Rohtak Town
¤ The History
Deriving its name from the ancient Rohitaka or Rohtasgarh, Rohtak is
mentioned in the Mahabharata.
Apparently Nakula, a Pandava prince, fought the Yaudheyas on this
ground. Also, Kartikeya (Lord Shiva’s son) rode around Rohtak on
a peacock, so even today you can see the famous ride painted on walls
all over the town.
On the other hand it is also named after Raja Rohtas who probably
ordered for the city to be built.
¤ Main Attractions
The ruins of the Khokar fort (built by the Khokars) are still there,
as are the Dini and Adina masjids. The Jama Masjid in Meham has now
been turned into a gurudwara for the Sikhs in true secular fashion. An
old, mythical tank called Gaokaran tank is a complex of structures and
includes temples of Shiva, Devi and Hanuman in addition to a
dharamshala and a park close at hand.
Rohtak also boasts of a medical college and a university. Besides
being a district headquarter and one of the largest towns in the
state, Rohtak has a huge lake which makes it another tourist spot.
Check out the Bhindawas Lake, home for thousands of birds and
officially a wildlife sanctuary since 1985. Spread out over an area of
over 1,000 acres, Bhindawas is the largest wetland of Haryana, 80kms
from Delhi. The lake covers 12kms of land, which was used for crop
cultivation before it was flooded.
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