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NoteOnPlacesAndAreasInAncientIndia

NOTEONPLACESANDAREASINANCIENTINDIA
22. CHIDAMBARAM a town in south Arcot district in Tamilnadu is
famous for its great Hindu Siva Temple dedicated to Nataraja, i.e.
Siva in his aspects of cosmic dance. The Nataraja sculptures are
esteemedastehgreatestspecimensofsculptureintheworld.Also,
Chidambaram bears evidence to the birth as well as the
development of Shaivism to begin with insouthern Indian and its
consequentialspreadtothewholeofIndia.
23.CHEDIORCHETIoneofthe16Janapadasof6thcenturyB.C.
roughlycorrespondstomodernBundelkhandandadjacenttracts.ItlayneartheKanuna,itsmetropolis
wassuktimatitoSottihivatinagar.
24.CAAMPAthecapitalcityoftheAngaJanapadaontheborderofBengalwasofgreatcommercial
importanceinancienttimesforitwasariverportfromwhichshipswouldsaildowntheGangesand
thecoastthesouthIndia,returningwithjewelsandspiceswhichweremuchindemandintheNorth.By
Mauryantimes,withtheeastwardexpansionofAryanculture,Tamraliptireplacedininimportance.An
interestingfeatureofthisisthefactthataHinduKingdomwiththesamenamecameintoexistencein
the mainland of South east Asia. Indeed it is difficult to say how exactly this name came to be
transplantedinSoutheastAsia.
25. DASAPURA modern Mandasor in western Malwa, was disputed between the Sakas and the
Satavahanas.ItsfamousSivatempleoftheguildofSilkweavers,wasbuiltduringthereignofkumar
GuptaI(414A.D.455A.D.)theinstitutionthatisresponsibleforbuildingtheSivatempleindicatesthe
climaxofIndiantradingandcommercialactivitiesinancientIndian.Italsorevealsthatmanufactureof
silkwasnolongerthesecretmonopolyofChinaandithadtakenrootsinIndiabythe5thcenturyA.D.
26. DEVAKA modern Dokak in Nowgong district in Assam, a frontier country which paid tribute to
SamudraguptaclaimingthepaymentoftributebyKamarupagoesalongwithDevaka.However,itisto
beborneinmindthatHarisena'sPrasastiisofdoubtfulhistoricalvalidity.Theonesignificantthingthat
isknownisthefactthatnorulerofthenorthernIndiacouldeverconquertheAssamregionbutinstead
BurmaconquereditanditwaswrenchedfromBurmabytheBritishin1829bytheTreatyofYandavoo.

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27. DEOGARH in Jhansi district of U.P. is famous for its Dasvatara Vishnu temple belonging to the
Guptaperiod.Thetemplemaybeconsideredasmostrespresentativeandwellknownexampleofthe
earlysikharastyleoftemplearchitectureinexampleoftheearlysikharastyleoftemplearchitectureon
thepanelsofitswalls.DeogarhisonethetempleswithwhichbeganthetemplearchitectureofIndia.In
particular, the Shikhara is the unique feature of the northerntemples compared to those of southern
Indian.
28.DWARAKA Legends associate this place toYadavas after the battle of Kurukshetra. According to
mythologyDwarakawasdestroyedbythehugetidalwaveaspertheforewarningofLordKrishna.In
very recent times Dr. S.R.Rao with the cooperation of the Department of Ocenography, did carry out
undersea explorations. Some artifacts including stone anchors have been found dating back to the
Harappanperiod.Theexplorationisstillcontinuing.
29.ELLORAWiththreedistinctgroupsofrockcutarchitectureassociatedwithBuddhism,Jainismand
BrahmanicalHinduism,isfamousforitstempleofKailash(Siva)"anentiretemplecomplexcompletely
hewnout of the live rock in imitation of a distinctive structural form". The temple ws built by the
Rashtrakuta king Krishna I (758773 A.D.) and is one of the most magnificent examples of Dravida
architecture with its four principal characteristic components, viz. Vimana, Mandapa, nandi mandapa
andgopuram.TheEllorasculpturesarefamousfortheirliveliness.
