The Panorama and Science Center located at Kurukshetra has presented very large and beautiful tableaux related to the war of Mahabharata which displays the events of the war of Mahabharata. Many miracles of science are shown in the science center which especially attract the attention of children.
In the Panorama and Science Centre, along with the depiction of the war of Mahabharata, a light and sound show is also shown, along with the chanting of verses from Gita and the sounds of war are also heard in that exhibition. The timing here is from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.
Kalpana Chawla Planetarium – Kurukshetra Tourist Places
India-born Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian woman to go to space. In her honour, Kalpana Chawla Planetarium was established in Kurukshetra which was dedicated to the nation in the year 2007. Kalpana Chawla Planetarium today is a main attraction not only of Kurukshetra but also of Haryana. This planetarium is a great attraction for those interested in space science.
How to reach Kurukshetra
By Train
Kurukshetra is a railway junction that is well connected to the train network of the country. Direct trains are available from the capital Delhi.
By Road
Kurukshetra is situated on National Highway 1, hence it is quite easy to reach here by state transport bus. Even if you want to reach here by driving your car, you can easily reach Kurukshetra.
By Flight
If you are on a journey to North India from any other part of the country and are traveling by flight, then the nearest airport to Kurukshetra is Delhi airport. The second nearest airport is Chandigarh. From both the places one can reach here by state transport bus, private taxi or rented car.
Best time to visit Kurukshetra
The best season to visit Kurukshetra is from October to March. The weather here is very hot in summer and the temperature ranges around 43- 47 degrees centigrade. It is very cold here during the winter season.\
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