Haryana

Haryana (Hindi: हरियाणा Hariyāṇā, Punjabi: ਹਰਿਆਣਾ ) is a state in northwestern India, southeast of Punjab. Often overlooked by the travellers to northern India, Haryana is home to various historical and religious sites. Surrounding the city of Delhi by three sides, the state also dominates the city's suburban and commercial sprawl, including the bustling tech hub of Gurugram.

Here are nine of the most notable cities.

• 30.73638976.7883331 Chandigarh — India's first planned city, the joint capital of both Haryana and Punjab.
• 30.37861176.77252 Ambala — an important junction to Punjab and Kashmir, Ambala is essentially a twin city consisting of the cantonment and the civil lines
• 28.4112477.313163 Faridabad — the largest city, just south of Delhi
• 28.46666777.0333334 Gurugram (Gurgaon) — Delhi's burgeoning shopping and IT suburb
• 29.14888975.7366675 Hisar — an important centre of education and steel production
• 29.6976.9883336 Karnal — anciently known as Angpradesh, the City of Karna
• 29.97083376.857 Kurukshetra — holy city of the Mahabharata
• 29.387576.978 Panipat — an ancient and historic city site of many battles, sometimes called The City of Weavers
• 28.976.5666679 Rohtak — a city with a very old historical background
• 28.99583377.01138910 Sonipat (Sonepat) — ancient city known as Swarnaprastha

• 30.4356577.444651 Kalesar National Park — home to the red jungle fowl and other bird species, this has become a bird-watcher's destination.
• 30.6872777.116382 Morni Hilld
• 28.4613976.890833 Sultanpur National Park — a paradise for bird watchers

The modern state of Haryana was formed in 1966 after an intractable tussle between the Punjabi-speaking and Hindi-speaking areas of the Indian state of Punjab. The city of Chandigarh has served as the capital of both Haryana and Punjab since then.

• Government of Haryana
• Haryana Tourism

As in almost all of the Plains, Hindi is the mother tongue of Haryana, although pockets of Punjabi speakers are also found, mostly around Chandigarh. Although the Hindi dialect spoken in Faridabad and Gurugram is nothing different from that of Delhi, the state has its own dialect of Hindi, called Haryanvi (हरियाणवी Hariyāṇvī).

Hisar (HSS ^IATA) is the international gateway to Haryana, as well as a major airport in northwestern India. Another option is Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL ^IATA).

The railway network in Haryana is extensive, with the major stations being Ambala Cantonment, Panipat, Gurugram and Faridabad. Checking the train schedule and booking the tickets can be done on the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)^{[dead link]} website or on third-party websites and apps such as MakeMyTrip, RailYatri, Confirmtkt, ixigo and Indian Train.

Haryana's roads are well connected to the neighboring states of Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. National Highways 1, 2, 8, and 10 pass through different parts of the state, making it easily accessible.

Typical dishes include kadhi pakora, besan masala roti, bajra aloo roti, churma, kheer, bathua raita, methi gajar, singri ki sabzi, and tamatar chutney.

Lassi and sherbet are two popular non-alcoholic beverages in Haryana.