Haryana is a place which is very important for Hindus and thousands of pilgrims come here who respect this place and pious land for them as it Kurukshetra where treatise was given by Lord Krishna ‘Selfless Karma’.
The famous pilgrims of Haryana which are visited by most of Hindus include Jyotisar and Dhosi Hill and the other Ambala that is visited by Sikh pilgrims.
The pilgrims of Haryana are very famous among Hindus and are visited by most of Hindus from all over the country. Chandigarh is the capital city. The attractions other than pilgrims of Haryana are Rock Garden, Art gallery & Govt. Museum and Sukhna Lake. The best time one can enjoy this place is from October to March.
Dhosi Hill
- Location: From Narnaul Town just 8 kms Away
- Famous for: Penance practiced by Chavan Rishi
- Attraction: Shiva Kund & Chavan Shrine
Dhosi Hill is located in Narnaul town just 8 kms away in Haryana. This place is famous among people as Rishi Chavan here underwent Penance. The attractions here are Chavan Shrine and Shiva kund which is famous among people and visited by many people.
King Naunkaran of Bikaner is said to build the fort which is in ruins which is built on a saucer like plain surface that is on the hill at the top. This place has a great importance among the people in the villages and is a sacred place and is considered as a pilgrimage or ‘Tirtha’.
The hill is decorated by the temple which is dedicated to Rishi Chavan. On the day of Somavati Amavas there is a big celebration of the festival which is celebrated in respect of Rishi Chavan. It is said that Bhargava community is to be founded by Rishi Chavan. People who are Bhargavas in Haryana are called as Dhosar.
Fable
It is said and believed by people here that Chavan Rishi used ‘Chavan Prash’ which is a herb of special type used by him. He used this herb for a long time and use to keep his body well. This herb is very common here and is widely used. In this country there is a medicine known by Chyawanprash that is very famous all over the country and is used by many people to keep there body fit.
Other Attractions
A well, tank and a Shiva temple is there on the hill. Suraj Kund and Panch Tirath are the other religious spots famous on the Dhosi Hill.
Shiva Kund
The water of the well and tank is considered as important and scared as the water of Yamuna and Ganga. People from different and far places come to take bath in this water as they believe that after taking bath all the sins will be washed and they will be lucky. There are different sections for men and women to take bath.
Famous Temples
There are two temples which are located at the top of the hill. These temples are very famous among people and it is said that the one temple is around 250 years old and the other is around 100 years old. One of the main temples which have idols installed of Goddess Radha, Lord Krishna, Sukanya and Chavan Rishi and the other idol beside this is of Lord Vishnu and the posture is of a Shesh Shayya. There is a cave at a distance from the temple.
Hill Climbing
People who come to worship the god in this temple have to climb around 457 steps to get the blessings of the god. There are two ways to go up one us through Thana village and other is from Kultajpur where there are plain steps and one can go by taking bath in the Shiv Kund. There staircase is accompanied with around 5-6 feet long wall. People who cannot walk easily or climb the stairs easily can go up by taking the support of this wall.
Kabuli Bagh Mosque
- Situated: Panipat, India
- Constructed By: Babur
- Constructed in: 1526AD.
- Religion: Islam
Kabuli Bagh Mosque was constructed in the year 1526 and is situated at Panipat. Panipat is a historical place on the banks of River Yamuna. This place is 92kms away from the city of Delhi.
This Mosque was constructed by Babur after the very 1st battle of Panipat to mark his triumph over Sultan Ibrahim Lodi. This Mosque is placed inside an envelopment, which has octagonal towers to the corners. You can enter the building from the north side; it is constructed with bricks and red sandstone. The entrance has opening, which looks like Lintel Bracket and is encased in a vast arch. The spandrels of the Mosque are decorated with Recesses that is arched and is covered in a rectangular panel.
The primary prayer hall in the Mosque has arched annexes on all the sides and it has 9 bays, which are topped with hemispherical domes and it looks like as if domes are sitting over the low drums. The High facades are divided in to panels and is plastered with (lime). The Chabutra-IN-Fateh Mubarak which is a masonry platform was built by Humayun contains an inscription which dates back to the year 1527AD.
The climate and age ravages the massive construction. Kabuli Bagh Mosque is known as a heritage building and is protected by the Tourism Board of Haryana.
