Holy Cities You Must Visit: Kurukshetra

chillibreeze writer — Aditya Singh

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It’s a breathtaking spectacle - the sight of a million pilgrims scuffling to take a dip in the holy waters of an ancient city. But this is no ordinary city, mind you. Kurukshetra is a name no religious traveller would like to pass up on.

The Brahmasarovar in Kurukshetra, believed by a fifth of humanity to be the cradle of civilization, experiences a flood of pilgrims during the solar eclipse. Bathing in this 1800 by 1400 feet tank structure is believed to cure you of all your sins. While such magical bodies may be found in many other parts of the country, Kurukshetra offers within its 1682 square kilometers a religious experience which is truly unique.

160 km from New Delhi, the city can be reached by bus or the railway. Bicycle rickshaws and auto rickshaws ferry you around within the city. You could hire a cab as well, if you want a more comfortable ride.

The most common association Kurukshetra has with the Indian psyche is with the epic battle of Mahabharata - an 18 day war the Pandavas fought against their cousins - a tale every Indian child is more or less familiar with. It was during this battle that Lord Krishna preached his philosophy of ‘Karma’, now enshrined in the holy book of Bhagwad Gita. It is believed that Lord Krishna delivered this doctrine under a holy banyan tree which stands till date in Jyotisar. At a short distance from the tree is a marble chariot depicting Krishna sermonizing a wavering Arjun. A mango shaped lake, bathing ghats for men and women, cement parapets for protection and a beautiful landscape make Jyotisar a must-see.

Bhadrakali Temple is one of the many sacred temples in Kurukshetra. This is where the Pandavas worshipped the goddess and performed sacrifices for victory before commencing their epic battle with the Kauravas. The temple is believed to have been built upon the scattered parts of the body of the goddess Sati. With over 360 tirthas (pilgrimage spots) of religious importance and a rich history, Kurukshetra is indeed a holy city that millions throng each year in the search for spiritual comfort and solace.

The city, while an established Hindu worship place, is sacred to the Sikhs as well. It's one of the few places in the world to have been visited by all the Sikh Gurus. A number of Sikh Gurudwaras mark this small city - most prominent of them being Gurudwara 6th Patshahi which is visited by hundreds of devotees every day.

Sheikh Chehli Tomb and Madrasah, Pathar and Chini Masjid endear this city to Muslims as well. A Buddhist Stupa can also be found inside the Kurukshetra University, imparting religious diversity to this city.

While Kurukshetra is definitely considered a gem of the ancient world, its transition into the 20th century has been slow. SriKrishna Museum, one of the more sophisticated museums of the country throws a more contemporary light on the Vedic appreciation of the town - displaying the Mahabharata and Lord Krishna sermon graphically.

Finding your way about the town might be tricky what with the numerous small gullies crisscrossing the city. The best travel option if you have never been in the country before is one of numerous package deals. You are bound to find one that suits your needs. While traveling alone sounds like a good idea, it does take a lot of patience and self-awareness, with security always being an issue. In matters of food, remember the dhabas and roadside restaurants may be plentiful, but best avoided. Indian cuisines can be tasteful and certainly healthier in the bigger, more established restaurants. Signs and notices may be misspelt or ‘punny’- don't take them literally, and enjoy them while you can. The local dialect is quite different from Hindi (the national language). English is rarely spoken or understood - so any loquaciousness on your part will go unappreciated.

Recently, the tourism ministry of India allocated up to Rs 250 million for 20 tourist destinations, one of them being Kurukshetra. Massive construction work and historical buildings preservation is being done to attract more tourists. With the Commonwealth games coming up, now is perhaps the perfect time to visit this timeless city, the perfect time to immerse your consciousness in this land of the Gods.

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in February, 2010. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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