Tourist Places of Haryana
Overview
Haryana, despite being a relatively small state, possesses a rich tapestry of historical, religious, and natural tourist destinations. For the HSSC CET examination, questions on tourist places typically test your knowledge of location (which district), historical/mythological significance, and any special features like fairs or wildlife. This topic connects directly to Haryana's cultural heritage, history, and geography sections.
Students must focus on the major pilgrimage centres (especially Kurukshetra), heritage gardens (Pinjore, Surajkund), wildlife sanctuaries, and historically significant forts and monuments. Questions often appear as direct fact-recall ("Sultanpur Lake is located in which district?") or matching-type ("Match the tourist place with its significance"). Memorising district-wise locations and the unique feature of each site is essential for scoring in this section.
Key Concepts
- Kurukshetra as Dharmakshetra: The land where the Mahabharata war was fought; it contains numerous sacred tanks (sarovars) and temples associated with Lord Krishna and the Gita sermon.
- Pinjore Gardens (Yadavindra Gardens): A Mughal-style terraced garden built by Nawab Fidai Khan, featuring the classic Charbagh layout with fountains, pavilions, and flowering plants.
- Sultanpur National Park: A wetland bird sanctuary near Gurugram, home to both migratory and resident bird species; declared a National Park in 1989.
- Surajkund: An ancient sun-worship tank built by King Surajpal of the Tomar dynasty in the 10th century; famous for the annual International Crafts Mela held every February.
- District-specific identification: Most exam questions require knowing which tourist spot belongs to which district — this is the most common question pattern.
- Religious tourism vs heritage tourism: Haryana offers both — Kurukshetra and Pehowa for religious pilgrimage; Pinjore, Surajkund, and forts for heritage enthusiasts.
- Wildlife and eco-tourism: Sultanpur Lake, Kalesar National Park (Yamunanagar), and Bhindawas (Jhajjar) represent Haryana's ecological tourism potential.
Key Facts
| Tourist Place | District | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Kurukshetra | Kurukshetra | Site of Mahabharata war; Brahma Sarovar; Sri Krishna Museum |
| Pinjore Gardens | Panchkula | Mughal garden; Yadavindra Gardens; Mango Festival |
| Sultanpur National Park | Gurugram | Bird sanctuary; migratory birds; declared National Park in 1989 |
| Surajkund | Faridabad | Ancient sun tank; Tomar dynasty; International Crafts Mela (February) |
| Morni Hills | Panchkula | Only hill station of Haryana; two natural lakes |
| Kalesar National Park | Yamunanagar | Sal forest; elephants and leopards; Shivalik foothills |
| Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary | Jhajjar | Largest wetland in Haryana; Ramsar site (2021) |
| Pehowa | Kurukshetra | Ancient pilgrimage for Pind-daan (ancestor rites) on Saraswati river |
| Panipat | Panipat | Site of three historic battles; Kabuli Bagh; Ibrahim Lodhi's tomb |
| Jyotisar | Kurukshetra | Exact spot where Krishna delivered the Bhagavad Gita |
| Sannihit Sarovar | Kurukshetra | Sacred tank where all tirthas are believed to converge on Amavasya |
| Badkhal Lake | Faridabad | Man-made lake (now dry); was a popular picnic spot |
| Tilyar Lake | Rohtak | Artificial lake with tourist complex and mini zoo |
| Damdama Lake | Gurugram | Natural lake; popular for boating and adventure sports |
Important Fairs and Festivals:
- Surajkund International Crafts Mela — Faridabad — February — largest crafts fair in Asia
- Gita Jayanti Mahotsav — Kurukshetra — November-December — celebrates Bhagavad Gita
- Pinjore Heritage Festival — Panchkula — celebrates Mughal heritage
Recently declared Ramsar Sites in Haryana (2021):
- Sultanpur National Park (Gurugram)
- Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary (Jhajjar)
Worked Examples
Example 1: Surajkund is located in which district of Haryana?
Step 1: Recall that Surajkund is an ancient tank built by Tomar king Surajpal. Step 2: It is near Delhi, in the Aravalli foothills. Step 3: The district is Faridabad.
Answer: Faridabad
Example 2: Which is the only hill station of Haryana?
Step 1: Haryana is largely a plain state with Shivalik hills in the north. Step 2: The only hilly tourist destination with lakes is in Panchkula district. Step 3: The place is Morni Hills.
Answer: Morni Hills (Panchkula district)
Example 3: Match the following:
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Brahma Sarovar | a. Jhajjar |
| 2. Bhindawas Sanctuary | b. Kurukshetra |
| 3. Yadavindra Gardens | c. Panchkula |
Step 1: Brahma Sarovar is the famous sacred tank in Kurukshetra → 1-b Step 2: Bhindawas is the largest wetland, located in Jhajjar → 2-a Step 3: Yadavindra Gardens is another name for Pinjore Gardens in Panchkula → 3-c
Answer: 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
Common Mistakes
- Confusing Sultanpur with Sultan: Students think Sultanpur National Park is in Sultanpur city (which is in UP). → Correct: Sultanpur National Park is in Gurugram district, Haryana.
- Mixing up Surajkund and Sannihit Sarovar: Both are ancient tanks but entirely different. → Correct: Surajkund (Faridabad) is for sun worship; Sannihit Sarovar (Kurukshetra) is a sacred pilgrimage tank.
- Forgetting Pinjore's alternate name: Questions may use "Yadavindra Gardens" instead of "Pinjore Gardens." → Remember: Same place — renamed after Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala.
- Wrong district for Morni Hills: Some place it in Ambala. → Correct: Morni Hills is in Panchkula district.
- Ignoring Ramsar sites: Sultanpur and Bhindawas were declared Ramsar sites in 2021 — a recent and frequently asked fact.
Quick Reference
- Kurukshetra = Mahabharata + Brahma Sarovar + Jyotisar (Gita sermon spot)
- Pinjore Gardens = Panchkula + Mughal style + Yadavindra Gardens
- Sultanpur National Park = Gurugram + Birds + Ramsar Site (2021)
- Surajkund = Faridabad + Tomar dynasty + Crafts Mela (February)
- Morni Hills = Only hill station + Panchkula + Two lakes
- Bhindawas = Jhajjar + Largest wetland + Ramsar Site (2021)