The 48 kos parikrama is a parikrama (a circumbabulatory pilgrimage) of various Mahabharata-related and other Vedic-era tirthas (Hindu sacred sites) around the Hindu holy city of Kurukshetra in the state of Haryana, India.
Associated with Krishna and the Mahabharata, it is an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus. It is one of three major pilgrimages related to Krishna in North India, the others being the "Braj parikarma" in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh state and "Dwarka parkarma" at Dwarkadhish Temple in Gujarat state.
Kurukshetra Development Board
Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) was established to develop the 48 Kos Parikrama of Kurukshetra, its tirthas and related activities.
Main sites
Hindu pilgrimage
Brahma Sarovar is the focal site of this circuit, which can be subdivided into various other itineraries. At least 182 Mahabharta era pilgrimage sites have been identified within the 48 kos parikrama.
Within Kurukshetra, along with Brahma Sarovar, other important sites are Jyotisar (place of "Gitaupadesha" - the first Upadeśa or discourse of Bhagavad Gita by Krishna)Jyotisar Kurukshetra district website. and Sannihit Sarovar (Hindu genealogy registers of Kurukshetra are kept here). Pilgrims also visit the Bhishama kund, Surya kund and Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple (where Pandavas along with Krishna prayed to Shiva to receive his blessings for victory in the battle of Mahabharata)
In addition, pilgrims also visit Pehowa, where the most revered sites are Saraswati tirtha and Prithudak tirtha. Pehowa is an ancient city and its religious significance is mentioned in several puranas, such as Skanda Purana (1st to 5th century CE), Markandeya Purana (4th to 6th century CE) and Vamana Purana (5th to 11th century CE).Kurukshetra Development Board can get the responsibility of Saraswati Tirtha, Dainik Jagran, 4 Feb 2019.
In Yamunanagar district, Kapal Mochan (Kapal Mochan (visited by Rama)yamunanagar.nic.in: History of Kapal Mochan and Sri Sarasvati Udgam Tirath at Adi Badri (place where deified mother goddess Sarasvati is revered because the sacred Sarasvati River enters the plains from the foothills of shivalik range) are also important sacred sites.
Many pilgrims like to trace their genealogy going back hundreds of generation, trace prior visits by their ancestors and record their own visit in the Hindu genealogy registers of Kurukshetra and Hindu genealogy registers of Pehowa maintained by Pandas (professional genealogists).Tracing your Asian roots www.overseasindian.in.Hindu Pilgrimage Marriage Records www.movinghere.org.uk.10 Places Across The World That Help You Trace Your Ancestors, India Times, 29 Jan 2016.
List of most important sacred sites Kurukshetra: Brahma Sarovar, Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple, Sannihit Sarovar, Jyotisar, Hindu genealogy registers of Kurukshetra Pehowa: Saraswati tirtha and Prithudak tirtha Yamunanagar district: Kapal Mochan and Adi Badri
Buddhist pilgrimage
Buddha had visited Sthaneshwar and gave discourse on the banks of Brahma Sarovar where a Bodh Stupa was built. Stupa has five structures of brunt brick, first three from Kushana period, 4th from Gupta period, and the last from Verdana period and later medieval period. During Harshavardhana reign, a 3 meters wide compound wall was built.
For the Buddhist pilgrims, the most important sites are Brahma Sarovar and the Bodh Stupa on its northwestern flank. Other Buddhist pilgrimage sites nearby Buddhist sites include Chaneti, Topra, and Adi Badri Sharirika stupa. Many pilgrims prefer to follow the path taken by Buddha along Grand Trunk Road in Haryana. Stupas, pagodas and places in the order of travel by Buddha are: From Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, Buddha travelled along Grand Trunk Road in Haryana (also see Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Haryana). Kamashpura Aastha Pugdal Pagoda (Kumashpur) in Sonipat city, the place where Buddha gave Mahasatipatthana sutta.Dhamma patthana, dhamma.org.Aastha Pugdal Pagoda at Kumaspur (Kamas Nigam in Sonepat, SDBST. Assandh Kushan stupa at Assandh in Karnal district Kurukshetra Stupa on the banks of sacred Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra city was also visited by Hieun Tsang, Topra between Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar, now has a large open air museum park housing several replica of Ashoka's edicts including largest Ashoka Chakra in the world,Khattar announces Rs100 cr to develop Saraswati, Topra Kalan, The Tribune, 11-Apr-2015Park for Ashoka stalled?, DNA India News, 7-Nov-2016 original site of Ashokan pillar which was moved to Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi in 1356 CE by Firuz Shah Tughlaq.HM Elliot & John Dawson (1871), Tarikh I Ferozi Shahi - Records of Court Historian Sams-i-Siraj The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians, Volume 3, Cornell University Archives, pp 352-353 Srughna, now known as the Sugh Ancient Mound, on outskirts of Yamunanagar city Chaneti Buddhist Stupa, on outskirts of Yamunanagar city, according to Hieun Tsang it was built by the King Ashoka.
