CHANDIGARH | KURUKSHETRA | SULTANPUR BIRD SANTURY
Haryana is a state in north India. It was carved out of the state of Punjab in 1966. It is
bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and Rajasthan to the west
and south. Eastern border to Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh is defined by river
Yamuna. Haryana also surrounds Delhi on three sides, forming the northern,
western and southern borders of Delhi.
The capital of Haryana is Chandigarh which is administered as a union territory and is also the capital of Punjab.
The name Haryana itself means “The Abode of God,” from Hari (the Hindu god
Vishnu [Visnu]) and ayana (home). It is well known for its wheat, rice, and milk
production. In addition to the river Yamuna and Ghaggar, seasonal rivers such as
the Markanda, and Tangri pass through the state. Numerous irrigation canals that
cross the state, bringing water for irrigation from the perennial rivers of the
Himalayas. The land is generally flat, covered with loamy soil and very suitable for
agriculture. The southwestern area of the state is drier and sandier. There are some
hilly areas, which form part of Siwalik Hills in the north-east and Aravalli Range in the
south. The climate is continental, with extremes of heat in summer. Monsoon winds
bring adequate rainfall between July and September.
The ancient Saraswati River flowed through the northern part of present-day Haryana, and many consider the dry Ghaggar-Hakra River river bed to be that of the Saraswati. Many settlements dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization have been found along this river bed, at Naurangabad and Mittathal in Bhiwani District, Kunal, in Fatehabad District, Agroha and Rakhigarhi in Hisar District, Rukhi in Rohtak District and Banawali in Sirsa District. The ancient Vedic civilization also flourished on the banks of the Saraswati, and the hymns of Rigveda were composed here.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Time zone - IST (UTC+5:30)
Area - 44,212 km² (17,070 sq mi)
Capital - Chandigarh
Largest city - Faridabad
District(s) - 20
Population - 21,082,989 (16th)
Density - 477/km² (1,235/sq mi)
Language(s) - Hindi and Punjabi
