Kurukshetra to be developed as global tourist destination :

1. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has announced to develop Kurukshetra as an international tourist destination, the state government will offer plots measuring 1,500 sq m to 2,000 sq m at concessional rates to states interested in constructing “bhawans” for pilgrims visiting the holy city.

2. The Centre has sanctioned Rs9,734.70 lakh under the Krishana Circuit Phase I for the development of tourism infrastructure at places related to Mahabharata in Kurukshetra. Besides, 12 sites have been submitted for approval under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme with an estimated project cost of Rs9,706 lakh.

3.The CM said Bharat Mata Temple would be constructed over five acres in Kurukshetra at a place between Jyotisar and Braham Sarovar. It is a matter of pride that the Centre has allowed the state government to use the logo of Atulya Bharat (Incredible India) during the International Gita Mahotsav 2019 (being organised in Kurukshetra; it will run up to December 10). The Gita Jayanti Mahotsav will be celebrated in Australia in March 2020.

4. Uttarakhand is the partner state for this year’s Gita Mahotsav. In all, 15 countries are participating. Delegations of Britain, Mauritius, Australia and Canada are visiting Kurukshetra. The Chief Minister said that this year, Gita Mahotsav was being organised in all districts of the state from December 6 to 8. Apart from this, it is being organised at all pilgrimage sites in the 48-km radius of Kurukshetra.

5. For nine districts in the 100-km radius of Kurukshetra, a Dainik Bus Seva will be started for pilgrims from December 1 to 10. Only 50 per cent fair will be charged from them. An arrangement of 100 buses has been made for the purpose.

About Kurukshetra :

Kurukshetra is a city in the Indian state of Haryana. It is also known as Dharmakshetra ("Holy Place") and as the "Land of the Bhagavad Gita". The Kurukshetra War of the Maha bharata is said to have taken place there.

According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is a region named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas, as depicted in epic Mahabharata. The importance of the place is attributed to the fact that the Kurukshetra War of the Mahabharata is said to have taken place here. Thaneswar whose urban area is merged with Kurukshetra is a pilgrimage site with many locations attributed to Mahabharata.

Gita Jayanti has been celebrated in Kurukshetra for decades. For a long time, it was known as Kurukshetra Utsav. According to the Hindu calendar, the holiday comes on Mokshda Ekadashi in the month of Margshirsh.

In 2016, the government of Haryana decided to give the Gita Jayanti a global flavour and organised an International Gita Mahotsav at Kurukshetra from 1 to 11 December. The Gita Jayanti was celebrated on 10 December as dictated by the traditional calendar. Over 2 million people visited the event that year. Later, in 2017, Gita Jayanti was celebrated on 30 November as per the traditional calendar, and over 2.5 million people visited. The idea of celebrating International Gita Mahotsav came from Swami Gyananand (Founder of GIEO Gita).

Vegetarian status : In 2017, the government declared Kurukshetra a holy city and the sale, possession, and consumption of meat are banned within the limits of the Municipal Corporation due to its religious significance.