Pathar Masjid
- Situated: Thanesar, Haryana (India)
- District: (Kurukshetra)
- Made of: Red stone
- Constructed In: 17th century
- Construction Type: Medieval
- Building Type: Mosque
- Religion: Islam
The Pathar Masjid is known for its crimped minarets that is attached to the back wall and is made up of red sand stones. The ceiling of the articulate mosque perching on pillars is beautifully arched with floral designs. This mosque was constructed in the seventeenth century.
There is a Qibla which is placed at the middle of the western wall and is layed with 2 arched niches ciphered with verses from the holy Quran. The Masonry terrace was included later on. The pillars are copiously decorated with floral designs and the base is decorated with chaitya window motifs.
As the name suggests Pathar Masjid is built of stones. Its captivating stone structure attracts many tourists every year from all over the world. The historical connection associated with the mosque attracts Islamic Scholars and visitors. On special eve, this mosque is beautifully decorated and it appears as if it is alive. The colorful mood of the local people adds splendor to the magnificent mosque. Special prayers are held during festive seasons. Thus, it is suggested that if you are visiting this place for the first time then come during any Islamic festival to enjoy the joyous and grandeur mood of the Mosque. This mosque is a popular place for the Islamic influence. Besides an important place for the Muslims, this mosque also serves as an important landmark of the city. There were many social events being organized here years back.
Pathar Ki Masjid is one of the important places to be visited to know the ancient architecture and the inner beauty of the Mosque with Islamic religious values.
Sita Temple
- Region: Haryana, Karnal
- Made in: Bricks
- Dedicated to: Goddess Mother Sita
Sita temple, a very old holy temple located on the place, which is far around nineteen kilometers from the village Nilokheri. This temple is placed in very small village which is called as Sitamai. This temple is committed to the Goddess Mother Sita. This beautiful temple is constructed in very simple style of Hindu temple. This ancient temple is constructed by using bricks, but even it is simple temple, the features of the temple are enough to attract the tourists. The design pattern which is used on for temples are like deep lines one each every brick which is used in the temple. From the design of the bricks, it looks like the designs are made on the bricks before it got burnt. For each and every brick they have separately made the designs.
When the construction of Sita temple was in process, that time few Islamic emperor tried to poke the temple, they were went ahead so much that they were tried to pull it downwards and tried to throw it in the tank. But after this incident the constructor of the temple arranged the bricks again as it was in the pattern which was in original. The spot where this temple is located is the place where the Goddess Mother Sita was asked to answer about her proof of holiness. That was a very strange movement of Mother Goddess’s life, as a memory of that situation, this temple is being established.
Sheetala Devi Temple
- Region: Haryana, Gurgaon
- Popular as: Shakti Peeth
- Dedicated to: Mother Goddess Sheetla Devi
- Festival time: In the entire year except the month of July and August
Sheetala Devi Temple is one of the main pilgrimage temple of Hindu devotees. This temple is situated close to the pond which is at the village Gurgaon, this place is known as a suburb place of Gurgaon village. This suburb place is a birthplace of the Guru Dronacharya, it is a major part of the state Haryana. This temple is get crowded by the thousand numbers of the pilgrims in the entire year. This temple is known as one of the Shakti Peeth. Mother Goddess Sheetala Devi resides in this temple. There are numbers of legends, which are related to the construction of the current temple of the Devi Sheetala. As per the one legend who was a carpenter, residing at the Farukh Nagar. He had a very nice daughter; she was in the age of marriage. She was so beautiful that Mughal emperor also came to know about her beauty.
That time Mughal emperor told his wish to get married with her. After knowing this, the poor carpenter sent his daughter away because he didn’t want to do marriage of her daughter with another religion person. He went to the Bharatpur’s king Surajmal. But the Maharaja Surajmal denied from interfering in the out matter of his empire. That poor carpenter was highly disappointed and he went to the Prince of Bharatpur, he was the son of the Maharaja Surajmal; when he was retuning from him. The prince was against the action of the Surajmal. When the Prince was going to do attack on the Sultanate Delhi, that time he went to the Gurgaon and he prayed the Devi, that if will win the war, he will built beautiful temple for Devi. At shockingly, Prince won Delhi war and while coming back from the Delhi, he built the Sheetala Devi temple.
