Haryana is the 16th largest state in India. This state has a very fertile land and is called the Green Land of India. The state is bordered by Uttar Pradesh in east, Punjab in west, Himachal Pradesh in north and Rajasthan in south. Union Territory of Delhi is landlocked on 3 sides by Haryana.
Haryana can be divided into two natural areas; sub-Himalayan Terai and Indo-Gangetic plain. The plain is fertile and slopes from north to south with a height above sea level, averaging between 700 and 900 ft. South-west of Haryana is dry, sandy and barren. Haryana has no perennial river. The only river which flows through Haryana is the Ghaggar, which passes through northern fringes of the state. For most parts of the year, climate of Haryana is extreme, summers are very hot and winters are extremely cold. Temperatures in summer generally shoot up to 47° C (117° F) and in winters the temperature ranges from 5° to 9° C (41° to 48° F), occasionally dropping to freezing.
Haryana has a single-chamber legislature with 90 seats. The state sends 15 members to the Indian national parliament: five to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and ten to the Lok Sabha (Lower House). Local government is based on 16 districts. Chandigarh is the shared capital of Haryana and Punjab.
Haryana Facts
Below is a table representing important facts about Haryana
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History of Haryana
The region now known as Haryana--the Madhyama Dis (middle region) of the Later Vedic Period (c. 800-500 BC)--was the birthplace of the Hindu religion. It was in this area that the first hymns of the so-called Aryans were sung and the most ancient manuscripts were written. Urban settlements in Ghaggar Valley date from before 3000 BC. From about 1500 BC, Aryan tribes became the first of many groups to invade the region. The area was the home of the legendary Bharata dynasty, which gave India its Hindi name, Bharat. The epic battle between the Kauravas and Pandavas, recorded in the Indian epic poem, the Mahabharata, took place at Kurukshetra. In the 3rd century BC, the area was incorporated into the Mauryan Empire. It later became an important power base for the Mughals; the battle of Panipat in 1526 established Mughal rule in India. The area was ceded to British in 1803. In 1832 it was transferred to the then North-Western Provinces, and in 1858 Haryana became a part of Punjab, remaining as such after the partition of India in 1947. The demand for a Haryana state, however, was raised even before India's independence in 1947. Lala Lajpat Rai and Asaf Ali, prominent figures in the national movement, advocated a separate state of Haryana. Sri Ram Sharma, a veteran freedom fighter, headed a Haryana Development Committee to focus attention on the concept of an autonomous state. The demand for unilingual states by Sikhs and Hindus gained momentum in the early 1960s. In 1966, with the passage of the Punjab Reorganization Act (and in accordance with the earlier recommendations of the States Reorganization Commission), Haryana became India's 17th state.
Society and Culture
Hindus constitute about 90 percent of Haryana's population. Most of the state's Sikh population is located in the northeast and northwest; Muslims are concentrated in the southeastern districts adjoining Delhi. Jats (a peasant caste) form the backbone of Haryana's agricultural economy. Although roughly 75 percent of the population is rural, cities have been growing rapidly as commercial, industrial, and agricultural marketing centers.
Haryanvis are simple, straight-forward, enterprising and hard-working. Preserving their old religious and social traditions, they celebrate festivals with traditional fervor. The region has its popular folklores, folksongs and musical instruments. The women are devoted and diligent and assist their men-folk on the farms. The people have simple food habits. They are known for their love for cattle and the abundance of milk and curd in their diet.
The lively spring festival of Holi is celebrated by people showering colored powder (or colored powder mixed with water) on each other, irrespective of age or social status. Janmastami, the birthday of Krishna, is of special religious importance in Haryana because it was on a battlefield at Kurukshetra that Krishna is said to have delivered to the warrior Arjuna the teachings contained in the Bhagavadgita.
The solar eclipse bathing festival at Kurukshetra attracts more than half a million pilgrims from various parts of India. Among numerous ancient pilgrimage centers in the state are Agroha (near Hisar) and Pehowa. The latter, situated on the bank of the sacred Sarasvati River (identified in the Vedas with Sarasvati, a Hindu goddess of learning and the arts), is considered the premier place for performing propitiatory rites (sraddha pinda) for ancestors. Fairs in honor of various deities and saints are an important element of Haryana culture. Cattle fairs are also held at several locations.
Economy and Infrastructure
Most of the land in Haryana is suitable for agriculture and 60 percent is irrigated. More than three-fourths of the population is employed in agriculture. The state is a major producer of wheat and rice. Other important crops include oilseeds, sugarcane, cotton, potatoes, pulses (edible seeds gathered from pea and bean crops), barley, millet, and maize. Production has been stimulated by Haryana's closeness to the markets of New Delhi and (Old) Delhi, good road and rail links, and the use of fertilizers and improved seeds. Haryana is renowned for its prizewinning steers and dairy cattle. The state has an extensive rail system. Delhi, on Haryana's eastern boundary, serves as the main air traffic hub.