30.ERAN Besnagar district (Madhya Pradesh) is famous on account of Eran Inscriptions dated 510
A.D. This inscription mentions the practice of Sati, first of its kind. It is also famous for its colossal
board,thezoomorphicincarnationofLordVishnu.
31.ELEPHANTAbeautifullittleislandoffBombay,withlatestcavetemplesinEllorastylewasfamous
for their sculpture, especially the great Trimutti figure of Siva, emblem of the Maharashtar Govt.
representingthehighestplasticexpressionoftheHinduconceptofdivinity.
32.GANDHARAwithTaxilaandpeshwarastwocapitals,inearlierandlaterancientperiodswasone
of the 16 Janapadas (6th century B.C.) onthenorthwestern frontier of India. Under the Kushans it
becomeapopularcenterofMahayanaBuddhismandGandharaartIndianimagesbothsecularand
religious(theBuddhaandLordKrishna)butinlongfloatinggarments,asisthetraditionofearlyGreek
sculpture. It was a meeting ground for several civilizations and mercantile communities belonging to
differentcountries.
33. GORATHAGIRA A hill fortress on the modern Barabar hills in the Gaya district of Bihar, was
attacked by King Kharavela of Kalinga in the 8th year of his reign. This fact is known from the
HathigumphaInscriptionofkingKharavela.
34. GANGAIKONDCHOLAPURAM was capital city of the greatest Chola ruler Rajendra Chola I
(10121044 A.D.) who built it after the successful Chola military camaign upto the bank of the river
Gangesin102122.Currentlythecityliesinruinsanditsenormoustankshasdriedup.
35.GIRNARhillnearJanagarhinGujarat,whereaMauryangovernorissaidtohavebuiltanartificial
lake,knownasSudarsanalakewhichRudradaman,theSakarulerrenovated.Rudradaman'sSanskrit
Inscription was located here and it is the first Sanskrit inscription It had been a sacred place to the
JainassinceremotetimesbecauseJainshrinesarealsolocatedhere.
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36. HASTINAPURA aim district Meerut in U.P. (known as Asandivant) was the capital of the ancient
tribeoftheKurus.Laterthefloodsdestroyedit.Recentexcavationsprovethatthepeopleofthisregion
usedironbyabout700B.C.thatistheAryanshadlearnttheartofmakingironwhichrevolutionized
the whole socioeconomic pattern of Aryan communities. It was this fact that lay at the base of the
Economic Revolution that India passed through between 1000 B.C. to 600 A.D. with far too many
consequences like the emergence of an empire, various kinds of guilds, brisk trade both with in and
withoutthecountryandlinkswithbuthSoutheastAsiaandtheRomanempire.
37. HATHIGUPHA on Udaigir hill, three miles from Bhuvaneshwar in the puri district of Orissa, is
famousforaninscriptioninpostashokancharacter,engravedinsidetheelephantcave.Itdepictsthe
meteoricanddazzlingcarerofJainakingKharavela,the3rdruleroftheCatedynasty.Italsorefersto
thebuildingofanequeductinKalingabyoneoftheNandarulersofPataliputra.Theimportanceofthis
inscriptionliesinthefactthatitisthefirstimportantsignpostinfixingthechronologyofancientIndia.
38.HAILBIDisfamousforHoysalesvaratemple(Hoysalaperiod)designedandbuiltbyKedoroja,the
masterbuildingofNarasimhaI.Theinfinitewealthofsculptureovertheexteriorofthistemplemakesit
oneofthemostremarkablemonumentsoftheworld.KnownasDwaramudraitwasthecapitalofthe
Hoysalas.