This temple has one more version of story. That, the Prince of Bharatpur going to Delhi, at that time Prince and his entire army power was taking rest at the place called as Ballabhgarh. After taking rest, when they were proceeding further, that time their horses were not moving ahead from that place. Prince and all other people were surprised by this strange behaviour of the horses, after consulting the court astrologer, Prince got the answer that after coming to Gurgaon he didn’t worship the Mother Goddess Sheetala, that why Devi became angry. at that time, Prince quickly arranged all the things to worship the Sheetala Devi and the magic happened that horses moved ahead. After this entire incident, Prince decided to construct one temple for Sheetala Devi on the occasion of his victory.
The 3rd legend of the temple also contains Maharaja of Bharatpur. At the pilgrimage which is at Pushkar, at this place Rani of Bharatpur and Rani of Ajmer and also Kishori Queen had a verbal fight between them, on who will be the first to jump in the waters. This fight was carried forward by the Maharaja of Bharatpur and he did attack on the Ajmer king. The Rani Kishori forcefully told the King, to make the temple of Devi Sheetal. By giving respect to the request, Chaudhary Jawahar and Maharaja Bharatpur mutually built the idol of the Devi Sheetala of around 8 metals in the temple. During the festive season, this temple became totally crowded by thousands of the devotees and pilgrims.
Majorly in Chaitra, a Hindu months, and as per the general months of March and month of April. The entire place of temple looks like a Kumbh Mela. Especially on the Mondays, numbers of pilgrims came to visit Sheetal Devi temple. in the entire month, lakhs of pilgrim came to the temple but except the Shravana month means during the month of July and August. Many people come to this temple to do Mundan of their sons, to celebrate this occasion on the religious place.
Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple
- Region: Haryana, Kurukshetra
- Committed to: Lord Shiva
Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple, the temple of great Lord Shiva. This temple is situated in the village called Thanesar, it is a very small and different temple, because of its ancient air. As per reside people of the Thanesar, this temple is undoubtedly the resident place of Lord Shiva. Thanesar village got its name, after this Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple. The religious epic of Hindu religion Vaman Puran has specified the need of the temple and also the great legends informed that the Universe maker Lord Brahma had placed the first and foremost idol of the Lord Shiva in this Sthaneshwar temple. This temple has been renovated in this nearby years.
This historical temple has a big dome over the temple in the shape of white amla fruit. To get the water supply, before this Shiva temple, there is a very huge water body which stores the plenty amount of water for the temple. Opposite side of this temple, there is a very nice Gurudwara which had been visited by the great personality of Sikh religion Guru Tegh Bahadur. This ancient temple of Lord Shiva is situated on the Hindu religion’s historical land of Kurukshetra. On the land of the Kurukshetra, a huge and historical war had been happened between the Pandvas and Kauravas. At that time, when Pandavas were going at the place of the war, before going their Pandavas went to this Sthaneshwar temple to pray the Lord Shiva to get the victory in war. That time they got the blessings of the Lord Shiva to won the great Mahabharat war.
The water tank which is joined to the Shiva temple is a holiest because of the ancient movement because which people came to know the greatness of this land’s soil and also water. In the earlier century, one King had leprosy, he took many medicines to get rid from this disease, when he drunk little water drops of this tank, and his disease was magically vanished from him. After reaching at the Kurukshetra, don’t miss this great and magical water tank.
This Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple is actually a resident of the Lord Shiva. This temple has played a essential part in the Maharaja Harsha Vardhan’s Kingdom, which is dynasty of the Pushyabhuti. The architecture work of this temple has been followed the regional type of architecture. The Shiv linga of this temple is very much ancient but still people believe and worshipping it.
Nearby Temples
Bhadra Kali Temple
There is one more religious temple which is situated near the Sthaneshwar temple; it is Mother Goddess Bhadra Kali’s temple. This temple is dedicated to the Sati Mata. There is historical story behind this temple that is Goddess Mother Sati Mata’s lower limb was fall here, that’s why this area was grated as a holy place Shakti Pitha, this place became the place of getting wish fulfilled.
By the red color stone, this temple got renovation and this temple’s inside holy place is also beautifully decorated. In the province of Kurukshetra, there is a well, where the devotees of the Sati Mata, they dedicate the clay horses made by using terracotta art, as their give the thanks, because on every time their wishes get fulfilled. When you will enter inside the temple, you will be surprised by seeing the beauty of the Goddess Sati Mata. During the auspicious Navratri festival, there are thousands of people who came to take the darshan of the Mother Goddess Sati, on the each Saturday, in the month of September and October.
