The Haryana government is set to develop 134 pilgrim sites – mentioned in epics like Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Vaman Purana – in the state.

Facts :

• These shrines fall within 48 ‘kos’ (about 153.6 km) radius of Kurukshetra and include districts like Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat, and Jind.
• CM Manohar Lal Khattar visited 13 such shrines in Karnal and announced Rs 18.39 crore for their development. He also announced the development of 14 shrines in Kurukshetra.
• A route with two buses have been started to help people visit these pilgrimage sites. These buses started from Kurukshetra.
• The facilities to be developed at the shrines include separate ‘ghats’ for women, lavatories, convenient stairs, boundary walls for ponds with appropriate water drainage, parking facility, and high-mast lights.
• The government plans to develop Mahabharata circuit that includes religious places and shrines connected to the Mahabharata era and develop them for religious tourism.