Sikh pilgrimage
Several Sikh gurus had visited Sthaneshwar, Pehowa and Kapal Mochan for the holy dip.
In Kurukshetra, Sikh pilgrims visit Brahma Sarovar and the "Gurudawara Pehli Patshai" (just next to Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple on the south bank of Brahma Sarovar where the ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur stayed at). Following the trail of Sikh gurus, the pilgrims also visit Pehowa as well as Kapal Mochan. Kapal Mochan was visited by Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh after Battle of Bhangani in 1688 CE.Charitar 71, Charitar of Kapal Mochan, Charitropakhyan, Dasam Granth, Guru Gobind Singh
Other important Sikh pilgrimage sites are Sadaura, Lohgarh (capital of Banda Singh Bahadur) and Badkhalsa in Sonipat (where Bhai Kushal offered his head to retrieve Guru Teg Bhadur's head beheaded by mughals so that it can be taken to Anandpur Sahib}.
Genealogy registers
Hindu genealogy registers of Kurukshetra are kept at Pehowa and Sannihit Sarovar.
Number of visitors
In 2019, over 40 lakh (4 million) people had attended the Gita Mahotsav festival in December.
Tirtha development
Govt is undertaking steps to revive ancient Sarasati river, develop ghats and in-situ plantation of panchavati trees. Visitors facilities such as roads, shades, water, toilet, landscaping, parking, cafe, interpretation centres etc. are also being developed.
The Panchavati trees, are trees scared to Indian-origin religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, such trees are the Vata (ficus benghalensis, Banyan), Ashvattha (ficus religiosa, Peepal), Bilva (aegle marmelos, Bengal Quince), Amalaki (phyllanthus emblica, Indian Gooseberry, Amla), Ashoka (Saraca asoca, Ashok), Udumbara (ficus racemosa, Cluster Fig, Gular), Nimba (Azadirachta indica, Neem) and Shami (prosopis spicigera, Indian Mesquite).Panchvati trees, greenmesg.org, accessed 26 July 2021. See also sacred groves of India.
From June 2014 to July 2021, ₹31.48 crore have been spent by the Haryana government on the development and upgrade of 81 tirthas of '48-kos parikrama'. Improving the standard of cleanliness of tiraths has been raised an issue. Ghats, and visitor facilities, such as toilet, shelter, water, parking, etc. are being developed.Cleanliness of tiraths a challenge in Haryana, Hindustan Times, 27 July 2021.
In 2021, it was announced that to develop Kurukshetra as a cultural hub, the by the Government of India will develop the Buddha Haryana circuit and a Sikh museum in Kurukshetra as all 10 Sikh gurus and Buddha had made yatra (pilgrimage) to Kurukshetra.
List of pilgrimage sites in 48 kos parikrama
At least 134 Tirthas (sacred sites) have been identified.Scheme for students in haryana plant trees get 10 extra marks, Dainik Jagran, 26 July 2021. Some of the pilgrimages are listed below:
Tirthas of Kurukshetra district
1. Arunai tirtha, Arunai 2. Prachi tirtha, Pehowa 3. Saraswati tirtha, Pehowa 4. Brahmayoni tirtha, Pehowa 5. Prithudak tirtha, Pehowa 6. Shalihotra tirtha, Sarsa, Kurukshetra 7. Bhisma Kund, Narkatari 8. Ban Ganga, Dyalpur, Kurukshetra 9. Kulotaran Tirtha, Kirmich 10. Brahma Sarovar, Kurukshetra where Hindu genealogy registers are kept and Kurukshetra Panorama and Science Centre and Dharohar Museum are nearby. 11. Sannihit Sarovar, Kurukshetra:
12.Bhadrakali Temple, Kurukshetra 13. Aditi Tirtha and Abhimanyu ka Tila, Abhimanyupur 14. Jyotisar: The famous site where SGitaupadesha (Bhagavad Gita was revealed) to Arjuna under the tree. 15. Som Tirtha, Sainsa 16. Shukra Tirtha, Sataura 17. Galav Tirtha, Guldehra 18. Saptasarsvta Tirtha, Mangna 19. Brhma Tirtha (Brahma Sthan), Thana, Kurukshetra 20. Som Tirtha, Gumthala Garhu 21. Manipurak Tirtha, Murtjapur, Kurukshetra
22. Bhurishrava Tirtha, Bhor Saidan 23. Lomash Tirtha, Lohar Majra 24. Kamyak Tirtha, Kamauda 25. Aapga Tirtha, Mirjapur, Kurukshetra 26. Karan ka Tila, Mirjapur 27. Nabhikamal, Thanesar 28. Rantuk Yaksha, Bid Pipli 29. Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple 30. Ojas Titha, Samsipur 31. Renuka Tirtha, Ranacha 32. Bhor Saidan
Tirthas of Jind district
32. Bhuteshwar tirtha, Jind 33. Ekhamsa tirtha, Ikkas 34. Ramhrad tirtha, Ramrai, Haryana 35. Sannehit tirtha, Ramrai 36. Pushkar tirtha, Pohkeri Kheri 37. Som tirtha, Pindara
38. Varahakalan tirtha, Braha Kalan 39. Ashwinikumar tirtha, Aasan, Haryana 40. Jamdagni tirtha, Jamni 41. Yayati tirtha, Kalwa, Haryana 42. Panchnanda tirtha (Hatkeshwar tirtha), Haat 43. Sarpadadhi tirtha, Safidon: by 2021 ₹1.08 crore was spent on Hansraj tirtha development at Safidon. 44. Hansraj tirtha, Safidon: by 2021 ₹1.08 crore was spent on tirtha development. 45. Khatwanesghwar, Narwana: by 2021 ₹1 crore was spent on tirtha development.
44. Sarpadaman tirtha, Safindon 45. Kayashodan tirtha, Kasuhan 46. Vamsamulam tirtha, Barsola 47. Khageshwar tirtha, Khadalwa 48. Ramsar tirtha, Kuchrana Kalan 49. Lohrishi/Lokodwar tirtha, Lodhar
Tirthas of Panipat district 50. Tarntauk Yaksha, Sinkh
Tirthas of Kaithal district
51. Pawanhrad tirtha, Pabnawa 52. Falgu tirtha, Faral 53. Pawaneshwar tirtha, Pharal 54. Kapil Muni tirtha, Kalayat 55. Pundrik tirtha, Pundri 56. Trivishtap tirtha, Tyontha 57. Kotikut tirtha, Kyodak / Keorak: by 2021 ₹1.02 crore was spent on tirtha development.
58. Banteshwar tirtha, Barot, Haryana 59. Namish tirtha, Nauch, Haryana 60. Vedvati tirtha, Balwanti 61. Vridkedar tirtha, Kaithal 62. Sarak tirtha, Shergarh, Kaithal 63. Manush tirtha, Manas, Kaithal 64. Navadurga tirtha, Devigarh, Kaithal 65. Gyaraharudri tirtha, Kaithal 66. Aapga tirtha, Gadli 67. Juhomi tirtha, Hajwana
68. Vishnupada tirtha, Barsana, Kaithal 69. Yajnasanjna tirtha, Geong 70. Kapilmuni tirtha, Kaul 71. Kulotaran tirtha, Kaul 72. Garhratheshwar tirtha, Kaul 73. Matri tirtha, Rasulpur, Kaithal 74. Suryakunda tirtha, Habri (Jyotinagar colony): by 2021 ₹67 lakh was spent on tirtha development, more budget will be spent as it was still in the initial stage of development. 75. Havya tirtha, Bhana 76. Chakramani tirtha, Sherda: by 2021 ₹1 crore was spent on tirtha development, second phase of which was still underway. 77. Rasamangal tirtha, Songhal: by 2021 ₹1.30 crore was spent on development of Kukrityanshan and Rasamangal tirhtas. Ghats conference hall, toilet were built.
78. Mukteshwar tirtha, Mator, Kaithal: by 2021 ₹1.92 crore was spent on tirtha development. 79. Sritirtha, Kasan, 80. Srikunja tirtha, Banpura 81. Ekshumati tirtha, Theh Polar partially excavated ancient archaeological mound associated with the rishi Pulastya.Monuments & Sites in Haryana, Archaeological Survey Of India, page 34-35. 82. Sutirtha tirtha, Sontha 83. Brahmavarta tirtha, Brabhavat 84. Aruntak Yaksha, Beharjaksha
85. Sringi Rishi tirtha/ Shankhni Devi tirtha, Sangan 86. Gobhwan tirtha, Guhana 87. Suryakunda, Sajuma 88. Seetvan/Swaragdwara tirtha, Siwan, Kaithal 89. Brombhodumber tirtha, Shila Kheri 90. Anyajanma tirtha, Deoda Kheri 91. Devi tirtha, Kalsi, Kaithal 92. Dhruvakunda tirtha, Dherdu