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This article is about a place. For the Malayalam film on Kargil war see Kurukshetra (film)

Kurukshetra is a district in Haryana
Haryana

Haryana is a States and territories of India in the Punjab region of northern India. It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south....
 state of India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
. Known as a holy place; Kurukshetra earns its name from King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas. What makes it really important is the theory that this was where the Kurukshetra war
Kurukshetra war

The Kurukshetra War is the war between the kauravas and pandavas. It forms an essential component of the Indian epic poetry Mahabharata. According to Mahabharata, a dynastic struggle between sibling clans of Kauravas and the Pandavas for the throne of Hastinapura resulted in a battle in which a number of ancient kingdoms participated...
 of the Mahabharata
Mahabharata

The is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetrys of History of India, the other being the '. The epic is part of the Hindu itihasa , and forms an important part of Hindu mythology....
 was fought and the Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is an important Sanskrit Hindu scripture. It is revered as a sacred scripture of Hinduism, and considered as one of the most important religious classics of the world....
 emerged during the war when Lord Krishna found Arjuna in a terrible dilemma..






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This article is about a place. For the Malayalam film on Kargil war see Kurukshetra (film)

Kurukshetra is a district in Haryana
Haryana

Haryana is a States and territories of India in the Punjab region of northern India. It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south....
 state of India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
. Known as a holy place; Kurukshetra earns its name from King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas. What makes it really important is the theory that this was where the Kurukshetra war
Kurukshetra war

The Kurukshetra War is the war between the kauravas and pandavas. It forms an essential component of the Indian epic poetry Mahabharata. According to Mahabharata, a dynastic struggle between sibling clans of Kauravas and the Pandavas for the throne of Hastinapura resulted in a battle in which a number of ancient kingdoms participated...
 of the Mahabharata
Mahabharata

The is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetrys of History of India, the other being the '. The epic is part of the Hindu itihasa , and forms an important part of Hindu mythology....
 was fought and the Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is an important Sanskrit Hindu scripture. It is revered as a sacred scripture of Hinduism, and considered as one of the most important religious classics of the world....
 emerged during the war when Lord Krishna found Arjuna in a terrible dilemma.. Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar'
Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar'

Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' was an Indian Hindi poet, essayist and academician, who is considered as one of the most important modern Hindi poets....
 has written an epic poem by the name of Kurukshetra.

Thanesar
Thanesar

Thanesar is an old and historic town on the banks of the Ghaggar River in Haryana States and territories of India of North India India. It is located in Kurukshetra District, approximately 160 km northwest of Delhi....
 or Sthaneswar
Thanesar

Thanesar is an old and historic town on the banks of the Ghaggar River in Haryana States and territories of India of North India India. It is located in Kurukshetra District, approximately 160 km northwest of Delhi....
, a historical town is located adjacent to what is now newly created Kurukshetra city. Thanesar derives its name from the word "Sthaneshwar" which means "Deity of the Place". The Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple, whose presiding deity is Lord Shiva, is believed to be the oldest temple in the vicinity. Local hearsay identifies the legendary "Kurukshetra" with a nearby obscure hamlet, and with the active abetment of the state government, it is presently experiencing a tourist boom.

A few kilometeres from Kurukshetra is the village known as "Amin
Amin Village

The village of Amin is located at a distance of about 8 kilometers from the historical city of Kurukshetra. The village used to be considered the "Tika" or head village of the Ror community till the census of 1891 by the British Raj officials....
", where there are remnants of a fort and it is said to be Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu

Abhimanyu is a tragic hero in the Hindu Indian epic poetry, the Mahabharata. He is the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, the half-sister of Lord Krishna....
's fort.

