Haryana literally means the Abode of God (Hari in sanskrit means God Vishnu and Ayana means home). The state lies in North-West India and shares its boundary with Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in the north, Rajasthan in the west and south and Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh in the East. Replete with myths and legends, Haryana has had a vibrant past and a history thats steeped in glory. Ved Vyas is said to have written the epic Mahabharata here and the Bhagwad Gita was born here when Sri Krishna preached his teachings just before the epic battle was to begin.
Known as the Gateway to North India, Haryana has seen a number of decisive battles which have changed the course of Indian Civilization. There have been successive invasions by the Huns, Turks and Tughlaqs. In the end of 14th century Temur Lung led an army through Haryana and reached Delhi. Three battles of Panipat were faught here. The first two strengthened the mughal rule in North India and establish Muslim rule for the next few centuries. By the middle of eighteenth century the Marathas and the Jats dominated before the British took over after winning the Anglo Sikh War and the area became a part of the British Empire. The present state was seperated from Punjab and came into existance on November 1, 1966.
Of the many places to visit in Haryana, Kurukshetra is the most important. The city is one of the most important pilgrimage center for Hindus and people come here in huge numbers to visit the birth place of the sacred Bhagwad Gita. Kusukshetra boasts of 360 Tirthas of Religious and Historic Importance. Gurgaon, which until very recently used to be a sleepy town has tranformed itself into a bustling business district with slick offices and more than 1 million inhabitants. The town gives a glimpse into India's future and is located next to Delhi.