39.INDRAPRASTHAidentifiedbyJainscholarswiththesitearoundtheenclosureofthePuranaOila
(Delhi)oneofthesitesofpaintedGreyWare(10thcenturyB.C.)finda,wasthelegendrycapitalofthe
PandavabrothersoftheepicMahabharata,whichtheylosttotheKauravashavingbeendefeatedin
thegamblingmatch.AfterthesecondbattleofTarain(1192)Moh.GauriappointedOutbuddinAibakas
hisdeputyatIndraprasthawhichbecameabaseforAibak'ssuccessfuloperationsagainstnorthIndian
states.
40.KURAoneofthe16Janapadasof6thcenturyB.C.,wasintheneighbourhoodofDelhi.Amongits
townsmaybementionedIndraprasthaandHastinapur.Thisplaceclearlybringshomethetruthtous
thatMahabharatawasnotpurelyfictionalstorybutsomeamountofhistoricalevidenceisembeddedin
thestory.Asamatteroffact,VasudeveKrishnaisnowknownasahistoricalpersonalityasborneout
bythewritingsofpatanjaliandothersourcesofevidence.
41. KAJANGALA in Raj mahal district in Eastern Bihar, where king Harsha (606647 A.D.) held his
courtwhilecampaigningineasternIndia.TheChiensepilgrimHuenTsangfirstsawHarshahere.
42. KAPISA It is the region near Kabul, probably Kipin as referred to by Chineses writers. The
presidingdietyofthecityaccordingtoChiensewriterswaszeus.TheGreekgod.Thegoldandsilver
coins issued by the Greek kings have been discovered from this region in big numbers. The Greeks
werethefirsttoissuegoldcoinsinIndia.ThesecoinstestifytothegrowingtradelinksbetweenIndia
andCentralAsiaandChinaandalsowiththeRomanworld.Farmoreimportantisthefactthatthese
coinstestifytothegowingworshipofVasudevakrishnaortheBhagavatacultwhichlaterrepenedas
Vaishnavism.
43.KIPINisidentifiedwithKapisaorKafirstaninKashmir.Itindicatedthewideregionknowinearlier
times as the Mahajanapada of Kamboja. It was ruled by the Sakas, the Kushans and the Hunas in
succession.ThenameKambojareappearsasthenameofkamboja,animportantofthemainlandof
SouthEastAsia.
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44.KAMPILYA was the capital of southern Panchalas, one of the tribal communities of the Aryans.
This fact proves that the Aryans, to begin with in India, lived as various tribes. The tribes were in
constantwarwitheachotherculminatingintheemergenceoftheMagadhaEmpire.
45. KUSAMDHVALA (Patliputara) GargiSamhita alludes that in the 2nd century B.C. the Yavanas
(IndoBacterians)havingreducedSaketa,Panchala,andMathurareachedkusumdhvana.Demetrios,
was,mostprobably,theYavanaleader.Hewasdefeatedorheretiredwithouthfighting.
46.KASIoneofthe16Janapadasofthe6thcenturyB.C.withitscapitalofthesamename.Itwasalso
calledVaranasi(69).ItgreatlyprosperedundertheruleofBrahmadatta.
47. KOSAL one of the 16 janapadas of the 6th century B.C. had three different capitals (Saketa,
AyodhyaandSravasti)inthreedifferentperiods.Itregionroughlycorrespondedtomodernoudh.
48.KUSINAGAR (Kusinara ?) moder Kasia, in Gorakhpur district in UP was a small town where the
BuddhaattainedMahaparinirvana.ItwasoneofthetwocapitalsoftheMallJanapadainpreBuddhists
times.ItwasvisitedbyAshokaandtheChinesepilgrimFahien.
49.KANYAKUBJA(Kanauj)onthebankofriverGangasinUProsetoprominenceduringthetimeof
Mukhar is, Harsha and GujaraPratiharas. Under the pratiharas, Kanauj successfully resisted the
Arabs. In the 9th century A.D. It was disputed among the Palas of Bengal, Prathiharas, and the
Rashtrakutas. It was situated on a very important traderoute linking northWestern regions of India
withPrayaga,Kasi,Vaishali,Pataliputra,Rajagriha,Tamralipti.
