A beautiful International craft festival the Surajkund Mela is a platform for artists across the globe to showcase their culture and talent. Hosted annually by the Haryana Tourism Department in Surajkund, the mela has many offbeat attractions for tourists of every age.
Over 20 countries from South Asia, Africa, and Europe actively participate in making this fair a huge success. Surajkund or in literal terms known to be ‘Lake of the Sun’, is an ancient reservoir that was built by King Suraj Pal of the Tomar dynasty in the 10th century.
Faridabad in Haryana, saw no tourism until it began hosting the ‘Surajkund International Craft Mela’.
Surajkund Mela 2020 in Faridabad Dates.
The festivities will last for a fortnight from around 1st to the 17th of February engaging visitors in traditional folk dances, musical shows, and even puppet skits.
Surajkund Mela Timings
The Mela is on from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM every day
Surajkund Mela 2020 Ticket Price
Price: The ticket price range is from INR 100/- to 200/- as per the demand.
Ticket Price during Weekdays: 120/-
Ticket Price during Weekends: 180/-
Availability: Tickets for the Surajkund International Crafts Fair are easily available on all major online booking platforms and even at the venue.
Discounts: Every year the committee introduces new discount options for its visitors, however, these are some standard rebates launched by the Haryana Government.
A 50% rebate on the entry ticket amount on weekdays for school and college students with a valid ID card.
A 50% discount on the entry ticket amount for senior citizens, differently-abled and soldiers.
Travel
Mela has ample parking space for tourist vehicles. There are golf carts and e-rickshaws also available on request that will take you around the festival premise and parking area.
Facilities including e-toilets for males and female and clean drinking water filters are installed at regular intervals within the mela grounds.
Located amidst Lakkarpur and Baharpur village lays the picturesque Surajkund village near Faridabad. Beautiful colours, the soothing tempo of the music and flawless craftsmanship aptly capture the essence of this beautiful fair.
Celebrated no less than any festival, the core motive behind it is to promote the talent and cultural inheritance of local artisans in our country. In a world where machines are replacing humans faster than before, this little initiative by the Haryana government nurtures rural craftsmanship and boosts the export of local handlooms.
However, the bucolic aura of the mela is also responsible for creating a captivating spell for the travellers who visit India from different parts of the globe.
Each year there is a specific theme assigned to a Surajkund Mela. It works around a specific theme based on a state of India, it also inspires the fairs architectural layout, spirit, and decor.
The beauty of this concept is to very intricately accentuate the rich cultural heritage of India and boost the work of any local craftsmen to continue their waning flair of handmade merchandise.
The Theme of Surajkund Mela
Each year the organizing committee seemingly picks a theme state. The motive behind this step is to highlight India’s diverse cultural history and make it more prominent among other nations. In 2019, the theme state for the mela was assigned to Maharashtra. The theme for the year 2020 still awaits to be announced.
Highlights of Surajkund Mela 2020
India is a beautiful blend of vivacious, diverse and vibrant cultures that are skillfully showcased at the Surajkund Mela. Along with partner nations, the organizers invigorate the mood of its visitors with delicious ethnic dishes, affordable colour-popping paintings, antique stone sculptures and fun rides to keep even the little ones busy.
The blend of so many elements as flavours blends in the fervour of the mela making it a great memorable experience. Apart from trying delicious rural cuisines and shopping for local art, one can indulge in experiencing some scintillating folk dance and music shows at the open-air theatre.
How to Reach the Surajkund Mela?
Surajkund is well connected by all means of transport. The nearest metropolitan city near Surajkund will be New Delhi. Just 8 km from South Delhi, one has multiple travel options based on their budget.
By Road
Driving down from another state won’t have much hassle, the National Highway is a well-made 4-lane road, with plenty of eating options offering dishes like Chola kulcha and paranthas. A comfortable drive, Surajkund is well connected to Delhi, Faridabad and Gurgaon. You can also opt for a tourist taxi or even drive your personal vehicle as the mela area which has adequate parking space.
By Rail
New Delhi (NDLS) will be the nearest railway station to reach Surajkund. Once you reach the railway junction, the city is well connected to Faridabad and Gurgaon. You can take a local train or even the Delhi metro to reach Surajkund.
By Metro
If you are already in Delhi and plan to travel to Surajkund from there, the Delhi Metro is an excellent mode of transport for you. Take the metro from Central Secretariat to Badarpur via Sarita Vihar and Mohan estate. Badarpur is the nearest metro station for the mela. There are plenty of prominent route maps at all metro stations in both English and Hindi for outstation travellers.
By Air
An easy and hassle-free mode of commute, Surajkund is just a 35-minute drive from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and 25 km from Palam Airport.
Where to Stay?
Prior planning requires to organise a festival of this magnanimity. A host city will be entertaining guests from across the globe. While there are plenty of resorts in and around the area of Surajkund, booking early might land one with some good deals.
Some of the best options of this day will be Aravalli Golf Course resort in Faridabad, Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary in Gurgaon and the Taj Palace in New Delhi. Picking hotel in accordance to budget is a better option.
