Gurgaon

Located in the National Capital Region, Gurgaon is one of the most rapidly growing cities in Greater Delhi. In the last few years Gurgaon has boomed as the hub of IT and other new-age businesses. One of Delhi’s four major satellite cities, Gurgaon has of late been settled by several people due to the flourishing industrial scenario.

Having derived its name from Guru-Gram, Gurgaon has a legend behind it stating that it was an ancestral village presented by Kauravas and Pandavas to their guru Dronacharya. Apart from the Gurgaon city, the other smaller towns in the district include Nuh, Ferozepur Jhirka, Sohna, and Pataudi. These places offer ample good quality accommodation options. In fact, a motel at Sohna provides air-conditioned quarters for comfortable stay for the tourists. A four-bed dormitory, family huts and simple camping huts are available according to the budget schemes of various tourists. The Statesman Vintage Car Rally held in February every year is one of the major events that take place here.

Having grown into one of the largest and chic IT hubs of India in the last few years, Gurgaon evokes a lot of curiosity in the minds of the tourists and the corporate world. People want to know more about Gurgaon and its people. Situated in the National Capital Region, it is one of the fastest developing cities in Greater Delhi. Of late Gurgaon has flourished as the center of Information Technology and other new-age businesses. One of Delhi’s four major satellite cities, Gurgaon has of late been settled by several people due to the flourishing industrial scenario.

History
Legend about Gurgaon says that it was an ancestral village gifted by the Pandavas and the Kauravas to their teacher Dronacharya. This is believed to be the place where Dronacharya gave lessons on archery to the Pandavas. During the Medieval period, it underwent several ups and downs at the hands of Muslim Rulers. It was towards the end of 1803 that the East India Company took over control of Gurgaon through a treaty signed by Surji Arjungaon. The battle of Indian freedom saw active participation of the several people of Gurgaon.

Climate and clothing in Gurgaon
Dry and hot summers with temperatures reaching as high as 45°C and chilly winters which range between 21° C and 7° C mark the climatic conditions of Gurgaon. However, the monsoons from July to September bring considerable respite. Prefer carrying along with you light cotton clothes in summers and light woolens in the winters.

Tourist Attractions
Tourist attractions in Gurgaon are plenty. Although primarily a commercial city, Gurgaon is home to quite a number of interesting tourist sites. For instance, the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, at a distance of 16 km from the town, is an ideal place for ardent bird watchers and bird lovers. Home to over 100 species of birds, and founded by Dr. Salim Ali, the sanctuary preserves important species like Saras, crane, spot bill, ruddy duck, and rosy pelicans. A visit during winters (November-February) when many migratory birds fly to this place will be thoroughly exciting. The bird sanctuary is also home to hide outs, watch towers and a museum to provide for the desires of an inquisitive tourist or a wildlife enthusiast. Guest rooms, restaurant, family cottages, bar, hide outs, water towers and catering wing, are there for bird watchers and tourists.

Another of the interesting sites in one of the newly developed tourist destinations in India is the Sheetala Devi Temple. Situated one and a half kilometers in the outskirts of Gurgaon near a pond, this famous Hindu temple is also called ‘Shakti Peeth’. The deity worshipped here is of Mata Sheetala Devi - the goddess of small-pox. It is visited by a large number of pilgrims of all religions and beliefs.

The Damdama Lake, located a few kilometers to the south of Gurgaon off Alwar road is a wonderful tourist spot. The adventure resort called Water Banks provides deluxe tents along the lake. Boating facilities and hot air ballooning are available here. Damdama Lake, south of Gurgaon, offers picnic spots, boating and rides on hot air balloons.

Nuh, a town, around 45km away, on Delhi-Alwar road, became a place of note during the rule of Bahadur Singh of Ghasera, due to its popularity in the salt trade. Here you can visit a masonry tank made of red sandstone, the tomb of Sheikh Musa, which is a blend of Muslim and Rajput architectural styles, and the shaking towers.

Other activities
Other than visiting the sightseeing options you can also indulge in a shopping spree at the shopping sites in the unofficial Mall Capital of India. Malls in gurgaon have become the ultimate shopping destinations for local customers. They have everything to offer to their visitors from restaurants, pubs and bars to international brands to electronic gadgets to foot wears. Customer can save time and money by visiting these malls of Gurgaon. These malls provide lots of variety to choose; from jewellery to apparels to gifts and accessories to art gallery to home and furnishings etc. The progress of the retail stores in these shopping malls of Gurgaon shows that the future of these shopping malls in Gurgaon is bright especially when the city is ready to accommodate n number of residents.

How to Reach Gurgaon
By Air: Indira Gandhi International Airport, at New Delhi, 10 km away from Gurgaon is the nearest airport from this city.

By Rail: Regular train services connect Gurgaon to all parts of the country. The Gurgaon railway station is situated towards the end of the city and links Rewari on one side and Delhi on the other.

By Road: The state transport bus services linking Gurgaon to the adjacent cities within and around the state are commendable options of road transport. Also, private taxis, buses, metered auto-rickshaws, and state buses are comfortably accessible.