Geography & Rivers
Haryana GK · भूगोल और नदियां · 18 facts
Haryana covers an area of 44,212 sq km and is the 21st largest state in India; it has 22 districts and is a landlocked state.
Haryana is surrounded by Punjab (west), Himachal Pradesh (north), Uttarakhand (northeast), Uttar Pradesh (east), Rajasthan (south), and Delhi (southeast).
The Aravalli Hills run along Haryana's southern border, passing through Mewat (Nuh) and Faridabad districts; they are among the world's oldest fold mountains.
The Yamuna River forms the eastern boundary of Haryana, separating it from Uttar Pradesh; it is the only major perennial river in the state.
The Ghaggar River is a seasonal river in Haryana and is believed by many scholars to be the ancient Vedic Saraswati River that once flowed through this region.
The Sahibi River (now largely a seasonal stream) flows through Rewari and Jhajjar districts; it originates from the Aravalli hills of Rajasthan.
The Markanda River flows through Kurukshetra and Ambala districts; it is mentioned in the Mahabharata and is associated with the sage Markandeya.
Chandigarh serves as the shared capital of both Haryana and Punjab; it is a Union Territory administered directly by the central government.
Gurugram (formerly Gurgaon) in Haryana is part of the National Capital Region (NCR) and is one of India's major financial and technology hubs.
Faridabad is Haryana's most populous city and an industrial hub in the NCR; it borders Delhi's southeastern boundary and is connected by the Delhi Metro.
The Shivalik Hills form the northern boundary of Haryana in districts like Ambala, Panchkula, and Yamunanagar, providing forest cover and streams.
Haryana's topography is largely flat plains (Indo-Gangetic Plain) — making it ideal for agriculture; nearly 80% of the land is cultivable.
Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh (border of Haryana) is a famous reservoir and leisure destination, built in 1958 by damming a Shivalik hill seasonal stream.
Badkhal Lake near Faridabad was once Haryana's most popular tourist lake, but has dried up due to overexploitation of groundwater in the Aravalli region.
The Western Yamuna Canal (from Tajewala barrage) is a lifeline for Haryana's irrigation system, supplying water to north Haryana districts.
Haryana is part of the fertile Wheat Belt of India; the state is crossed by the Grand Trunk Road (NH-44), one of India's oldest and longest highways.
Morni Hills in Panchkula district is Haryana's only hill station; at 1,267 m, it is the state's highest point and offers scenic views.
The Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal dispute between Haryana and Punjab over river water sharing remains an unresolved political and legal issue.