Kaithal (Hindi: [kɛːt̪ʰl]) is a city and municipal council in the Kaithal district of the Indian state of Haryana. Kaithal was previously a part of Karnal district and later, Kurukshetra district until 1 November 1989, when it became the headquarters of the Kaithal. It shares a border with the Patiala district of state Punjab and the Kurukshetra, Jind and Karnal districts of Haryana. Kaithal district is situated in the North-West of the Haryana state. Its North-West boundaries, which include Guhla-Cheeka are attached to Punjab.
Kaithal
Kapisthal | |
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City | |
Kaithal Location in Haryana, India Show map of HaryanaKaithal Kaithal (India) Show map of India | |
Coordinates: 29.8015°N 76.3998°E / 29.8015; 76.3998 | |
Country | India |
State | Haryana |
District | Kaithal |
Named for | Hanuman |
Government | |
• Member of Parliament | Nayab Singh |
• Member of the Legislative Assembly | Leela Ram |
Elevation | 250 m (820 ft) |
Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 144,915 |
Languages[2][3] | |
• Official | Hindi |
• Additional official | English, Punjabi |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
PIN | 136027 |
Telephone code | 01746 |
ISO 3166 code | IN-HR |
Vehicle registration | HR-08, HR-64 (for commercial vehicles) |
Sex ratio | 887 ♂/♀[4] |
Lok Sabha constituency | Kurukshetra |
Website | kaithal |
Historically the city was known as Kapisthal, meaning "Abode of Kapi", another name of Lord Hanuman, and it is said to have been founded by the Pandava Emperor, Yudhishthira of Mahabharata. The later word Kaithal is said to be derived from Kapisthala. It is traditionally connected with Hanuman and has a temple dedicated to Anjani, the mother of Hanuman. It is also said that it is the birthplace of Lord Hanuman and there is a temple constructed at that place known as "Anjani Tila" among the residents of Kaithal.[5]
The Vridhakedara (Vidkyar) sanctum of Kaithal finds a mention in the Vedic texts of Vaman Puran.[6] Kaithal, with many of its temples, is also an important milestone in the 48 Kos Parikrama pilgrimage.
Timur stopped here in 1398, before attacking Delhi. Later, the city became a Muslim cultural centre, under the rule of Delhi Sultanate. Tombs of several Sufi saints dating from the 13th century can be found in the city today; most important among them is that of Sheikh Salah-ud-din of Bhalkh (1246 CE). The town was renovated and a fort was built during the rule of the Mughal Emperor, Akbar, and as per Ain-i-Akbari, it was a pargana, under the sarkar of Sirhind, and had developed into an agricultural centre.[7]
Razia Sulta , the first woman ruler of India, reigned as the Sultana of Delhi Sultanate from 1236 to 1240. She fled Delhi with Malik Altúniya after they were defeated on the 24th of Rabí'u-l awwal A.H. 638 (Oct. 1240), and reached Kaithal the next day, where their remaining forces abandoned them, and were killed on 13 November 1240.[8][9][10] The tomb of Rajia Begam is still found here. This aspect is still not well known outside Kaithal, but residents know about the Mazaar of Razia Begum even generations later.
Timur took the town in 1398, with his army massacring or plundering the inhabitants and destroying all villages along the way to Assandh. Many of the residents of Kaithal and the other cities had fled to Delhi in fear.[11]
In 1767, the city fell into the hands of the Singh Krora Misl chieftain, Bhai Desu Singh (d. 1781), who led a large Sikh force from his native village of Bhucho. In the Punjab whose descendants, the bhais of Kaithal, ranked among the most powerful Cis-Sutlej states. The Sikh Chieftains of Kaithal, ruled from 1767 until its fall in 1843. By 1808, it came under British influence. The state was ruled by the Scindhia dynasty of the Maratha Empire and paid tributes to the Marathas, until the Second Anglo-Maratha War of 1803–1805, after which the Marathas lost this territory to the British.[12][13][14] Bhai Udey Singh ruled over Kaithal and proved to be the last King. Bhai Udey Singh died on 14 March 1843. It became a municipality in 1867. In 1901, the town had a population of 14,408 and was the tehsil in the district of Karnal. The fort of the Bhais is still extant, and their title Bhai became common with the primary Jat Sikh rulers. Peoples of Kaithal took active part in the freedom struggle in 1857.[15][16][17]
Kaithal is located at 29.8015°N 76.3996°E / 29.8015; 76.3996.[18] It has an average elevation of 220 metres (721 feet).
