KURUKSHETRA — the name at once conjures two vivid images in mind. One of the gigantic battlefield where Mahabharata was fought and second of the place where Lord Krishna’s gave the eternal message of enlightenment to Arjuna.

Interestingly, the region dates back to the times of King Kuru who ploughed Brahamavarta, one of the holiest places on earth. Bound by the Saraswati and the Drishadwati, this mythical landscape is said to have been spread over 48 kosas or 92 km (now comprising besides the present-day Kurukshetra, four revenue districts of Haryana and parts of Punjab). Vedic literature is replete with many references to the Saraswati, the holiest of all rivers, where the performance of sacrifices was considered a pious act. The fact that civilisation flourished on its banks can be proved by a series of archaeological findings.

For instance, the present city of Thanesar in Kurukshetra district, stands on three huge mounds — Thanesar, Bahri and Harsh ka Tilla — of archaeological debris. Thanesar was very popular as a pilgrim city under King Harshavardhana, the Mauryan Emperor. In fact, both mythologically and historically, Kurukshetra and Thanesar are inextricably interwoven, revered as they are as holy places.

A holy dip in the sacred tanks of Brahmasarovar and Sannehit is said to liberate the pilgrims from their sins and bestow merits equivalent to that achieved by performing thousand Ashwamedha Yajnas. Just as Kumbh is associated with Haridwar, religious ceremonies related to solar eclipse and amavasya are linked to Kurukshetra. Mythology holds that on the eclipse day, all tirthas of the universe assemble at these holy tanks to absolve themselves of their sins. No wonder, approximately 10 lakh pilgrims take a dip in these man-made lakes on the occasion.

But the pilgrimage is not complete without a visit to the ancient temples of Bhadrakali and Sthaneshwara. The former is one of the 51 shaktipithas of India and the latter’s presiding deity is Sthanu — one of the names of Lord Shiva. The original temple has been renovated several times as is evident from the temple’s medieval style of architecture. Prithudak Tirath in Pehowa is also considered supremely sacred by pilgrims. It is here on the bank of Saraswati that King Prithu performed the 12-day funeral rite for his son. Thousands of pilgrims visit Pehowa to perform shraadha. Pehowa is also home to a 16th-century Shiva Temple.

Kurukshetra is replete with both mythical and historical tales. At Jyotisar, 6 km from the city, a grand Banyan tree stands testimony to the divine song rendered by Lord Krishna to mankind. The whole ambience here is that of serenity. A few kilometres before Jyotisar is the Narkatari Bishama Kund dedicated to Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kauravas and Pandavas. Myth connects the present-day reservoir in this village with the tale of Arjuna piercing the ground with an arrow and quenching the thirst of Bhishma, who was lying on a bed of arrows. Irrespective of caste, creed, pilgrims in thousands visit these places in sheer reverence of the mighty epic and its characters, which are associated with valour and righteousness.

Many of us would be surprised to know that Kurukshetra is one of the few places in India visited by all nine Sikh Gurus. The presence of gurdwaras dedicated to all gurus in all directions of the city is specially marked by the 6th Patshahi Gurdwara in the heart of the city which is an architectural wonder. In fact, this is a spiritual link between the twin cities of Kurukshetra and Thanesar and lies near the Sannehit Sarovar. Thee Buddhist stupa near the Brahmasarovar and Sheikh Chaheli’s Tomb are two structures that strongly indicate that since time immemorial, this land has been cohabited by people belonging to different religions, faiths and creeds. The architectural beauty of the tomb dazzles one and all and reminds of the splendour of the Taj Mahal at Agra.

Kurukshetra is indeed a striking symbol of a composite culture that enlivens any pilgrim who visits the city. With the opening of the Sri Krishna Museum and the Kurukshetra Panorama and Science Centre, the number of pilgrims has risen to 30,000 per month. The flow of visitors increases during the Geeta Jayanti celebrations in the month of December every year. To visit Kurukshetra today is to relive the centuries gone by.