India Tour Packages

When you are visiting the Indian capital city - Delhi, there are several genuine reasons to pay a visit to the nearby state of Haryana. Of course, due to its location close to Delhi, Haryana has gained much popularity in the tourist map of India, but the state itself offers a number of attractions which attract thousands of tourists every year. From charming tourist destinations to tranquil pilgrimage centers, from traditional arts and crafts to modern technologies, from golfing to exciting adventure sports, Haryana offers plenty of attractions for visitors.

Situated in the northern part of India, Haryana is bordered by the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in the north, Rajasthan in the west and south and Uttar Pradesh in the east. Haryana itself surrounds Delhi from three sides, forming the northern, western and southern boundaries of the National Capital Region. For administrative purpose, Haryana is divided into four divisions namely – Ambala, Gurgaon, Hisar and Rohtak and it spreads over an area of 44,212 sq. Kms. The Union territory of Chandigarh is its capital, while the cities of Gurgaon, Panipat, Faridabad and Panchkula are industrial hubs of the state.

So, while you visit Delhi, must head towards Haryana to see some of the wonderful locations as well as tourist attractions of India. Undoubtedly, a trip to Haryana will add more to your memorable journey of India.

History of Haryana

The region of Haryana is one of the oldest known areas of settlement in Indian subcontinent. History of Haryana can be divided into four parts namely the Ancient period, Medieval period, British India and Independent India.

Ancient Period: In the ancient period the Saraswati River flowed through the northern part of the state and many believe that the dry Ghaggar-Hakra River was the river bed of the ancient Saraswati river. During the Indus Valley Civilization, a number of settlements were concentrated along this river bed. The Vedic Civilization also flourished on the banks of the river Saraswati and the hymns of the Rigveda were written here. The great epic of India, Mahabharata mentions Haryana as Bahudhhanyaka (land of plentiful grains) and Bahudhana (land of immense riches). In truth, many places mentioned in Mahabharata now correspond to modern cities in Haryana that include Panprastha (Panipat), Prithudaka (Pehowa), Tilprastha (Tilput) and Sonaprastha (Sonipat).

Medieval Period: In the 7th century A.D, after defeating the Huns, King Harshavardhana established his capital at Thanesar close to Kurukhestra. Following the death of the king, the kingdom disintegrated but the region remained important for the rulers of Delhi. In the 12th century A.D, Prithviraj Chauhan established a fort at Hansi. Later Mohammed Ghori conquered this area in the 2nd Battle of Tarain, after his death, the Delhi Sultanate was established that ruled over the region for several centuries. The three well-known battles of Panipat took place near the modern town of Panipat in the year 1526, 1566 and 1761. In the first battle of Panipat, Babur, the ruler of Kabul defeated Ibrahim Lodi of the Delhi Sultanate and marked the beginning of Mughal Empire in India, while the third battle marked the end of the Maratha Empire in India. British India: During British regime, most of Haryana was the part of the Punjab province and some parts were under the princely states of Nabha, Jind and Patiala. In the Indian rebellion of 1857 several leaders from Haryana including Rao Tula Ram participated actively.

Independent India: After India's independence, Haryana remained a part of Punjab. On 1st November, 1966 the eastern portion of Punjab was carved out as the separate state of Haryana. The union territory of Chandigarh was declared the state capital.

Haryana - Tourist Destinations

Of course, Haryana has few tourist destinations but they offer several attractions for tourists visiting the state. If you’re going from Delhi to any popular destination in north – Agra, Jaipur, Amritsar, Kashmir etc. You have to cross Haryana. Chandigarh, the capital city of the state, houses a number of tourist attractions. Gurgaon, Panipat, Ambala, Faridabad and Panchkula are some of the other important destinations of the state.

Karnataka - Adventure

A charming land, Karnataka is surfeited with magnificent mountains, mighty rivers, ravishing rivulets, lovely becks, shimmering rivulets, dense primeval forests and host of several other natural resources. All these natural jewels together make Karnataka a popular destination for adventure sports like trekking, parasailing, Paragliding, hang-gliding, wildlife safari, rock climbing, mountaineering, river rafting, angling, surfing, kayaking, scuba diving and canoeing.

Temples of Karnataka

Popular temples of Karnataka display great works of art and reveal the splendor of some of the great dynasties in power, in the past. Apart from that there are several pilgrimage places located within this state that see a lot of pilgrims who come to pay homage every year. Some famous temples in Karnataka are the ISKCON Temple, Hoysaleshvara Temple, Kedareshvara Temple, Indragiri Hill, Chandragiri Hill, Krishna Temple Udupi, Virupaksha Temple.

Wildlife of Karnataka

Karnataka is dotted with wildlife reserves and forest tracts. Evergreen forests of the Western Ghats and the tracts lying to the south of Vindhyas hold a plethora of living forms. A number of wildlife sanctuaries and parks lie abutted by the state boundaries. The reserves support hundreds of species, of plants and animals. Some major wildlife reserves include Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary.

How to Reach

By Air: A total of five airports render their services in the region. These airports are located at Bangalore, Hubli, Mysore, Belgaum and Mangalore. Domestic and international flights operate from these airports.
By Railways: Karnataka state is well connected with rail lines that lay spread all over. Railway networks cover about 3090kms in Karnataka. Major rail heads in the state are Bangalore, Hubli-Dharwad, Mangalore, Hassan, Gulbarga and Belgaum.
By Road: Road network further connects different cities and towns of Karnataka. The state sees a total of six national highways providing the access to the state. The interiors of Karnataka are served by state highways and rural roads. Buses, minibuses, rickshaws and taxis are some popular means of transport.

Shopping at Karnataka

Karnataka shopping presents a whole new dimension to the state as a result of which tourists pour in throughout the year to purchase truly scintillating works of art. The Shopaholics will not be disappointed on a tour of Karnataka as the shopping opportunities are numerous. If you possess a mellow spot for shopping, Karnataka is the ideal venue for you to explore the exquisitely renovated and extremely alluring shopping malls. If you want to enhance the decor of your living room with the one of kind sandalwood carvings or drape yourself in an expensive and intricately ornamented silk saree, Karnataka shopping will furnish you with these articles at an astonishingly affordable price.