Religion in Kaithal (2011)[19] | ||||
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Religion | Percent | |||
Hinduism | 96.46% | |||
Sikhism | 2.47% | |||
Islam | 0.64% | |||
Others | 0.43% |
As of the 2011 Indian Census, Kaithal had a total population of 144,915, of which 76,794 were males and 68,121 were females. The population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 17,531. The total number of literates in Kaithal was 100,944, which constituted 69.7% of the population with a male literacy of 75.3% and a female literacy of 63.3%. The effective literacy rate of the 7+ population of Kaithal was 79.2%, of which male literacy rate was 86.1% and the female literacy rate was 71.6%. The Scheduled Castes population was 24,760. Kaithal had 28547 households in 2011.[1]
Hindi is the official language of Kaithal. Punjabi and English are additional official languages.[2][3]
Religion | Population (1911)[20]: 20 |
Percentage (1911) |
Population (1941)[21]: 30 |
Percentage (1941) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hinduism [lower-alpha 1] | 6,546 | 50.7% | 11,593 | 51.93% |
Islam | 6,002 | 46.48% | 10,263 | 45.97% |
Sikhism | 241 | 1.87% | 261 | 1.17% |
Christianity | 23 | 0.18% | 49 | 0.22% |
Others [lower-alpha 2] | 100 | 0.77% | 159 | 0.71% |
Total Population | 12,912 | 100% | 22,325 | 100% |
This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2019) |
There exists the remains of the fort of the Bhais, and several Muslim tombs of the 13th century and later. The Kaithal fort has many gates made by British rulers and used to control the entry of trade goods and other items.
The fort was restored and renovated in 2016 (as seen in pictures). It now forms one of the most visible and important landmarks of Kaithal.
The tomb of Razia Sultana, who gained the throne of Delhi Sultanate under the Mamluk Sultanate, is situated 10 km north-west of the Kaithal city in Siwan on the Kaithal-Cheeka-Patiala road. It is near the jail constructed nearby by the present administration. She and her husband Malik Altunia, who was the governor of Bhatinda (Punjab), were decapitated by the local Jat people of the area. It is speculated that she might have been disinterred from Kaithal and then reburied at her tomb in Delhi.
Raziya al-Din (1205 in Budaun – 13 October 1240), throne name Jalâlat ud-Dîn Raziyâ, usually referred to in history as Razia Sultana, was the Sultan of Delhi in India from 1236 to May 1240. Like some other Muslim princesses of the time, she was trained to lead armies and administer kingdoms if necessary.[22] Razia Sultan was the only woman ruler of both the Sultanate and the Mughal period, although other women ruled from behind the scenes.[23] Razia refused to be addressed as Sultana because it meant "wife or consort of a Sultan". She would answer only to the title "Sultan."[24]
In Kaithal a 22-by-14.6-metre (72 by 48 ft) national flag is hoisted 63 metres (207 ft) above the ground in Hanuman Vatika.[25]
Following two pilgrimage points of Kaithal town form part of Kurukshetra's 48 kos pariktrama.
Vriddh Kedaar, or Vidkyaar as it is popularly known, is an important religious place for Hindus. This is one of the several pilgrimages in 48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra. This pilgrimage has been mentioned in the ancient text of Vamana Purana also. Vaman Purana said: "Kapisthaleti vikhyatam sarvapatakanashanam yasmina sthitaha swayam devovridha kedara samgjijitaha" (2) (Translation: The destroyer of all devilish deeds, the famous Kapisthala sanctum is here because Lord Vridhakedara himself resides in it.) The Vridhakedara sanctum changed to "Vidkyara" as a result of the philological principle of "mukhasukha", or ease of speaking.[6] it is located near pehowa chowk, the central point of Kaithal.
It is one of the famous temples of city, where divine eleven Rudra were placed long ago. The temple is known for its art, architecture, beautiful scriptures and large area. A large statue of Hanuman complements the beauty of this temple.
This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2019) |
Anjani was the name of the mother of Lord Hanuman. Kaithal was earlier known as Kapisthal, the abode of monkeys (or monkey God, Hanuman).
This is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Out of 108 Shiva Temples situated in the city, Gyrah-Rudri Temple is the most famous one of its own kind. Legend has it that it is at this place during Mahabharata era, Arjun had been conferred Pashupat Astra by praying to Lord Shiva.
Sheikh Tayyab's actual name was Lala Maidni Mal and he was one of the advisors to Mughal Emperor Akbar. He converted to Islam at the hands of Shah Kamal Qadri. His descendants from his Hindu wife are called "Qanugo" and the place where they used to live is called Mohalla "Qanugoyan" in Kaithal. There was a tradition when someone from Qanugo used to get married, they used to send one pitcher of sweet drink (sherbet) to Sheikh Tayyab masjid (also known as masjid of mirrors) and one pitcher to Shah Kamal shrine.
There was a famine in the times of Shah Kamal. When he learned of it, he asked to prepare two big pots of special food (Dalya). One was prepared by a Muslim and the other one was prepared by a Hindu Brahman. It was announced that people from all over the city can come to eat day and night and take away this Dalya to their homes as well. There was a miracle that despite thousands of people eating from this langar, big pots were still filled with food. When famine ended, this food was discontinued.
After that incident, it was a tradition that every year in the month of "sawan" rainy season, on all four Thursdays of rainy season, people of every religion prepared this special food "dalya" and sent it to the Dargah of Baba Shah Kamal to be distributed among the needy.
