Kurukshetra

Site Name: Kurukshetra

Site Type: Religious site

Location:  Near Chandigarh, Haryana state, India

Highlights: One of the most important holy sites for Hindus; the site where the epic war of Mahabharat took place

Nearest Railway Station: Kurukshetra

Nearest Airport: Chandigarh, 100 kms from Kurukshetra

How to reach: Well connected by road from Delhi and Chandigarh

Hotel: Very limited options; go to Chandigarh or Delhi for better options

Restaurants: Very limited options; go to Chandigarh or Delhi for better options

Kurukshetra is one of the most important religious sites for Hindus. It is believed that the famous Mahabharat battle as stated in the Mahabharat epic took place in this site. It is also believed that Lord Krishna preached the holy Bhagavad Gita to Arjun in this site. Let us explore some important place of interest in Kurukshetra.

Sthaneswar Mahadev Temple

Sthaneswar Mahadev Temple is the most popular Shiva temple in Kurukshetra. It is believed that the Pandavas of Mahabharat worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple and got blessed to win the battle of Mahabharat.

Bhadra Kali Temple

Adjacent to Sthaneswar Mahadev temple, the temple of Bhadra Kali is located. It is one of 51 Shakti Peethas. It is believed that the right ankle of Sati fell down in this site and hence it became a Shakti Peetha. The site is also called as Savitri Peetha. 

Kamalnabhi Temple

It is a small temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu with a lotus pond behind the temple.

Bhisma Kund

Bhisma Kund, which is also called as Ban Ganga, is the site where Bhisma of Mahabharat epic fell on the battle field. The Pandavas and Kauravas gathered to meet him. He requested both the parties to quench his thirst. The Kauravas offered him water, but he denied to accept that. Arjun hit an arrow on the ground and water gushed out from there. Bhisma got his thirst quenched with this water. It has become a stepwell and is called as Bhisma Kund. It is believed that Bhisma remained on the bed of arrows for 58 days in this site. 

A recent time statue of Bhisma on the bed of arrows and a tall statue of Hanuman are found near the Kund.

Jyotisar

Jyotisar is the most sacred site of the sacred city of Kurukshetra. Lord Krishna preached Bhagavad Gita to Arjun in this site, it is believed. It is said that Adi Shankaracharya discovered this site. 

There is a big banyan tree found here. The devotees consider that as very sacred and they believe that the tree is around 5000 years old.

The 9th or 10th century temple which was located here might have been destroyed by the invaders. Some architecture remains of the temple are found now.

A modern day statue of Krishna preaching Gita to Arjun is found near the holy banyan tree.

Brahma Sarovar

Brahma Sarovar is a huge tank located at the center of Kurukshetra. It is believed that the tank was excavated by the King Kuru, the ancestor of the Pandavas. For hundreds of years, the devotees take dip here during solar eclipse as it is considered equal to performing so many Ashwamedha yagnas. 

It is also believed that Yudhishtra, the elder Pandava, erected a victory tower in the middle of the tank after winning the Mahabharat battle.

There is a small Shiva temple called as Sarveswar Mahadev temple located on the banks of this tank. It is believed that the Shiva Linga was installed by Lord Brahma. 

Birla Temple

The marble temples built by the late business man Jugal Birla across many holy cities of India are called as Birla temples. Kurukshetra also has one such temple, which is also called as Gita temple. The marble statues of the chariot being drawn by the four horses, with Lord Krishna seated on it and preaching Gita to the warrior Arjun are very attractive. 

Sannehit Sarovar

Sannehit Sarovar is an important tank in Kurukshetra. The word Sannehit means assembly. It is believed that all the sacred waters assemble in this tank during the solar eclipse day and amavasya day. 

Sri Krishna Museum

A lot of ancient sculptures found in and around Kurukshetra are placed in this small but interesting museum.

Happy travelling.