Kamal Nabhi
There is one more temple near the Sthaneshwar temple which is known as Kamal Nabhi temple. There is a ancient mythological story behind the temple is that, the universe creator Lord Brahma came out of the lotus, which was grew up from the umbilical of God Vishnu. You will see some pictures of the Lord Brahma and Vishnu is this Kaham Nabhi temple. This temple is situated around one and half kilometers far from the village Thanesar which is on the road of the Pehowa- Kurukshetra, where there is water tank called Narkatari. As per the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamah laid on the bed made of arrows.
Shiva Temple
- Region: Haryana, from Mahendragarh about twenty five kilometers
- Major Festival: Shivaratri festival
- Dedicated to: Lord Shiva
The temple of Lord Shiva is located around twenty five kilometers from the location called Mahendragarh, it is at Bagot. Bagot is very much important location by their religious factors. On this religious land, you will get to see a very much popular mandir of Lord Shiva. In this Shiva temple, one fair is celebrated by the devotees on very high scale that is Shivratri, which comes in the Sawan month, it is a month of monsoon season. Their thousands of devotee, who believe on Lord Shiva and his power. That’s why millions of people come together at this temple in the Sawan month and worship the Lord Shiva with lots of faith and enthusiasm. People believe Shivratri Festival very much auspicious and holiest.
If people want to get fulfill their wish by the Lord Shiva, then they pledge that if their wish will get fulfilled then they will visit the Lord Shiva’s temple and they will offer the water which they brought from the Ganga River. As per their pledge, which they have taken and their wish has been fulfilled, then the devotes go to the very religious and holy place Haridwar, but fair’s one week before and from their they bring the holy water of Ganga River in 2 small size pots which are called as Kawars. The unique thing about their journey is that, they do the entire journey without wearing a foot wear. From Haridwar, they directly go to the Bagot. Till amercing the water on the Lord Shiva’s idol, devotees should not keep the Ganga water’s pot on the land. Because this custom, there is a believe behind it that, if the water will get into the contact of land, then the water wouldn’t be pure. And devotees won’t dedicate it to Lord Shiva.
These are the old and traditional religious customs, which are still followed by the religious people. after reaching at the Shiva temple, devotees sprinkle the Ganga water on the Lord Shiva’s stone idol and they worship the idol, over the entire day with the rhythmic songs of the Shiva and the bhajans through which the whole surrounding of the temple becomes spiritual and gets colored by the color of Lord Shiva. When you will plan to visit the Haryana, must visit the Shiva temple and experience the pure love of devotees and Lord Shiva on each other.
Jyotisar
- Location: From Narnaul town just 8 kms away.
- Famous for: Penance practiced by Chavan Rishi
- Attraction: Shiva Kund & Chavan Shrine
Jyotisar is located in Kurukshetra inn Haryana. It is a place where ‘Gita’ was preached Lord Krishna. It is spread around 1.5 acres of area. The other attraction here is an Old Banyan Tree which is said to be around 5, 000 years old.
This place is recently renovated and is a place where the holy Bhagwat Gita took birth. There is a raised plinth where a banyan (Vat) tree stands. The land here is very important and sacred for Hindus as it is said to be a place where Lord Krishna gave a message to Arjuna in the evening at the battle of Mahabharata.
There is a marble Chariot built on this place where Lord Krishna is shown delivering the ‘Shrimad Bhagwat Gita’ (a message given during Mahabharata) to Arjuna and many people visit this place to see and experience that time of Mahabharata. There is an Old Shiva temple on the ground that can be seen.
Fable
The Banyan tree which is around more than 5, 00 years old that still stands tall. It is to be said that this was the Banyan tree under which Lord Krishna told the ‘Karma’ to Arjuna during the time of Mahabharata. The Lord Krishna showed his original image ‘Virat Swaroop’ as the Preserver, Destroyer and the Creator of this Universe and on his behest every human, every leaf, every event and every bud has moved.
Facilities for Devotees
The site of Kurukshetra has been renovated by the Kurukshetra Development Board. There is a lake which is been created and is in a mango shape. There are covers are provided to take bath for women’s. There are enclosures and parapets of cement built for protection. There is a restaurant proposed to built for the convenience of pilgrims. The area around has been surrounded by the eucalyptus and flowering trees.
