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Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra is a religious city in Haryana which holds a mythological importance. It was the war ground of a battle in Mahabharata.

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Kurukshetra, HaryanaKurukshetra is the religious city located in Haryana. This city of Haryana gives the tourist the resemblance of mythological era and the era of early ancient India. According to Mahabharata, it is the holy site where the Kurukshetra war has taken place. The place also has another importance as this is the site where it is believed that Lord Krishna preached the theory of Karma in the form of Bhagavad Gita to his friend Arjuna in Kurukshetra. The place saw the rise and fall of many kingdoms. Kurukshetra is considered as the cradle of Indian civilization and culture as social, religious and political traditions of India arose in this region. Presently the place is a boom for tourists.

Etymology of Kurukshetra
The meaning of the word "Kurukshetra" means the "land of the Kauravas". The name of the place is associated with the legendary king Kuru. Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru, who also performed a supreme sacrifice to bring prosperity to the land and his people. It is said that the place bears witness to the composition of Vedic literature. Kurukshetra is the birth place of the holy Bhagavad Gita.

Kurukshetra, HaryanaHistory of Kurukshetra
The name Kurukshetra brings to the mind the Puranas and the Mahabharata. The legendary 18-day battle of Mahabharata was fought here between Kauravas and Pandavas. Kurukshetra finds mention in the ancient literature. It was the sacred region of the Dwapara Yuga according to the Matsya Purana and one of the 16 Mahajanapadas of Jambudwipa. In Manu Smriti, Manu praises the dexterity of the people of Kurukshetra. Kurukshetra also finds mention in Panini"s Ashtadhyayi. Buddha also visited Kurukshetra. The place also bears witness to the discourses of Gautama Buddha.

Geography of Kurukshetra The boundaries of Kurukshetra correspond roughly to the state of Haryana. The Kurukshetra region is in the south of Punjab, north of Khandava (Delhi), east of Maru and west of Parin.

Religious Significance of Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra has immense importance as a Hindu pilgrimage. There are several pilgrimages around the city of Kurukshetra. The place is famous for its temples, lakes and museums documenting the history of pre-Harappan and Harappan civilisations.

Some of the temples in the city include the Bhadra Kali Mandir, the Birla Mandir and the Sthanswer Mandir. The many water bodies in the city are considered to be holy, and Hindus come to these places to bathe, believing that this will cleanse them from sin and illness. The Brahma Sarovar and Sanhit Sarovar are two of the most popular tanks in the city. The Chatti Patshahi Gurudwara draws many Sikhs, who come here to take a religious dip.

Tourism of Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra has the number of tourist attractions like Crocodile Breeding Centre, Kurukshetra, Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary, Brahma Sarovar, Sanhit Sarovar, Jyotisar, Kalpana Chawla Planetarium, Sheikh Chilli ka Maqbara and many other tourist attractions.

Visiting Information of Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra is located on the linking road from National Highway No. 1 through Pipli, a famous town. The nearest airport is situated at Chandigarh. Kurukshetra is also well connected to all major cities through roadways and railways.


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