ROHILAS IN INDIA 2014: 4 Delhi & Haryana

Delhi and Haryana: January 31-February 2, 2014

We reached Delhi at 4:10 p.m. My sister Kamlesh, her husband Mahavir Singh, son Rakesh, and granddaughter Anisha, welcomed us at the airport. It took us about two hours to cover the distance of 50 Miles (81 Kilometers) through crowded roads, to their home in Rohtak, Haryana.

We enjoyed their gracious hospitality for the next two days. Rakesh's wife Jyoti prepared delicious dishes for us.

We decided to use the occasion also to experience Delhi Metro. Operated by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Metro is reputed to be a world-class public transportation system of its kind.

Integrated with other modes of public transportation, Delhi Metro is equipped with state-of-art technological features and automatic fare collection system.

A Delhi Metro ticketing booth

A Delhi Metro platform

Comprised of seven lines and 141 stations, the system covers 118 Miles ( 190 Kilometers). It covers the entire National Capital Region including Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad. In 2,700 trips, it carries two million passengers every day.

Delhi Metro map

We boarded the Airport Express Metro at Delhi airport.

Delhi Metro's Airport station

A Delhi Metro train

The station was decorated with sculptures and murals.

Sculptures at Delhi Metro's Airport Station

A mural at Delhi Metro's Airport Station

We used escalators to go down a couple of levels to reach the platform. 

Escalators at the Delhi Metro's Airport station

If not better, the train was comparable to the ones we have seen in other countries. Each car displayed stations on the line. In addition to the audio announcements, the next station was highlighted on the display board.

Interior of a Delhi Metro car

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Display board in a Delhi Metro car

We exited the system at the Dhaula Kuan Station.

Exiting Dhaula Kuan Metro Station

Watch a 2012 video about Delhi Metro at http://wn.com/delhi_metro

On the morning of February 2, we left by car for Karnal. It is believed that Karnal was founded by Karna, a Mahabharat hero. It is 68 Miles (110 Kilometers) from Rohtak.

After lunch with my nephew, Surjit and his wife, Asha, we left for Kurukshetra, 21 Miles (33 Kilometers) away from Karnal.

Kurukshetra is known for its 360 places of Hindu pilgrimage, which are related to the

Mahabharata.

Mahabharata is the epic, 18-day battle that was bitterly fought, between two sets of cousins, Pandavas and Kauravas, and their supporters, around 1000 BCE. Before the start of the battle, it was here that Lord Krishna addressed the Pandava prince, Arjuna regarding his hesitation about battling with his relatives and elders. The address has come to be known as the Bhagavad Gita, often called "the essence of Hinduism.

Lord Krishna addressing Arjuna during the epic battle of Mahabharata

At Kurukshetra we went directly to Krishna Museum. 

Krishna Museum, Kurukshetra, Haryana

The Museum displays manuscripts,idols, paintings, and frescoes related to Lord Krishna.

Bhishma Pitamah on deathbed of arrows
& surrounded by the Pandavas
(Akbar's RAzmnama, a Persian translation
of Mahabharata)

Krishna as Arjuna's Charioteer in the epic battle of Mahabharata
(A 18th/19th century painting)

Nearby at the center of the cylindrical hall are the 34-feet high paintings of episodes from the Mahabharat.

Nearby is the Brahma Sarovar. Dedicated to Brahma, it is a vast water body, which is 1,500 x 1,500 feet on its eastern side and 1,800 x 1500 feet on the western side. Around the wide platform that surrounds it are a number of meditation chambers for the visiting devotees.

Brahma Sarovar, Kurukshetra, Haryana

Brahma Sarovar, Kurukshetra, Haryana

Sarveshwar Mahadev Temple, Kurukshetra

Connected to the surrounding platform with a bridge, the Sarveshwar Mahadev stands in the water body.

It was getting dark. Therefore, we headed back to Karnal to stay there for the night with Surjit & Asha.

Next morning we left, by car for Jalandhar in Punjab.