50.KAUSAMBIidentified with the villagesof Kosam near Allahabad was one of the earliest cities, so
prominentthatAnand,theBuddhistmonk,thoughitimportantenoughforaBuddhatodiein.Recent
excavation it here unearthed historically and culturally important terracotta figures. It was built in the
shape of a trapezium and was the capital of the vastse Janapada. One of the Ashokan Pillars was
locatedhere.ItwasalsoaninscriptionoftheKushanmonarch.
60.KARNASUVARNA : refers to the region of Bengal and some parts of Bihar and Orrisa, fuled by
sasankaintheearly7thcenturyA.D.Harshaconqueredtheregionfromhimafter619A.D.
61.KANHERIInThanadistrictnearBombay,hasrockcutChaityashrineswithelaboratelydecorated
railings belonging to the third century A.D. One inscription of the last great ruler of the Satavahana
dynasty. Yajnasri Satakarni is found here. Kanheri Buddhist Tank inscription makes mention of
MatiemonialrelationshipbetweentheSakasandtheSatavahanas.ItwasthechiefcenterofBuddhism
inRashtrakutatimes.FainttracesoftheartofpaintingsmaybetracedinthecavesofKanheri.
62.KANCHImoderncanjeevaram,southwesttoMadrasisreckonedamongthesevensacredcitiesof
theHindus.ItwasanimportantcenterofJainacultureinthefirsthalfofthefirstmillenniumA.D.Itwas
oneofthesouthIndiankingdomsconqueredbySamudragupta.ItwasvisitedbyHuenTsang.Itrose
toprominencein7thcenturyA.D.UnderthePallavaking.ItpossessesthefamousKailashnathtemple
(builtbyPallavaKingNarsimhavarmanII)andVaikunthaperumalla(constructedsometimeafterthe
kailashnath).TheKailashnathtempleisalandmarkinthedevelopmentofdravidatemplestylewithits
characteristiccomponentsvimana,mandapagopuramandanarrayofvimanasalongthewallsofthe
court,i.e.peristylecells.

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63.KAVERIPATTANAMknownasPuhar,wastheCholacapitalandchiefportinSangamperiod(200
B.C.300A.D.)withalargecolongyofforeigners.Itwasanimportanttradecenter.Shipssailingfrom
here to SouthEast Asia. A long poem on this Chola capital is the part of the famous Sangam work
pattupattu(TenIdylls).
64.KURUKSHETRAnearThaneswar,tothenorthofDelhiinHaryana,wasthesiteofthegreatbattle
of Mahbharata. This battle fought between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, formed the basis of the
storyofthegreatnessofIndiaepicstheMahabharata.ItisinthisgreatwarthatKrishnaprachedhis
gospeloftheGita,tothePandavaheroArjunawhosawhisowneldersandkishmenarrangedhimself
for the fith and then early decided to renounce and retire. Krishna gave him the message of
disinterestedperfomanceofdutyi.e.renunciationinactionbutnorenunciationofaction.Thatagreat
warwsfoughtbetweenthecousinbrothersKauravasandPandavasisquitepossible.
65. MANYAKHET (modern Malkhed in Hyderabad region) was the capital of Rashtrakuta
AmoghavarshaIinthe9thcenturyA.D.
66. MAHABALIPURAM is today a tiny coastal village 65 kms. south of Madras. This portcity was
founded by Pallava king Narasimhavarman in the 7th century A.D. Pallava kings created an
architectureoftheirownwhichwastobethebasisofallthestylesofthesouth.InfactMahabilipuram,
thePallavaartwithitsmonolithictemples(rathas)androckssculpturedintheshapesofanimalswitha
wonderfullybroadandpowerfulnaturalism,withwholecliffsworkedinstonefrescoes,immenspictures
unparalleled at the time in all Indian in their order movement and lyrical value. The Descent of the
Ganges,theuniquemasterpieceofPallavaartwassurelyoneofthemostremarkablecompositionsof
all time (in which is portrayed the Ganges coming down to earth, with gods, animals men and all
creationinadoration).TheshoretemplebuiltbyRajasimharepresentsoneoftheearliestexamplesof
structural temples. the Pallvava monuments at Mahabalipuram symbolize not only the transition from
rockarchitecturetostructuralstonetemplesbutalsosignificantlythecompletionofthe"Aryanisation"
ofSouthIndiaduringthePallavaperiod.
