Pariksha SaathiLesson 10 of 10 · Haryana General Knowledge
Monuments, Tourist Places and Famous Personalities of Haryana
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Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra is Haryana's best-known pilgrimage centre. Brahma Sarovar, a vast sacred tank, draws lakhs of pilgrims for a holy dip during solar eclipses and is the main venue of the Gita Mahotsav; Sannihit Sarovar is another revered tank nearby. Jyotisar, on the Pehowa road, is revered as the place where Krishna delivered the Gita to Arjuna and is marked by an old banyan tree; the Kalpana Chawla Memorial Planetarium stands nearby. Other sites include the Bhadrakali temple (a Shaktipeeth), the Sthaneshwar Mahadev temple at Thanesar, Bhishma Kund at Narkatari, the Kurukshetra Panorama and Science Centre and the Shri Krishna Museum.
Sheikh Chilli's tomb and Harsh ka Tila
At Thanesar stands the tomb of the Sufi saint known as Sheikh Chehli, popularly Sheikh Chilli, said to have been a spiritual guide of the Mughal prince Dara Shikoh. Built in the 17th century in the Persian style, with a white marble dome, a madrasa and gardens, it is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Next to it lies the large mound of Harsh ka Tila, linked with Harshavardhana's capital Sthanvishvara.
Pinjore, Surajkund and other monuments
The Pinjore Garden (Yadavindra Gardens) near Panchkula was laid out in the 17th century by Nawab Fidai Khan, a foster brother of Aurangzeb, in the Mughal style on seven descending terraces with water channels, fountains and pavilions such as the Sheesh Mahal and Rang Mahal; it was later restored by Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala and renamed after him. Surajkund near Faridabad is a 10th-century amphitheatre-like reservoir attributed to the Tomar king Surajpal, and the nearby Anangpur dam is also linked with the Tomars. Narnaul has the tomb of Ibrahim Khan Sur, the Jal Mahal and Birbal ka Chhatta; Hisar has Firoz Shah's palace with the Gujri Mahal and the Lat ki Masjid, and the Jahaz Kothi; and Hansi has the old Asigarh fort.
Kos Minars and Panipat
Kos Minars are solid, round brick pillars that the Mughals, from Akbar's reign onwards, built about one kos (roughly 3 km) apart along the royal road from Agra through Delhi to Lahore, the forerunner of the Grand Trunk Road. Several survive in Haryana, in Faridabad, Palwal, Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal and Kurukshetra districts, as protected monuments. Panipat keeps the memory of its three battles: the Panipat Museum explains them, Kala Amb marks the field of 1761, and the town also has Ibrahim Lodi's tomb, Babur's Kabuli Bagh mosque, a memorial to Hemu and the dargah of the Sufi saint Bu Ali Shah Qalandar.
Tourism
Haryana Tourism pioneered highway tourism with a chain of tourist complexes on the main roads, many named after birds, such as Blue Jay at Samalkha, Skylark at Panipat and Parakeet at Pipli. Other attractions are the Morni hills and Tikkar Tal, the Sultanpur and Kalesar national parks, the Badkhal and Damdama lakes, Agroha Dham, Adi Badri, the Mansa Devi temple at Panchkula and the excavated mounds of Rakhigarhi.
Personalities in public life
Sir Chhotu Ram (Deenbandhu), Pt. Neki Ram Sharma (Haryana Kesari) and Rao Tula Ram are the region's freedom-era icons, and Lala Lajpat Rai began his public life at Hisar. Chaudhary Devi Lal, born in present Sirsa district and called 'Tau', was Deputy Prime Minister of India (1989-1991). Sushma Swaraj, born in Ambala Cantonment, became a Haryana cabinet minister at 25, later the first woman Chief Minister of Delhi and Minister of External Affairs.
Science, adventure and the arts
Kalpana Chawla, born in Karnal, became the first woman of Indian origin to go into space, aboard the space shuttle Columbia (STS-87) in 1997, and died when Columbia broke up on re-entry on 1 February 2003. Santosh Yadav of Rewari district was the first woman to climb Mount Everest twice (1992 and 1993). In the arts the great names are Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Lakhmi Chand and Babu Balmukund Gupt, and in sport Kapil Dev, Vijender Singh, Saina Nehwal, Sakshi Malik and Neeraj Chopra.
Key facts
- Brahma Sarovar (Kurukshetra): sacred tank, holy dip at solar eclipses, main venue of the Gita Mahotsav. Jyotisar: Gita sermon site with an old banyan tree.
- Sheikh Chilli's tomb (Thanesar): 17th-century Mughal tomb of a Sufi saint said to be Dara Shikoh's spiritual guide; ASI-protected; next to Harsh ka Tila.
- Pinjore (Yadavindra) Gardens: laid out by Nawab Fidai Khan in the 17th century on seven terraces; renamed after Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala.
- Surajkund (Faridabad): 10th-century amphitheatre-like reservoir of the Tomar king Surajpal; venue of the crafts mela. Anangpur dam nearby is also Tomar.
- Kos Minars: Mughal milestones about one kos (roughly 3 km) apart on the Agra-Delhi-Lahore road; several survive in Faridabad, Palwal, Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal and Kurukshetra.
- Panipat: Panipat Museum, Kala Amb (the 1761 field), Ibrahim Lodi's tomb, Kabuli Bagh mosque, Hemu's memorial, dargah of Bu Ali Shah Qalandar.
- Narnaul: Ibrahim Khan Sur's tomb, Jal Mahal, Birbal ka Chhatta. Hisar: Gujri Mahal, Lat ki Masjid, Jahaz Kothi. Hansi: Asigarh fort.
- Kalpana Chawla (Karnal): first woman of Indian origin in space (Columbia, 1997); died in the Columbia disaster on 1 February 2003.
- Santosh Yadav (Rewari): first woman to climb Everest twice (1992, 1993). Devi Lal ('Tau'): Deputy PM 1989-1991. Sushma Swaraj (Ambala Cantt): Haryana minister at 25, first woman CM of Delhi.
Quick revision
Kurukshetra: Brahma Sarovar, Sannihit Sarovar, Jyotisar (Gita site, banyan), Bhadrakali Shaktipeeth; Thanesar: Sheikh Chilli's tomb (17th century, Dara Shikoh's guide), Harsh ka Tila; Pinjore Gardens (Fidai Khan, seven terraces, Yadavindra Singh); Surajkund (Tomar Surajpal); Kos Minars on the Agra-Lahore road; Panipat: Kala Amb, Lodi's tomb, Kabuli Bagh, Bu Ali Shah Qalandar; Kalpana Chawla (Karnal, 1997, 2003); Santosh Yadav (Everest twice); Devi Lal; Sushma Swaraj.