Haryana is a state in the northern part of India. Its capital is Chandigarh – which also serves as a joint capital to the neighboring state Punjab.
The land of Haryana dates back to centuries. It was ruled by thousands of kings and kingdoms like: the Gupta empire, Maratha empire, Tomara dynasty, Mughal Empire, Delhi Sultanate, Gwalior state Durrani empire…and so on, and finally by the British Raj (East India company) which ruled India from 19th to 20th centuries.
During British rule, the region of this state was known as Delhi Territory. In 1858, this territory was merged into the Punjab Province – one of the provinces of British India. And remained a part of it for few years after India’s independence in 1947. In 1966, it was made a separate administrative state of India.
Haryana has a total of 1346 cities and towns.
Some popular cities and towns of Haryana are: Chandigarh, Faridabad, Gurugram (Gurgaon), Panipat (Kurukshetra land), Ambala, Rohtak, Hisar, Sonipat, Panchkula.
A part of Chandigarh city lies in Haryana while the other part lies in Punjab – and it serves the capital to both these north Indian states.
The state of Bihar has a population of about 2.89 Crore (as of 2020). The religious people here mostly follow either Hinduism, Islam or Sikhism, which are major religions in the state. The state has 87.46% of Hindus, around 7% of the population are Muslims and over 4% follow Sikhism.
Haryana’s culture mostly is based on its folklore. Many people own cattle in the state – in fact, at times the economical status of an individual is determined by the number of cattle they own!
Baisakhi is a harvest festival that’s largely and pompously celebrated in Haryana. Other festivals celebrated here include – Teej, Guga Navmi, Sohna Car rally (a unique festival of old cars!).
Apart from these, the state has various fairs or Melas throughout the year – where people gather to shop, play, eat and have fun. Some popular fairs include: Surajkund International fair, Baisakhi Mela, Mango Mela
Haryana is known to be one of the wealthiest states in India. The state’s female sex ratio is the smallest in the country, though it is improving.
Haryanvi is the official language of Haryana – also known as “Bangru”, it is an Indo-Aryan language that has been the official medium of communication in the state for years. Haryanvi is also spoken in some areas of Delhi and neighbouring states.
Apart from Haryanvi, Hindi and Punjabi are also spoken in many places within the state of Haryana.
Haryana’s cuisine comprises of earthy, flavorful but simple and nutritious dishes, which are always freshly cooked.
Some of the main dishes of Haryana’s cuisines include: Singri ki Sabzi (a dried beans curry), Besan Roti (Chickpea flour flatbread), Masala Roti (spiced unleavened wheat flatbread) and Kachri ki Sabzi (A curry/dish made of Kachri - a wild vegetable from the Cucumber family, and potatoes, along with other spices like chillies, mustard and turmeric).
The state also produces milk and dairy products abundantly due to its cattle wealth – the Murrah buffaloes and Haryana cows. Almost every house and every dish has freshly churned butter or ghee (clarified butter) or milk (usually full fat).
Lassi – a sweetened (with sugar) or savory (lightly salted/spiced) thick buttermilk is a staple drink in the state, and is often served alongside meals.
Trains and Buses are major modes of inter-city transportation within Haryana. For travel within cities, there are many other modes such as taxi/cabs, buses, and private vehicles like 2-wheelers and cars, or bicycles.
Airports – Haryana has 1 domestic airport connecting to other states and cities in the country, and 1 International airport connecting to cities within the state as well as other parts of the country.
Railway Stations – Haryana has a total of 211 train terminals/railway stations (at least one for each city/town, and more than 1 in some cities) that connect to other cities and towns within the state as well as those in other states in the country. Some of the major train terminals and junctions in the state are:
Bus Terminals – Haryana has its own line of state-run HR (Haryana Roadways) buses which provide the connection between all the cities and towns within the state and also neighbouring states. These buses can be boarded at HR stops/terminals that are available in every division and town in the state. The prominent town/city bus terminals in the state are located in almost every city and town in Haryana - they can be easily found and are conveniently accessible.
Haryana has various historical monuments and gardens, along with many shopping streets (bazaars). Here are some things to do in Haryana:
Haryana has many good places beauty that people can travel to or explore; and which are perfect for a peaceful short vacation or a weekend getaway, such as –
Some thrilling activities and things to do in Haryana for adventure lovers are:
Haryana also has many historical places to see. Some popular sites of historical significance in the state are: