The Abode of God, Haryana holds numerous stories from history in its bosoms. This is the state which has beautifully transformed itself into an ultra modern place with deeply rooted history. It has distinct cultures and traditions which are unmatched. The history of Haryana goes back to the times of Mahabharata and hence, it holds great religious significance.
Places to Visit
Haryana houses a bag full of some of the most beautiful cities. Chandigarh, the city of gardens, adorns the state with lush greenery with backdrop of the Shivalik range. ?Here you can explore numerous attractions, including Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Pinjore Gardens, International Dolls Museum, Terraced Garden, etc. If you wish to experience the hi-tech facade of Haryana, then visit Gurgaon where some of the biggest multinationals have been placed. Here you can find everything from grand malls like Ambience Mall to entertainment hubs like Leisure Valley Park, Kingdom Of Dreams and Appu Ghar. The nightlife of Gurgaon is happening enough to please party animals. Kurukshetra is another history soaked city of Haryana where numerous dynasties ruled in the past. The city holds great importance in Hindu mythology and houses many spiritual and historical places like Jyotisar, Brahma Sarovar, Kos Minars, Raja Harsh ka Tila and Sheikh Chilli’s Tomb. Other places of great importance in Haryana include Panipat, Ambala, Hisar, Faridabad, Pinjore, Panchkula, Morni, Sonipat, etc.
Festivals
Haryana is a culturally rich state of India. Every festival here is celebrated with equal zeal and love. Surajkund Crafts Mela remains a popular fair of the state which is visited by people from all over the world. The fortnight-long fair is hosted here from 1st - 15th February every year. It gives a great platform to local artisans and craftsmen to showcase their skills to a larger audience. It is the largest exhibition of local crafts where you get to shop till you drop. Haryana is also known for pompous celebrations of all major Indian festivals like Holi, Diwali, Lohri, Basant Panchmi, Gangore, etc.
Food
Haryana is the wealthiest state in terms of food. The locals here love to eat home cooked food full of butter or ghee. Haryana can rightly be termed as the 'Land of Rotis' made of wheat, gram and barley. You can find abundance of milk and milk products here. People make fulfilling sweets like gondh (edible gum) and laddus (made of gram flour) at home which are considered as extremely healthy. Lassi (yogurt drink) is served with every food item. Some of the most popular Haryanvi dishes cooked in every household include Singri or ker sangria (dried desert bean), Besan Masala Roti (bread made with the dough of besan), Mixed Dal, Hara Dhania Choliya (green channa with vegetables), Kadhi Pakora (sour yogurt thickened with gram flour), Mithe Chawal (sweet rice) and Bhura Ghee Roti (powdered sugar served with ghee and leftover rotis).
Shopping
Haryana gives you numerous opportunities to shop around. Pick block printed fabric or embroidered fabrics from here which look good on both men and women. Handicraft shopping in Haryana bestows great pleasure. Here you can find handicrafts made of bamboo, leather, wood, clay, etc. Hukkas (smoking pipes) is extremely popular among locals and are made in numerous materials like clay, metal as well as marble. The state is also known for pottery making and one can bag some beautiful looking pots from here with intricate designs. Other must buy items from Haryana include Durries (rugs), Phulkari shawls, handloom products, Leather shoes, etc. Other than these, Haryana houses some of the biggest shopping malls where you can find world renowned intentional brands. The Ambience Mall is the most popular one where you can find both national and international brands, entertainment hubs, cinema halls, and eating joints. You can also visit Jop Square Mall, Sahara Mall, MGF Metropolitan Mall, Galleria Shopping Complex, DLF City Center Mall, Crown Interiorz Mall, etc.
By Air: Chandigarh Airport is the main domestic airport of Haryana connected to Delhi, Mumbai and Leh.
By Rail: All parts of Haryana are well connected with railway network.
By Road: Road travel is the easiest way to travel to Haryana as roads are in good condition.
