Haryana
Photos: Amrahsnihcas (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Vishalbhatia93 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · RAJIVVASUDEV (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Delhi's neighbour state: Gurugram's towers and nightlife, Mahabharata sites at Kurukshetra, Surajkund's crafts mela, Pinjore's Mughal garden, Morni Hills and old Tughlaq and Mughal towns.
Haryana wraps around Delhi on three sides, so most trips are short: weekends in Gurugram and Faridabad by metro, a day on the Grand Trunk Road to Kurukshetra, the Shivalik foothills at Pinjore and Morni near Chandigarh, and heritage stops at Rewari, Hisar and Narnaul. October to March is the season.
Highlights: Kurukshetra: Brahma Sarovar, Jyotisar and the Gita Mahotsav · Surajkund International Crafts Mela (February) · Sultanpur National Park for winter birds · Pinjore (Yadavindra) Gardens and Morni Hills · Rewari Railway Heritage Museum and its working steam engines · Firoz Shah palace complex, Hisar, and the Harappan site of Rakhigarhi · Cyber Hub and Sector 29 nightlife in Gurugram · Murthal parathas on the GT Road
When to go
Green best · blue good · red avoid · this month outlinedDestinations
Towns, valleys and cities worth the trip, with how they rate this month.
Gurugram
Ramsar wetland and bird sanctuary 14 km from Gurugram; best December-February for migratory waterfowl; closed Tuesdays and June-September.
Faridabad
Industrial city south of Delhi best known for Surajkund: the 10th-century reservoir and February's international crafts mela.
Rewari
Old south-Haryana town with the Rewari Railway Heritage Museum and its working steam engines, brassware bazaars and 1857 history.
Panchkula
Chandigarh's Haryana twin and gateway to the Morni Hills: Mansa Devi temple, Nada Sahib, the Cactus Garden and treks to Tikkar Taal.
Hisar
Firoz Shah Tughlaq's 1354 city: palace complex with Lat ki Masjid, Victorian church, deer park, and day trips to Agroha and Rakhigarhi.
Kurukshetra
The Mahabharata battlefield town: Brahma Sarovar, Jyotisar where the Gita was taught, Shakti Peeth temple, museums and the Gita Mahotsav.
Pinjore
Shivalik foothill town with the 17th-century Mughal terraced Pinjore (Yadavindra) Gardens and the Bhima Devi temple ruins.
Top sights
Kingdom of Dreams
Former Bollywood-style theatre and food complex in Sector 29; sealed in 2022 and damaged by fires.
Museo Camera
Not-for-profit photography museum in DLF Phase IV with over 4,000 cameras.
Firoz Shah palace complex
Tughlaq citadel of 1354 with Lat ki Masjid, an Ashokan pillar, baradari and underground chambers.
Asigarh Fort
11th-century fort at Hansi, restored by the ASI in 1937.
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.
Jal Mahal
Akbar-era water palace built by Shah Quli Khan in a former artificial lake.
Nada Sahib
Gurdwara on the Ghaggar where Guru Gobind Singh halted in 1688 after the Battle of Bhangani.
Nature and outdoors
Sultanpur National Park
Ramsar-listed bird sanctuary 14 km from Gurugram: lake, 4 km trail, watchtowers and winter migrants.
Surajkund
10th-century Tomar-era sun reservoir in the Aravallis, venue of the Surajkund International Crafts Mela.
Yadavindra Gardens
17th-century Mughal terraced garden of about 100 acres with Shish Mahal, Rang Mahal and Jal Mahal; lit up at night.
Brahma Sarovar
Huge sacred bathing tank at the heart of Kurukshetra, centre of the Gita Mahotsav and solar-eclipse bathing fairs.
Blue Bird Lake
Haryana Tourism lake in Hisar with boating, birding and picnic lawns.
Deer Park, Hisar
1971 deer park on Hisar's outskirts with blackbuck, chital, sambar and nilgai; herbal park next door.