67.MADHYAMIKAisidentifiedwithNagarinearChitorinRajasthan.PatanjalialludestoYavana(Indo
Bacterian)invasionofMadhyamika.
68.MUSHIKASonthelowerInduswithitscapitalatAlord.Wasthegreatestprincipalityatthetimeof
Alexander'sinvasion.ItskingmousikanassubmittedtoAlexanderafterbraveresistance.
69.MATIPURmodernMandawarindistrictBijnorofUPwasacenterofHinayanaBuddhiststudiesin
the6thand7thcenturiesA.D.HuenTsangstayedhereforsometime.
70.MADURAIpopularlyknownasthecityoffestivals,wastheseatofthe3rdSangamandwastillthe
14thcenturythecapitalofthePandyankingdomwhichhadseabornebradewithRomeandGreece.It
isfamousfortheMinakshitemple.
80.MACCHAorMatsaya,wasoneofthe16janapads.TheMatsyasruledtothewestoftheJamuna
andsouthoftheKurus.TheircapitalwasatViratnagar(modernBairratnearJaipur).
81.MALLAwasoneofthe16Janapadasofthe16thcenturyB.C.TheterritoryoftheMallaswason
themountainslopesprobablytothenorthofthevijjainconfederation.Theyhadtobrancheswiththeir
capitalsatKusinagarandPawa.ButinpreBuddhisttimetheMallaswereamonarchy.
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82. MUZIRIS modern canganors in Kerala at the mouth of the river Periyar, an important port in
Sangam period (20 B.C. 300 A.D.) abounded in ships with cargoes from Arabia and Roman world.
LaterliteraturespeaksofRomansettlementsandatemplewasbuiltherenihonourofAugustus.
83. NAGARJUNAKONDA is Krishna Velley, harboured a Neolithic community with stoneaxeculture
andprimitivemodeofagriculture.Withafewclassicalaccidentallookingsculpturesinprovestradeand
culturecontactswiththeRomanworld.SurvivalofaBuddhiststupaprovesittobeaBuddhistcenterin
earlyChristiancenturies.ThebeginningofHindutemplearchitectureinsouthIndiaarebesttracedin
the remains of the early brick temples of the Ikshavakus excavated here anticipating the Nagara,
DravidaandVasarsstyles.
84.NASIK (also known as Naiskya and Govardhan) is famous for exquisite rockcut Buddhist temple
(of the period 2nd BC 1st A.D.) with an engraved iscription of Gautami Balsari recording the
achievementoftheSatavahanasrulerGautamiputraSatakarni).Alargeboardofsilvercoinsbearing
the name, the titles of Nahapana were discovered at Jogalthambi very close to the Nasik suggesting
thedefeatoftheSakarulerbytheSatavahanaknig.ItisalsofamousfortheChaityaandViharaspan
dulonea.
85. PITHUNDA on the Godavari, was the capital of the Avapeople or the Avamukta which was
conqueredasSamudragupta.
86. PADMAVATI was Nag capital is Gwalior region. Its king Ganapati Naga was defeated by
Samudragupta.
87. PRATISHTHANA (Paithan) at the mouth of the river godavri in the Aurangabad district of
Maharashtra, was the capital of Satavahana kings. It was an important commercial mart linked with
Sravasti.
