Kurukshetra to Get Mahabharata Makeover: 48 Festivals, themed gates, electric gates buses announced
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, June 18, 2025: In a visionary push to transform Kurukshetra into a global hub of spiritual and cultural tourism, the 82nd meeting of the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) was chaired by Haryana Governor and Board Chairman Bandaru Dattatraya, with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in attendance.
The grand plan includes Mahabharata-themed city gates, electric buses for pilgrimage circuits, and a series of 48 annual festivals across villages in the historic 48 Kos region.
The Governor emphasized that Kurukshetra should be envisioned as a “grand spiritual city” of global prominence.
Echoing this vision, CM Saini stressed that every visitor should feel the essence of Mahabharata upon arrival, urging officials to blend tourism with religious and cultural heritage.
- Mahabharata-Themed Cityscape: Major intersections and city gates will feature designs inspired by the epic. The Sudarshan Chakra near Jyotisar will be redesigned with modern lighting and a statue of Lord Krishna.
- 48 Utsavs in 48 Kos: A cultural revival is on the cards with 48 festivals planned annually in 48 Kos villages, encouraging community participation.
- Electric Bus Network: A fleet of electric buses will connect pilgrimage sites with a unified daily pass system for both transport and attraction access.
- Information Hubs & Signage: Four info centers will be set up across Kurukshetra by October 15, while plaques will explain the significance of historic and cultural sites.
Other developments include the architectural revamp of 18 newly surveyed pilgrimage sites, increased greenery near Jyotisar, Sanskrit mural art installations, and proposals for a Global Gita Summit with Japan as a possible partner.
Spiritual leader Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj and several top officials, including MP Naveen Jindal and Cabinet Minister Vipul Goel, contributed their inputs to the ambitious blueprint aimed at putting Kurukshetra on the world map of spiritual tourism.