In some ancient Hindu texts, the boundaries of Kurukshetra correspond roughly to the state of Haryana. Thus according to the Taittiriya Aranyaka 5.1.1., the Kurukshetra region is south of Turghna (Srughna/Sugh in Sirhind, Punjab), north of Khandava (Delhi and Mewat
Mewat

Mewat District is a district of Haryana Haryana state in India. It is located at southern edge of Haryana. Its area is 1,912 square km and the population is one million....
 region), east of Maru (=desert) and west of Parin.

History

Kurukshetra
It is written in Puranas
Puranas

The Puranas are a group of important Hindu religious texts, notably consisting of narratives of the history of the Universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of the kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology, philosophy, and geography....
 that Kurukshetra is named after the King Kuru of Bharata
Bharata

Bharata ??? may refer to:*a name of Agni*a name of Rudra*a name of Manu , according to the Vishnu Purana*Bharata , a celebrated hero and monarch of India, first of twelve Cakravartins ...
 Dynasty,ancestor of Pandavas and Kauravas. In Vaman purana it has been elaborated that King Kuru came to settle on this land. He chose this land at the banks of Sarasvati River
Sarasvati River

The Sarasvati River is one of the chief Rigvedic rivers mentioned in ancient Hindu texts. The Nadistuti hymn in the Rigveda mentions the Sarasvati between the Yamuna in the east and the Sutlej in the west, and later Vedic texts like Tandya and Jaiminiya Brahmanas as well as the Mahabharata mention that the Sarasvati dried up in a desert....
 for imbedding spirituality with 8 virtues- austerity (tapas
Tapas

Tapas is the name of a wide variety of appetizers in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold or warm .In North America and the United Kingdom, tapas have evolved into an entire cuisine....
), truth (satya
Satya

Satya is a Sanskrit word that loosely translates into English as "truth" or "correct." It is a term of power due to its purity and meaning and has become the emblem of many peaceful social movements, particularly those centered on social justice, environmentalism and vegetarianism....
), forgiveness (kshama), kindness (daya
Daya

Daya or Compassion is a fundamental teaching of the Sikh religion. The other four qualities in the arsenal are: Truth , Contentment , Humility and Love ....
), purity (sucha
Sucha

Sucha may refer to the following places:*Sucha, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship *Sucha Beskidzka in Lesser Poland Voivodeship *Sucha, L?dz Voivodeship ...
), charity (dana
Dana

Dana may refer to:...
), yagya and brahmacharya
Brahmacharya

Brahmacharya is one of the foundational commitments in the practice of Yoga for achieving enlightenment, and is also the first ashram in Vedic culture, in which a person is dedicated to the quest for self-realisation....
.Lord Vishnu
Vishnu

Vishnu , , is the Supreme God in Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of panchadeva, and his supreme status is declared in the Hindu sacred texts like Yajurveda, the Rigveda and the Bhagavad Gita....
 was impressed with the act of King Kuru and blessed him. God gave him two boons, one that this land forever will be known as a Holy Land after his name as Kurukshetra(the land of kuru) and the other that anyone dying on this land will be going to heaven. The land of Kurukshetra was separated between two rivers — the Sarasvati and the Drishadvati. This land has been known as Uttravedi, Brahmavedi, Dharamkshetra and Kurukshetra at different periods. When King Kuru came on this land it was called Uttarvedi. Over the period this land has been ruled by many empires.Bharata
Bharata

Bharata ??? may refer to:*a name of Agni*a name of Rudra*a name of Manu , according to the Vishnu Purana*Bharata , a celebrated hero and monarch of India, first of twelve Cakravartins ...
 Dynasty came and settled on this land. Later Battle of Mahabharta was fought on this land during which Lord Krishna
Krishna

Krishna is a deity worshiped across many traditions in Hinduism in a variety of different perspectives. While many Vaishnava groups recognize him as an avatar of Vishnu, other traditions within Krishnaism consider Krishna to be svayam bhagavan, or the supreme being....
 preached Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is an important Sanskrit Hindu scripture. It is revered as a sacred scripture of Hinduism, and considered as one of the most important religious classics of the world....
 to Arjuna
Arjuna

Arjuna, Arjun or Arjunaa is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' ....
. It reached zenith of progress during the reign of King Harsha
Harsha

Harsha or Harshavardhana or "Harsha vardhan" was an Indian Rajput emperor who ruledNorthern India for fifty seven years. He was the son of Prabhakar Vardhan and younger brother of Rajyavardhan, a king of Thanesar....
 during the period of which Chinese
China

China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
 scholar Hieun Tsang visited this land at Thanesar
Thanesar

Thanesar is an old and historic town on the banks of the Ghaggar River in Haryana States and territories of India of North India India. It is located in Kurukshetra District, approximately 160 km northwest of Delhi....
. By the archaeological grounds it has been proved that Ashoka
Ashoka

Ashoka was an Indian emperor, of the Maurya Empire who ruled from 273 BCE to 232 BCE. Often cited as one of India's as well as world's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests....
 the Great made Kurukshetra a centre of learning for people from all over the world.Mughals also ruled this land. Sufi saint Sheikh Chehli's tomb on this land is an evidence of this fact.

Places of interest


  • Brahma Sarovar
    Brahma Sarovar

    Brahma Sarovar is a water tank sacred to the Dharmic religions in Thanesar.Dharmic religions lay emphasis on taking bath for internal and external purity....
    : Every year lakh
    Lakh

    A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to 100000 . It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Pakistan, and is often used in Indian English....
    s of people come to take holy bath at Brahma Sarovar on the occasion of "Somavati Amavasya" (Sacred No-Moon Day that happens on a Monday).
  • Sannihit Sarovar
    Sannihit Sarovar

    Sannihit Sarovar is believed to be the meeting point of seven sacred Saraswatis. The sarovar, according to popular belief, contains sacred water....
  • Jyotisar
    Jyotisar

    Jyotisar is a town on the Kurukshetra-Pehowa road, 5 km west of Thanesar in the Kurukshetra district of Haryana. It is a one of the most revered holy sites of the holy city of Kurukshetra....
    : The famous site where Bhagavad Gita
    Bhagavad Gita

    The Bhagavad Gita is an important Sanskrit Hindu scripture. It is revered as a sacred scripture of Hinduism, and considered as one of the most important religious classics of the world....
     was delivered to Arjuna
  • Krishna Museum: Have some historical artifacts, paintings depicting Mahabharata war.
  • Kurukshetra Panorama and Science centre: An excellent world class Panorama depicting the Mahabharata war with scientific explanations justifying every episode in the war. There are also several scientific exhibits which kindle in the visitor, a curiosity for science.
  • Kalpana Chawla Planetarium
  • Light and Sound Show : A newly built Tourist attraction which highlights some aspects of Geeta Saar in brillaint combination of lights and sound.
  • Dharohar: A must visit to know the Tradition and Culture of Haryana located in Kurukshetra University.
  • Bhishma Kund at Naraktari: The place where Arjun shot an arrow towards earth to quench Bhisma Pitamah thirst.
  • Saraswati Forest Reserve: It is a large reserved forest area with rich flora and fauna in Kurukshetra district.
  • Sheikh Chehli ka makbara (tomb): This monument is maintained by ASI. It's a nice and well maintained monument which was built during Mughal
    Mughal era

    The Mughal era is the historic period of the Mughal Empire in India, it ran from the early sixteenth century, to a point in the early eighteenth century when the Mughal Emperors' power had dwindled....
     period in remembrance of Sufi Saint Sheikh Chehli, believed to be spiritual teacher of Mughal Prince, Dara Shikoh
    Dara Shikoh

    Dara Shikoh was the eldest son of the Mughal Empire Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. His name ???? ???? in Persian language means "Darius the Magnificent"....
    .
  • Sthaneshwar Mahadev
    Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple

    The ancient Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated in Thanesar, a holy town in the Kurukshetra district of Haryana. It was here that the Pandavas prayed to Lord Shiva and received his blessings for victory in the battle of Mahabharata....
  • Kamal Nabhi
  • Bhadrakali Mandir
  • Birla Mandir
  • Pehowa
    Pehowa

    Pehowa is a city and a municipal committee in Kurukshetra district in the Indian States and territories of India of Haryana....
  • Ban Ganga

Educational Institutes


  • Kurukshetra University: Imparts various courses including professional courses like MCA, MBA.
  • National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra
    National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra

    National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra or NIT Kurukshetra is a public technical university wholly funded by Government of India.In December 2008 it have been accredited with the status of Institution of National Importance....
  • Shri Krishna Institute of Engineering and Technology
  • Ayurvedic College
  • Modern Institute of Engineering & Technology


Hospitals


  • Charitable Eye Hospital


District administration

  • The Deputy Commissioner
    Deputy Commissioner (India)

    The Deputy Commissioner or District Magistrate or District Collector heads the administration in an Indian district. The DC is required to be an Indian Administrative Service officer who is in charge of governmental assets in his district of jurisdiction....
    , an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service
    Indian Administrative Service

    The Indian Administrative Service is the Public administration civil service of the Government of India. One of the three All India Services , the IAS plays a major role in managing the bureaucracy of both the Union Government and the States and territories of India governments, with its officers holding strategic posts across the countr...
    , is the overall in-charge of the General Administration in the district
    Districts of Haryana

    Haryana, a States and territories of India of India, has twenty one administrative districts.A district of Haryana state is an administrative geographical unit, headed by a Deputy Commissioner or District Magistrate, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service....
    . He is assisted by a number of officers belonging to Haryana Civil Service and other Haryana state services.


  • The Superintendent of Police
    Superintendent of Police (India)

    A Superintendent of Police or Senior Superintendent of Police or Deputy Commissioner of Police is an officer belonging to the elite Indian Police Service.They are popular known by acronym of SP or PS....
    , an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service
    Indian Police Service

    The Indian Police Service, simply known as Indian Police or IPS, is one of the three All India Services of the Government of India; other two being Indian Administrative Service and Indian Forest Service ....
    , is responsible for maintaining Law & Order and related issues in the district. He is assisted by the officers of the Haryana Police Service and other Haryana Police officials.


  • The Deputy Conservator of Forests
    Deputy Conservator of Forests (India)

    A Deputy Conservator of Forests or, equivalently a Divisional Forest Officer is an officer belonging to the elite Indian Forest Service. The Deputy Conservator of Forests is responsible for managing the Forests, Environment and Wild-Life related issues of a Forest Division of a state or a union territory of India....
    , an officer belonging to the Indian Forest Service
    Indian Forest Service

    The Indian Forest Service is the forestry service of India. It is one of the three All India Services of the Government of India, along with the Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service; its employees are recruited by the national government but serve under the States and territories of India governments or Central Government....
    , is responsible for the management of the Forests, Environment and Wild-Life in the district. He is assisted by the officers of the Haryana Forest Service and other Haryana Forest officials and Haryana Wild-Life officials.


  • Sectoral development is looked after by the district head/officer of each development department such as PWD, Health, Education, Agriculture, Animal husbandry, etc. These officers are from various Haryana state services.


  • Shahbad
    Shahbad

    Shahbad is a city and a Local Governance in India in Kurukshetra District in the Indian States and territories of India of Haryana....
     and Ladwa
    Ladwa

    Ladwa is a city and a municipal committee in Kurukshetra District in the Indian States and territories of India of Haryana....
     are other towns in the district with a significant population


See also

  • Thanesar
    Thanesar

    Thanesar is an old and historic town on the banks of the Ghaggar River in Haryana States and territories of India of North India India. It is located in Kurukshetra District, approximately 160 km northwest of Delhi....


External links