AmbalaTthe country’s largest military cantonment was established in 1843 and is a major commercial centre.FaridabadA leading industrial town which came up in 1607 when Sheikh Farid built a fort, a tank and a mosque.Panipat Panipat, which produces exquisite hand-tufted woollen carpets and colourful handloom products, was the site of three great battles that changed the history of India.
HissarThe largest district of Haryana, founded by Ferozshah Tughlak, is a place where irrigation and technology have made the desert bloom. It is famous for its Agricultural University and livestock farm. KurukshetraIt is the place where Brahma is said to have been born and where the epic battle of Mahabharata is said to have been fought, is one of the holiest centres of Hinduism.
Suraj City - The Mela From 1st to 15th February rural India basks in the warmth of admiration and from there, its earthly touch glimmers in urban homes both in India and abroad. The fortnight also celebrates the rhythms of folk theatre all of which endears one to the simple charm of the Suraj Kund Mela village.The fortnight long mela celebrations every year come as a mini food festival. Some of the popular food traditions arrive from Punjab for Patrons, South Indian delicacies come in from the South Indian section. Popular Chinese and snack foods also arrive for the event along with a special stall where patrons are introduced to the traditional foods and sweet meats of the theme state.
The Surajkund Crafts Mela also comes as an event that celebrates the vibrant rhythms of folk theatre. All these colourful events flower before the audience in the open-air-theatre named Natyashala.
For the mela fortnight, some of the most delightful crafts collections of the Mela arrive from practically all over the country. In wood and cane craft come inlay work, rosewood carving, sandal wood from Punjab and South India. Chikri wood craft of Kashmir and some very fine cane craft come from West Bengal and North Eastern States. Delicate sholapith and shital patti work come from Assam and West Bengal. In embroidery, the phulkari of Punjab, the 'Banjara' and 'Bunni' embroidery of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the 'kantha' traditions from West Bengal and Tripura, lace and crochet from Goa, the 'suzni' of Kashmir and mirror encasing work along with the traditional 'chikan' work of Lucknow delight.
In the section of floor covering the namda and carpet of Kashmir, the punja durrie of Haryana and Punjab, the woollen druggets of Mirzapur and coir and rag carpets of south India fascinate.
Oxidized jewellery, sea shell decorations and agate stone work delight as also do delicate gold work and chunky silver jewellery. Toys in wood and cane, ply and mud make the young thrill with joy.
Some of the fine phad paintings of Rajasthan, the kalamkary of Andhra and Karnataka, temple paintings of Orissa, madhubani of Bihar, fascinate. In the metal section tribal dhora work, classical south Indian metal work, glittering brass ware, bell metal and iron craft delight collectors.