As the namesake of its own district, the city of Faridabad is one of the most significant in the country, as the largest and most populous town in the state of Haryana, and bordering the capital city of India, New Delhi. It is part of the National Capital Region, and its proximity to the capital has helped it become the 10th biggest industrial town in India. A large centre of culture and industry, Faridabad is a buzzing city and also home to natural beauty by being near Surajkund Lake and not far from surrounding green areas like parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
One of the most appealing tourist attractions of Faridabad is the Surajkund International Crafts Fair, which takes place every year surrounding the nearby artificial lake, selling a range of traditional Indian items, like textiles, handmade products and jewellery. On Surajkund Lake, visitors can also partake in watersports, hike the surrounding area, or simply relax in the peaceful scenery, alternatively, visiting Anangpur Dam in another possible daytrip, only two kilometres away. Visitors can discover a nearby heritage site by going to Tughlaqabad Fort, a ruined piece of architecture and now a large shooting range, considered to be one of the best in the world. There are various religious sights in Faridabad, including ISKCON temple and Sai Baba Mandir, which act as historic local landmarks.
Visitors can reach Faridabad by train as it is on the railway line running between New Delhi and Mumbai, stopping at the city’s central station, offering local services directly to the capital, also provided by the Delhi Metro which runs to the city. Drivers can get to Faridabad via the Delhi-Faridabad Skyway, which can also be used to reach the nearest airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport, situated about 35 kilometres away.
The city names itself after its founder, Farid, a past treasurer of the Emperor, who founded it in 1607 by building a mosque and a fort. The industrial foundations of the town developed in 1950 under the Pakistani Refugee Resettlement Project, and it developed into the industrial hub of the district it is today.