The city have two railway stations named; Kaithal (KLE)[29] and New Kaithal Halt (NKLE).[30] The city had a rail connection to Kurukshetra and Narwana which further went to Jind (local trains only) until 2014, when the government started a rail service between Delhi and Kurukshetra via Kaithal. The move for this service was initiated and pushed by the previous Member of Parliament from Kurukshetra, Naveen Jindal with an aim to give people a convenient mode of transport to reach the capital. Earlier they had to board trains at the Kurukshetra railway station.[31] In 2015, a new express train connecting Chandigarh and Jaipur via Kaithal has been started.
The city is connected to the state capital Chandigarh through National Highway 152. SH-8 to Pundri in the east (NH 44 catches up from Karnal to Delhi).
Forts in Haryana | |
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Bhiwani |
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Charkhi Dadri | |
Faridabad |
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Fatehabad | |
Gurgaon | |
Hisar |
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Jind | |
Kaithal | |
Karnal | |
Mahendragarh |
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Nuh |
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Palwal | |
Panchkula |
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Rohtak | |
Sirsa | |
Yamuna Nagar | |
See also |
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Context | |
Kurukshetra | 1. Arunai 2. Prachi 3. Saraswati 4. Brahmayoni 5. Prithudak, Pehowa 6. Shalihotra, Sarsa 7. Bhisma Kund, Narkatari 8. Ban Ganga, Dyalpur 9. Kulotaran 10. Brahma Sarovar 11. Sannihit Sarovar 12. Bhadrakali 13. Aditi Tirtha and Abhimanyu ka Tila, Amin 14. Jyotisar 15. Som Tirtha, Sainsa 16. Shukra Tirtha, Sataura 17. Galav 18. Saptasarsvta 19. Brahma Sthan 20. Som Tirtha, Gumthala gadu 21. Manipurak 22. Bhurishrava 23. Lomash 24. Kamyak 25. Aapga 26. Karan ka Tila 27. Nabhikamal, Thanesar 28. Rantuk Yaksha, Bid Pipli 29. Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple 30. Ojas 31. Renuka |
Jind | 32. Bhuteshwar 33. Ekhamsa 34. Ramhrad 35. Sannehit, Ramrai 36. Pushkar, Pohkarkheri 37. Som tirtha, Pindara 38. Varahakalan 39. Ashwinikumar 40. Jamdagni 41. Yayati 42. Panchnanda(Hatkeshwar) 43. Sarpadadhi 44. Sarpadaman 45. Kayashodan 46. Vamsamulam 47. Khageshwar 48. Ramsar 49. Lohrishi/Lokodwar |
Panipat | 50. Tarntauk Yaksha |
Kaithal | 51. Pawanhrad 52. Falgu, Faral 53. Pawaneshwar 54. Kapil Muni, Kalayat 55. Pundrik, Pundri 56. Trivishtap 57. Kotikut 58. Banteshwar 59. Namish 60. Vedvati 61. Vridkedar, Kaithal 62. Sarak 63. Manush 64. Navadurga 65. Gyaraharudri, Kaithal 66. Aapga 67. Juhomi 68. Vishnupada 69. Yajnasanjna 70. Kapilmuni, Kaul 71. Kulotaran 72. Garhratheshwar 73. Matri 74. Suryakunda 75. Havya 76. Chakramani 77. Rasamangal 78. Mukteshwar 79. Sri tirtha 80. Srikunja 81. Ekshumati 82. Sutirtha 83. Brahmavarta 84. Arantuk Yaksha 85. Sringi Rishi 86. Gobhwan 87. Suryakunda, Sajuma 88. Seetvan 89. Brombhodumber 90. Anyajanma 91. Devi tirtha, Kalsi 92. Dhruvakunda 93. Kukrityanashan 94. Kavya 95. Lavakusha 96. Vamana 97. Rinmochan 98. Alepak 99. Devi tirtha, Mohna 100. Gandharva |
Karnal | 101. Vedvati 102. Mishrak, Nisang 103. Aahan 104. Trigunananda 105. Pawan tirtha, Uplana 106. Jambunand 107. Dasshswamedha 108. Dhankshetra, Assandh 109. Jarasandha ka kila, Assandh 110. Vimalsar 111. Dasaratha/Raghvendra 112. Prithavi 113. Parashar 114. Daksheshwar 115. Vyasa Sthali 116. Goutam rishi/ Gavendra 117. Brahma tirtha, Sawant 118. Akshyavata 119. Falgu, Fafdana 120. Jyesthashrama 121. Koti 122. Surya tirtha, Borshyam 123. Vishnuhrad (Vishnupad) 124. Brahma tirtha, Rasalwa 125. Anjani 126. Jamdagni, Jalmana 127. Sudin and Narvada 128. Tripurari 129. Som tirtha, Samana Bahu 130. Chuchukaranva 131. Koti tirtha, Kurnal 132. Panchdeva 133. Prokshini 134. Kaushiki |
See also |
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