The state also has a very sound industrial base. Major industries include cotton and woolen textiles, scientific instruments, glass, cement, paper and sugar milling, automobiles, tires, bicycles, and electronic equipment. Haryana is India's largest producer of automobile spare parts. Haryana produces the largest number of tractors in the country. It is well known for its handloom products. Panipat has earned the reputation of being the "weaver's city" of India for its exquisite hand- tufted woolen carpets and colorful handloom products.
Haryana is a beneficiary of the multi-purpose project on Setluj with Beas, where it shares benefit with Punjab and Rajasthan. Major irrigation projects are Western Yamuna Canal, Bhakra Canal System and Gurgaon Canal. The state has completed Jui Loharu and Sewani lift irrigation schemes. Jawaharlal Nehru irrigation scheme, the biggest of its kind shall be completed soon. Haryana is well connected by rail, air and road network. With a total road network of 23106 kms, it has airports at Pinjore, Karnal, Hisar , Bhiwani and Narnaul. Haryana has network of 44 Tourist Complexes in the state and caters to about 70 lakh tourists every year. Some of the important tourist complexes are: Ambala, Badkhal Lake, Bhiwani, Chandigarh, Dharuhera, and Faridabad
Hotels of Haryana
Increasing as an important tourist center Hotels in Haryana are mushrooming all over the state. Known for their traditional hospitality and exquisite cuisine the hotels in Haryana are the apt place to make your stay memorable.
Location of Haryana in India
Geographically located at 30.73° N and 76.78° E, the state of Haryana lies in the northern part of the country of India. Being included in India's National Capital Region, the state is bordered by Himachal Pradesh and Punjab towards its north, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand towards its east and Rajasthan towards its south and west.
Capital of Haryana
The capital city of Haryana is Chandigarh, which is even the capital of the state of Punjab.
Largest city of Haryana
The largest city of Haryana is Faridabad.
What is Haryana famous for?
This state of north India is historically known for being a part of the famous Kuru region of the country as well as the cradle to the Indus Valley Civilization. However, presently, the place is a major hub of automobile and I. T. (Information Technology) industries of India. It is the nation's leading manufacturer of tractors, passenger cars and two-wheelers. Besides that, the state leads other states in terms of milk and food grain production in India.
Ttotal covering area of Haryana
The state of Haryana is stretched over an area of 44, 212 sq. km.
Latest population of Haryana
The total population of this state, as per the report published after Census 2011, is 25, 353, 081 with a population density of 573.4 per sq. km.
Literacy rate of Haryana
This north Indian state has got a literacy rate of 71.4 %.
Official languages of Haryana
The official languages of this industrial hub of India are Haryanavi, Punjabi and English.
Climatic condition of Haryana
The location of the state in the northern plains of India makes the place very hot during summer and too cold during winter. However, the different climatic conditions of this state of northern India experiences three distinctive seasons. The months of May and June are the hottest months where temperature rises up to 50° C whereas the months of December and January are the coldest months of the year where the temperature can go down to as low as 1° C. The rainy season in Haryana sets in during the month of July and continues till September. 80 % of the total rainfall occurs during this period, which even causes flood at times.
Best time to visit this state of north India?
Though this north Indian state of Haryana can be visited throughout the year, but the period in between the months of October and March is the best time to visit the place.
How to reach the state?
The state of Haryana, being one of the major industrial hubs of the country is quite well connected to the neighboring states as well as other parts of India by air, road and railways.
- By airways: The state is connected to Delhi, Leh, Jammu and Shrinagar through the flights plied by Indian Airlines to and from the Chandigarh Airport, which is the nearest airport to the state. Besides that, there are public aerodromes located at Bhiwani, Hissar, Karnal, Narnaul and Pinjore, which even serve the state. Vayudoot Services links Haryana to Delhi, Gaggad and Kulu via Chandigarh.
- By railways: Chandigarh Railway Station, which is Northern Railway's terminus, connects the state to Bombay, Kalka, Delhi and several other main cities of India. Other linking railway stations are situated at Ambala, Hissar, Jakhal, Jind, Kalka, Kurukshetra, Panipat and Rohtak.
- By roadways: Roads stretching over about 34, 772 kms, the state is connected both internally and externally through roads. Apart from that proximity to the national capital of Delhi helps the state easily connect to the other parts of the country through a number of State as well as National Highways.
Are there any tourist attractions in Haryana, India?
The state of Haryana has got a network of forty four tourist complexes to promote tourism. Some of the most visited tourist places in Haryana are as follows:
- Badhkal Lake
- Dumdama Lake
- Karna
- Kurukshetra
- Magpie Surajkund
- Morni Hills
- Panchkula
- Panipat
- Prithaviraj Ki Kutchery
- Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary
- Thaneswar
- Tilyar Lake
- Yadavindra Gardens
Last Updated on : 1st April 2013
