Kurukshetra, the traditional scene of the epic battle between the Kauravas and the Pandavas in the Mahabharata, is located in which present-day Indian state?

Introduction / Context:
Kurukshetra occupies a special place in Indian cultural memory because it is regarded as the battlefield of the Mahabharata, where the Kauravas and the Pandavas fought a decisive war and where Lord Krishna is believed to have delivered the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. In modern geography, Kurukshetra is also a real town and district, and exams often test whether you can correctly identify the present day state in which it lies. This question therefore links epic tradition with contemporary political geography.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Kurukshetra is named as the site of the Mahabharata war. - Four states are given as options: Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. - We must choose the state that currently includes the historic region of Kurukshetra. - We assume the current administrative map of India after the creation of Haryana.

Concept / Approach:
Kurukshetra is located in the northern Indian state of Haryana. After the reorganisation of Punjab in 1966, many areas that once formed part of the larger Punjab region became part of the newly created state of Haryana, and Kurukshetra district is one of them. Gujarat is far to the west on the Arabian Sea coast, and Uttar Pradesh lies further east along the Ganga valley, neither of which matches Kurukshetra's well known location in Haryana's plains near Delhi. Therefore, the correct approach is to recall the modern map and locate Kurukshetra within Haryana.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Kurukshetra is traditionally placed in the north western plains, not in western coastal or eastern Ganga regions. Step 2: Identify that the present day town and district of Kurukshetra is in Haryana, close to other towns like Karnal and Ambala. Step 3: Recognise that Gujarat is a western coastal state and has no connection with the Mahabharata battlefield of Kurukshetra in standard accounts. Step 4: Note that Punjab once included this area before state reorganisation, but Kurukshetra is now officially in Haryana, not in present day Punjab. Step 5: Understand that Uttar Pradesh is associated with other epic cities like Ayodhya and Mathura, but not with Kurukshetra. Step 6: Conclude that Kurukshetra is located in the state of Haryana.

Verification / Alternative check:
Geography textbooks and pilgrimage guides consistently refer to Kurukshetra as a district in Haryana. Many maps label Kurukshetra clearly within Haryana's boundaries along the Delhi–Ambala axis. Additionally, state level tourism campaigns for Haryana promote Kurukshetra as a major spiritual and historical destination. These sources together provide a strong cross check that Kurukshetra is in Haryana, not in the other three states listed.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Gujarat is wrong because it lies much further west and is associated with other important religious centres like Dwarka, not the Kurukshetra battlefield.

Punjab is wrong in the present day context because, after the creation of Haryana, Kurukshetra district is no longer part of Punjab.

Uttar Pradesh is wrong because, although it contains several important religious sites related to Hindu epics, Kurukshetra is not one of them.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students confuse the historical Punjab region with the present day state boundaries and think of Kurukshetra as part of Punjab because of older references. Others simply pick Uttar Pradesh when they see names associated with northern plains without carefully recalling the specific map location. To avoid such mistakes, remember the pair “Kurukshetra – Haryana” and link it with the idea that Haryana was carved out of old Punjab but now has its own distinct geographic identity that includes the Mahabharata battlefield.

Final Answer:
Kurukshetra, associated with the epic battle between the Kauravas and Pandavas, is located in Haryana.