🕉️ HTDC – Haryana Tourism Development Corporation

Overview

Haryana, often called the Land of the Bhagavad Gita, is a region of profound spiritual importance. Kurukshetra, where Lord Krishna delivered the Gita to Arjuna, is the state’s spiritual heart, complemented by Jyotisar, sacred tanks, Shakti temples, and Sufi shrines. Haryana is also known for its vibrant fairs, folk traditions, and heritage linked to the Mahabharata. The Haryana Tourism Development Corporation (HTDC), established in 1974, manages tourist complexes, pilgrim facilities, cultural packages, and heritage tours, ensuring that seekers and pilgrims can immerse themselves in the sacred heritage of Haryana.

🌿 Preserving Haryana’s Cultural & Heritage Tourism

HTDC plays a central role in highlighting the state’s spiritual and cultural heritage through:

  • Pilgrimage Circuits – Kurukshetra, Jyotisar, Shakti Peethas, and Sufi shrines.
  • Tourist Complexes & Lodges – pilgrim accommodations across towns.
  • Heritage Walks & Gita-Themed Tours – centered on Kurukshetra and Mahabharata sites.
  • Festival Tourism – supporting the grand Gita Jayanti Mahotsav and other cultural fairs.
  • Cultural Promotion – preserving Haryanvi folk art, fairs, and rural traditions.

🕉️ Spiritual & Pilgrimage Tours by HTDC

Haryana is synonymous with Kurukshetra and the Bhagavad Gita, supported by HTDC packages and facilities:

  • Kurukshetra – The battlefield of the Mahabharata, now a sacred pilgrimage city.
  • Jyotisar (Kurukshetra) – The spot where Lord Krishna delivered the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, marked by a holy banyan tree and temple.
  • Brahma Sarovar (Kurukshetra) – A sacred water tank where pilgrims take holy dips.
  • Sannihit Sarovar – Believed to be the meeting point of seven sacred Saraswatis, visited for ritual baths.
  • Kartik Cultural Festival – Celebrated at Kurukshetra’s ghats with lights, rituals, and cultural performances.
  • Shakti Temples (Kaithal, Kalayat, and others) – Important centers of Devi worship.
  • Pehowa – A sacred site for performing pind daan rituals for ancestors.
  • Sufi Shrines – Including Dargah of Sheikh Chilli at Thanesar.

🏨 Accommodation – HTDC Tourist Complexes & Hotels

HTDC manages a chain of tourist complexes and lodges, many strategically located near spiritual centers:

  • Karur Tourist Complex (Kurukshetra) – Convenient for Gita-related pilgrimages.
  • Jyotisar Lodges – Near the sacred banyan tree where the Gita was revealed.
  • Tourist Bungalows in Pehowa, Thanesar, and Yamunanagar – For pilgrims and cultural explorers.
  • Urban Complexes (Ambala, Panipat) – Near heritage and battle sites.

These properties are affordable, safe, and geared towards pilgrims and heritage travelers.

🎉 Festivals & Cultural Programs Supported by HTDC

Haryana celebrates festivals tied to both Hindu epics and local traditions, with HTDC supporting them:

  • Gita Jayanti Mahotsav (Kurukshetra) – Celebrating the revelation of the Bhagavad Gita with yajnas, processions, and spiritual discourses.
  • Kartik Festival (Kurukshetra) – A sacred bathing festival at Brahma Sarovar.
  • Navratri Celebrations (Shakti Temples) – At Devi shrines across the state.
  • Surajkund Crafts Mela (Faridabad) – While cultural in nature, it promotes rural heritage and spirituality.
  • Urs at Sufi Shrines – Honoring saints, especially Sheikh Chilli at Thanesar.

🛕 Sacred Treks & Religious Journeys

While Haryana is not a high-altitude trekking state, it offers pilgrim circuits and walks that embody devotion:

  • Kurukshetra Heritage Walks – Covering Brahma Sarovar, Jyotisar, and Gita-related temples.
  • Pehowa Pilgrim Circuits – Ritual journeys for ancestor worship.
  • Shakti Temple Trails – Circuits across Devi shrines in Kaithal, Kalayat, and other towns.
  • Sufi Pilgrimage Circuits – Walks around dargahs and shrines.

đź“Ś Practical Information

  • Official Website: Haryana Tourism Development Corporation (HTDC)
  • Booking Options: Tourist complexes, lodges, and pilgrimage packages bookable online.
  • Best Time to Visit:
    • November–December: For Gita Jayanti Mahotsav.
    • October–March: Pleasant weather for temple and heritage circuits.
    • Kartik Purnima: For sacred bathing at Brahma Sarovar.

🌸 Why Choose HTDC for Spiritual & Heritage Travel?

  • Authenticity – Government-backed, ensuring safe and reliable pilgrim services.
  • Gita Heritage Focus – Exclusive access to Kurukshetra, Jyotisar, and related sites.
  • Festival Access – Special support during Gita Jayanti and Kartik bathing festivals.
  • Sacred Diversity – Shakti temples, pind daan rituals, and Sufi shrines.

For seekers of the Bhagavad Gita’s wisdom and Mahabharata’s sacred geography, HTDC is the trusted gateway to Haryana’s pilgrim circuits and cultural soul.