Haryana is a state in Northern India. It is bounded by Punjab on the northwest, on the north and northeast by Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, on the east by Uttar Pradesh and the union territory of Delhi, and on the south and southwest by the state of Rajasthan. The capital of Haryana is Chandigarh and it is also the capital of the neighbouring state of Punjab. However, the biggest city in the state is Faridabad. The state was formed on November 1, 1966.
Area and Population of Haryana
The total area of the state is 44,212 km2 (17,070 sq mi), which makes it the 21st biggest state in India by area. As laid down by the census performed in 2011, the population of the state is 25,353,081, making it the 18th most populated state in India. The density of the population in Haryana is 573/km2 (1,480/sq mi).
Geographical features of Haryana
Haryana is a non-coastal, interior state. It is located at an altitude of 200 meters to 1200 meters or 700-3600 feet over the sea surface. Geographically, the state can be divided into the following regions:
- The Shivalik mountain range in the northeast
- The Yamuna-Ghaggar basin, creating the biggest portion of the state
- The Aravalli mountain range to the south
- Semi-arid sandy plateaus in the southwest
Rivers in Haryana
The major rivers of the state are as follows:
Yamuna, Sarasvati, Ghaggar, Markanda, and the Tangri river.
Flora and Fauna of Haryana
As per the ‘India State of the forest (ISF) 2019 report, the forest cover in Haryana is 1,602.44 sq km, which is 3.62% of the state’s total geographical area. The forest cover in the state was recorded at 1,588 sq km in 2017, and 1,580 sq km in the 2015 report.
The variety of flora in the state includes eucalyptus, mulberry, kikar, pine, babul, and shisham. A wide variety of fauna is seen in Haryana comprising nilgai, blackbuck, fox, panther, jackal, mongoose, and wild dog. Over 300 varieties of birds are spotted in the state.
Demographic features of Haryana
The literacy rate of the state is 67.9% (as per the 2011 census). About 90% of the population of the state are Hindus, 6.2% are Sikhs, 0.10% Christians, and 4.05% are Muslims. Besides, there are a small number of Jains living in the state. The official language of the state is Hindi. Other languages spoken in the state include Haryanvi, Sanskrit, English, Punjabi, and Ahirwati.
Economy of Haryana
Industries like business process outsourcing (BPO), manufacturing, retail, and agriculture are the backbone of the state's economy. Service industries also make a significant contribution to the economic development of the state.
Districts in Haryana
There are 22 districts in Haryana, and they are as follows:
Gurgaon Division
Gurugram, Mahendragarh, Rewari
Ambala Division
Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, Yamuna Nagar
Faridabad Division
Faridabad, Palwal, Nuh
Rohtak Division
Jhajjar, Charkhi Dadri, Rohtak, Sonipat, Bhiwani
Hisar Division
Fatehabad, Jind, Hisar, Sirsa
Karnal Division
Karnal, Panipat, Kaithal
Educational institutes in Haryana
Given below are the names of the well-known educational institutes in the state:
Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar, YMCA University of Science and Technology, NIT Kurukshetra, University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kurukshetra University, Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Manav Rachna College of Engineering, The Technological Institute of Textile & Sciences, Bhiwani, Maharshi Dayanand University at Rohtak University Institute of Engineering & Technology, University Campus (UIET, Rohtak), ITM University at Gurgaon, Manav Rachna International University at Faridabad, Kurukshetra University at Kurukshetra, Chaudhary Devi Lal University at Sirsa, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology at Hisar, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana, National Dairy Research Institute, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma PGIMS (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences) Rohtak, and Management Development Institute (MDI) in Gurgaon.
Tourist attractions in Haryana
The state of Haryana is famous for housing the following tourist attractions:
Kurukshetra, Chandigarh, Sultanpur National Park, Panchkula, Damdama Lake, Taliyar, Surajkund, and Morni Hills.
Some of the Major Towns in Haryana
- Faridabad
- Gurgaon
- Panipat
- Ambala
- Karnal
- Yamunanagar
- Rohtak
- Hisar
- Sonipat
- Panchkula
- Kurukshetra
- Jhajjar
- Bhiwani
- Rewari
Haryana State Information | |
|---|---|
| Capital | Chandigarh |
| Date of formation | 01/11/66 |
| Governor | Bandaru Dattatreya |
| Chief Minister | Shri Nayab Singh Saini |
| Tourist attractions | Sultanpur NP, Rock Gardens, Dumdama Lake |
| Festivals | Gugga Naumi, Lohri Basant Panchmi |
| Major dance and music forms | Sarangi/Ras Leela, Phag Dance |
| Arts and crafts | Shoes called tilla or kasuri juttis are made from buffalo and goat hide; panja dhurries |
| Languages | Hindi, Haryanvi, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Ahirwati, English |
| Size | 44,212 km2 (17,070 sq mi) |
| Population (Census 2011) | 25353081 |
| Rivers | Yamuna, Sarasvati, Ghaggar, Markanda, and many more |
| Forests and wildlife sanctuaries | Sultanpur NP, Kalesar NP, and others |
| State animal | Blackbuck |
| State bird | Black francolin |
| State flower | Lotus |
| State tree | Peepal |
| Major crops | Sugarcane, groundnut, paddy, maize |
| Factoids | Many invaders like the Huns and Alexander's army swept through Haryana. |
| Gugga Naumi is a festival that is observed by both Hindus and Muslims. It honours Gugga Pit who could cure snake bites. | |
| No. of District | 22 |
Maps in Other Regional Languages
MOI.AB.19.01.17
All Civil Services Examination aspirants out there! Learn more about the Indian geography on our resource- oriented platform, Maps of India.
Last Updated on : February 21, 2025