Kaithal


Kaithal is a city and a municipal council in Kaithal district in 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 district of Haryana. It shares border with Patiala district of state Punjab and 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 is attached to Punjab State.

History

Mythology

Historically, it 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. 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.

The Vridhakedara sanctum of Kaithal finds a mention in Vedic texts of Vaman Puran. Kaithal, with many of its temples, is also an important milestone in 48 Kos Parikrama pilgrimage.

Early and medieval history

stopped here in 1398, before attacking Delhi. Later, the city became a Muslim cultural center, 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. 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
Razia Sultana, 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, and reached Kaithal the next day, where their remaining forces abandoned them, and were killed on 13 November 1240. 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.

Modern history

In 1767, it fell into the hands of the Singh Krora Misl chieftain, Bhai Desu Singh, 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. Bhai Udey Singh ruled over Kaithal and proved as 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 Sikh rulers. Peoples of Kaithal took active part in freedom struggle in 1857.

Geographics

Topography

Kaithal is located at. It has an average elevation of 220 metres.

Climate

Demographics

As of 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 male literacy of 75.3% and 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.
Hindi is the official language of Kaithal. Punjabi and English are additional official languages.

Landmarks

Kaithal Fort

There exist 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. It now forms one of the most visible and important landmarks of Kaithal.

Tomb of [Razia Sultana]

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 Kaithal-Cheeka-Patiala road. It is close to the jail constructed nearby by the present administration. She and her husband Malik Altunia who was the governor of Bhatinda were decapitated by the local Jat people of area. It is speculated that she might have been disinterred form Kaithal and then reburied at her Delhi's tomb.
Raziya al-Din, 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. Razia Sultan was the only woman ruler of both the Sultanate and the Mughal period, although other women ruled from behind the scenes. Razia refused to be addressed as Sultana because it meant "wife or consort of a Sultan". She would answer only to the title "Sultan."

One of the highest flag of India

In Kaithal a national flag is hoisted above the ground in Hanuman Vatika.

48 Kos Temples

Following two pilgrimage points of Kaithal town form part of Kurukshetra's 48 kos pariktrama.

Vidkyar Teerth (Vriddh Kedaar)

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 says :

"Kapisthaleti vikhyatam sarvapatakanashanam yasmina sthitaha swayam devovridha kedara samgjijitaha"


The Vridhakedara sanctum changed to "Vidkyara" as a result of the philological principle of "mukhasukha", or ease of speaking. it is located near pehowa chowk, the central point of Kaithal.

Shree Gyarah Rudri Mandir

It is one of the famous temple of city, where divine eleven Rudra were placed long ago and the temple is known for its art, architecture, beautiful scriptures and large area, a big statue of Hanuman complements the beauty of this temple.

Religious places

Anjani Teela

Anjani was the name of mother of Lord Hanuman. Kaithal was earlier as Kapisthal, the abode of monkeys.

Ancient Khandeshwar Temple

This is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Gyrah Rudri Shiva Temple

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.

Gurudwaras

Sheikh Tayyab actual name was Lala Maidni Mal and he was one of the advisor to Mughal Emperor Akbar. He converted to Islam at the hands of Shah Kamal Qadri. His descendants from 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 to sheikh Tayyab masjid and one pitcher to Shah Kamal shrine.

Once there was famine in the times of Shah Kamal. When he came to know about it, he asked to prepare Two big pots of special food. 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 and 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 also 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 used to get this special food "dalya" prepared and send it to the dargah of baba shah kamal to be distributed among the needful.

Transport

Rail

The city have two railway stations named; Kaithal and New Kaithal Halt. The city had a rail connection to Kurukshetra and Narwana which further went to Jind 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. In 2015, a new express train connecting Chandigarh and Jaipur via Kaithal has been started.

Road

The city is connected to the state capital Chandigarh through National Highway 152.
SH-8 to Pundri in the east.

Educational Institutes

Universities

Notable people