National Cactus and Succulent Botanical Garden
Seven-acre garden in Sector 5 with over 3,500 cactus and succulent species, founded 1987.
Tikkar Taal
Twin lakes in the Morni Hills with a Trimurti temple and Haryana Tourism lakeside facilities.
Things to do
Devi Art Foundation
The Devi Art Foundation is one of the first not-for-profit spaces dedicated to showcasing contemporary art from the Indian Subcontinent. It is envisioned as a space that will enable wider audiences to interact with cutting edge and experimental art works. The current exhibition,
Chaudhary Devi Lal Sports Authority of India Regional Centre
Tau Devi Lal Stadium
building in India
Mahabir Stadium
building in India
DT Cinemas
DT City Centre and Mega Mall. Tickets would cost you around ₹150 on weekdays and as much as ₹200 on a big opening on weekends. Late shows too last show starts around 11PM!
PVR
Sahara Mall (2 screens), Metropolitian Malls (9 screens), Ambience Mall (9 screens). Good thing is that there are lot of late shows the last show starts almost at midnight
Wet and wild resort
Chill down your summer heat, water games and sports are great fun. Don't forget to take you swim wear.
Sky Jumper Trampoline Park
An exciting place to be, especially for kids, with more than 100 trampolines connected with built-in rock climbing optional too.
Where to eat
United Coffee House Rewind
Cyber Hub outpost of the old Connaught Place coffee house, with retro decor and Anglo-Indian classics.
Cafe Delhi Heights
Busy all-day cafe at Cyber Hub known for big burgers and comfort food.
Nando's, Cyber Hub
Flame-grilled peri-peri chicken chain at Cyber Hub.
Made in Punjab
Punjabi dining room with railway-style curries and pulao.
Burma Burma
All-vegetarian Burmese restaurant; tea-leaf salad and khow suey style bowls.
Punjab Grill Tappa
Kebab-led Punjabi restaurant with a long bar counter at Cyber Hub.
Mamagoto, Cyber Hub
Colourful pan-Asian chain known for dim sums and noodles.
Olly - Olive's All Day Cafe and Bar
All-day cafe and bar from the Olive group with cocktails.
Shopping
Rewari brass market
Rewari's bazaars are known for brass utensils and decorative brassware, a craft dating to its cannon-casting past.
Earth Centre
JMD Regent Plaza
Ardee Mall
Mall Fifty One
Experience More Than Just Shopping Mall FiftyOne brings together fashion, food, and entertainment to create a modern lifestyle experience. All under one roof.
Easyday Club
DLF Galleria
Ambience Mall Gurgaon
building in India
Food to try
- Kadhi pakora: Gram-flour and yoghurt curry with fritters, eaten with rice
- Bajra aloo roti: Millet flatbread with potato, a winter staple
- Besan masala roti: Spiced gram-flour flatbread
- Churma: Crushed wheat bread with ghee and jaggery
- Bathua raita: Yoghurt with bathua greens
- Singri ki sabzi: Desert bean curry
- Meethe chawal: Sweet rice
- Lassi: Thick yoghurt drink; Hisar ki lassi is famous
- Murthal parathas: Butter-laden stuffed parathas at the GT Road dhabas
Festivals
- Surajkund International Crafts Mela: Months: 2; Description: Crafts fair at Surajkund, Faridabad (31 Jan-15 Feb in 2026)
- International Gita Mahotsav: Months: 11 · 12; Description: Gita Jayanti festival at Brahma Sarovar, Kurukshetra (15 Nov-5 Dec in 2025)
- Baisakhi Mela, Pinjore Gardens: Months: 4; Description: 13-14 April
- Mango Mela, Pinjore Gardens: Months: 6 · 7; Description: Mango show and fair
- Pinjore Heritage Festival: Months: 12; Description: Every December
- Teej: Months: 7 · 8; Description: Monsoon festival with swings and songs
- Navratri melas at Mansa Devi: Months: 3 · 4 · 9 · 10; Description: Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri at Panchkula