Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday said that the Central Government has granted in-principle approval for the construction of the Kurukshetra bypass, which will soon begin. The construction of this bypass will not only benefit the residents of Kurukshetra but also people from neighboring regions, ensuring better connectivity and improved infrastructure in this sacred land.
Addressing the heads of pilgrimage sites at the 48-Kos Teerth Sammelan during the ongoing International Gita Mahotsav in Kurukshetra, Saini urged them to come forward and help make Kurukshetra the cleanest place in the country. “If we work together, this religious region spanning 48 Kos can undoubtedly become a leader in cleanliness across the nation,” he added.
Saini said, “ Our aim is to launch a pilgrimage route for the 48 Kos Kurukshetra land, similar to the 84 Kos Yatra of Brij. In addition, a train service will be introduced to connect Kurukshetra with Lord Krishna's city of Mathura and the holy city of Haridwar. Under the Krishna Circuit Scheme, 134 sites related to the Mahabharata war will be developed as tourist destinations with an estimated investment of approximately Rs 175 crore. A Mahabharata-themed Jyotisar Anubhav Kendra is also being constructed at Geeta Sthal, Jyotisar, with an investment of Rs 205 crore.”
The Chief Minister also shared that there are 367 pilgrimage sites in the 48 Kos land of Kurukshetra, some of which have been lost over time. Recently, 18 new pilgrimages have been added to the list of 164 pilgrimages of 48 Kos Kurukshetra land after survey and documentation. This work is still going on and there is every possibility of adding more pilgrimages to this list in the near future. In the last 5 years, Rs 76 crore has been sanctioned to Kurukshetra Development Board for 93 development works, out of which Rs 57 crore has been released. Many works have been completed and work on the remaining is going on at a fast pace.
He mentioned that several centers of faith are being established in Kurukshetra. Temples from remote areas of the country can now be found in Kurukshetra. The Sri Tirupati Balaji Temple in North India has been built here. In addition, the Jio Geeta Sansthan, Akshardham Temple, ISKCON Temple, and Gyan Mandir are also under construction.
Announces renaming of Kurukshetra's Theme Park to Keshav Park
After participating in the Global Gita Paath – Ashtadashi Shloka programme, which saw the participation of 18,000 children during the International Gita Mahotsav, Saini announced that the ‘Theme park’ located on the sacred land of Dharmakshetra-Kurukshetra will now be known as ‘Keshav Park’. This initiative is aimed to further preserve and promote the cultural and spiritual heritage of Kurukshetra, a place of immense religious and historical significance in India, he added.
On this occasion, Pindi Chana, the Tourism Minister of Tanzania, a partner country of the International Gita Mahotsav, said that Kurukshetra is a sacred place where the Vedas and Puranas were composed. In mythology, it is considered one of the most revered pilgrimage sites. According to the Mahabharata, Kurukshetra is regarded as the most significant pilgrimage in the three lokas. This is the very land where, thousands of years ago, Lord Krishna imparted the divine knowledge of the Gita to Arjun. International Gita Mahotsav is not merely a religious event, but a celebration of culture, heritage, and the fundamental principles of life. The teachings of the Gita, she said, convey that the highest purpose of human life lies in truth, and that the Gita serves as a guiding light in every aspect of life, in the service of both religion and humanity.
