Kurukshetra
Photo: ShashankSharma2511 (CC BY 3.0)The Mahabharata battlefield town: Brahma Sarovar, Jyotisar where the Gita was taught, Shakti Peeth temple, museums and the Gita Mahotsav.
Spend a day: dawn at Brahma Sarovar, museums by day, Sheikh Chilli's Tomb in the afternoon and the Jyotisar light-and-sound show at sunset. Come in late November for the Gita Mahotsav.
November: Gita Mahotsav begins mid-November
When to go
Things to do
- Attend aarti and deep daan at Brahma Sarovar: Best during the Gita Mahotsav.
- Watch the Jyotisar light-and-sound show: Every evening after sunset.
- Tour the Sri Krishna Museum: Closed Mondays; Rs 30 adults.
- See the war panorama and dinosaurs at the Panorama and Science Centre: Rs 50 entry; shows extra.
- Offer a clay horse at Bhadrakali Shakti Peeth
- Explore Sheikh Chilli's Tomb and madrasa: ASI; digital payment only.
- Bird watching at Saraswati sanctuary and Brahma Sarovar
- Evening aarti and deep daan during Gita Mahotsav
- Holy dip on a solar eclipse
- Light-and-sound show on the Mahabharata
Top sights
Kurukshetra Panorama and Science Centre
NCSM science centre with a 34-ft painted panorama of the Kurukshetra war, animatronic dinosaurs and a science park.
Sheikh Chilli's Tomb
ASI-run Mughal tomb and madrasa of the Sufi Abdur Razzak (Sheikh Chilli), teacher of Dara Shukoh, in Thanesar.
Shrikrishna Museum
Six-gallery museum near Brahma Sarovar on Krishna and the Mahabharata, with dioramas, miniatures and a walk-through maze.
Dharohar Museum
Kurukshetra University's folk-life museum of Haryana: about 3,000 objects in 23 galleries, mostly donated by villagers.
Bhadrakali Temple
Shakti Peeth temple (Shri Devi Koop) where devotees offer small clay and metal horses.
Jyotisar
Banyan-shaded site where Krishna is said to have taught the Gita to Arjuna; evening light-and-sound show.
Nabha House
building in India
Raja Harsh ka Tila
protected Monument
Kartikeya Temple, Pehowa
Hindu temple in Haryana, India
Bhagwanpura
archeological site in Haryana, India
Thanesar Pathar Masjid
Mosque in Haryana, India
Kalpana Chawla Memorial Planetarium
Astronomy planetarium near Jyotisar named after astronaut Kalpana Chawla, opened 24 July 2007.
Nature and outdoors
Brahma Sarovar
Huge sacred bathing tank at the heart of Kurukshetra, centre of the Gita Mahotsav and solar-eclipse bathing fairs.
Tubewell Park
Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary
village in Haryana, India
Athletic Ground
O.P. Jindal Park
Harshverdhan Park
Rose Garden
Theme Park
NIT Kurukshetra Park
AE Lawns, NIT Kurukshetra
H-4 Dronacharya Bhavan
Crocodile Breeding Centre
The centre has around 10 male and 10 female mugger crocodiles which you can see up close. The guides are very knowledgeable.
Where to eat
Pizza Hut, Thanesar
Spot Light Hotel & Restaurant - Finest Dining & Stay on Shahbad-Ladwa Road | Near Jindheri, Haryana
Kohinoor Punjabi Vaishno Dhaba
Black Beans Cafe - Most Hygienic & Trending Coffee Shop in Kurukshetra
Cafe Feca
Barista
Eve's Cafe
Domino's, Thanesar
Hot Sizziles Restaurant
Aman Dhaba Petrol pump
Kukreja Food Point
Subway, Samana bahu
Shopping
Nearby
Other destinations close to Kurukshetra.