88. PURUSHPURA (modern Peshawar) was the capital of Kanishka's vast empire and the center of
Gandhara art. It became the chief center of Buiddhist activity and studies with building of number of
hugeChaityasandviharasandwithonestupa.TheChiensepilgrimsrefertoamanystoriedrelictower
in which some relics of Buddha were enshrined. It is here that the icons of Buddha and other Hindu
gods were first finely carved. In provided the meeting place of the marchants of India, China, central
Asia,Persia,andtheRomanworld.
89.PATTADAKAL near Aihole Badami is famous for magnificentrockcult and sculptures temples in
ChalukyaandPallavastyle.Thenumberofsuchtemplesistenfourinthenorthernstyleandsixin
southern.Mostfamousofthesetemplesislokesvaratemple(nowcalledVirupaksha).
90.PANCHALAwasoneofthe16janapadasofthe6thcenturyB.C.Itsareacorrespondenttomodern
Bundelkhand and the portion of the Central Doab. It had two divisions northern and southern, the
Ganges forming the boundary line. Their capitals were Ahicchatra and Kampilya respectively. One of
theearlyPanchalaskings,Durmukha,iscreditedwithconquestsinalldirections.
91. PUSHKALAVATI i.e. the "city of lotuses' in Afganisthan to the north of the river Kabul (modern
Charasadda)inthedistrictofPeshawarwasconqueredbyAlexandar.Itwastheoldcapitalofwestern
Gandhara.Agoldcoin(belongingtothe2ndcenturyB.C.)withthecitygoddess(Lakshmi)holdinga

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lotusinherrighthandandanappropriateKharoshthilegend"Pakhalavatidevata"hadbeendiscovered
here pointing to the popularity of Indian goddess. It remained under the rule of the IndoGreeks, the
sakasandtheKushana.ItwasanimportantlinkinIndia'straderelationswithcentralAsiaandChina.
92. RAJAGRIHA moder Rajgir, near Patna in Bihar was and ancient capital of Magadha under
BimbisaraandAjatsatru.ItwasherethatfirstBuddhistcouncilwasheldafterthedeathofBuddha.The
cyclopeanwallsofthethisoldcommercialtownareamongthemostremarkablefindsinIndia.
93. SAKALA modern Sialkot, capital of Menander, was the refuge of Buddhist monks. It was here,
accordingtoBuddhisttradition,thatPushyamitraSunghadeclaredtogiveanawardof199dinarsfor
theheadofaBuddhistmonk.
94. SANCHI :near Bhopal famous for a Buddhist stupa and for one of Ashoka's Minor Pillar Edicts.
SanchisculpturesalongwithBharhutGodhGayarepresentthefirstorganizedartactivityoftheIndian
People.TherearereliefsoftheJatkasonthestonewallsaroundthestupa.Sanchirevealedhistorically
importantinscriptionoftheSatavahanasandtheGuptakings.Kakanodbotaprobablywastheancient
name for Sanchi, which was inhabited by the tribal people Kakar, and was conquered by the
Samudragupta.
95.SRAVASTImoderSaketMahetonthebordersoftheGondaandtheBahraichdistrictsofU.P.On
the river Rapti It was a famous center of trade in ancient times, from where three important trade
routesemanatedlinkingitwithRajagriha,Pratishthana,andTaxila.Itwasoneoftheearlycapitalsof
the Janapad of Kosal. Later, it served as the provincial headquarters of the Gupta kings. Fahien
visitedit.
96. SAKETA region around Ayodhya, was invaded by Yavanas (IndoBacterin) is attested to by
Patanjali.
97. SARNATH near Varanasi, is the place where the Buddha delivered his frist sermon in the Deer
park,thiseventbeingknownasthe"TurningoftheWheelofLaw".ItisthesiteofthefamousAshokan
PillarofPolishedsandstonewhoselioncapitalwasadoptedbythepeopleofFreeIndiaasthestate
(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/)
emblem.ItwasalsothefamousseatofGuptasculpture.Guptaplasticartreacheditsperfectione.g.
theseatedBuddhainpreachingposture.
98. SRAVANABELGOLA in Hasan district of Karnataka, is famous for the monolithic statue of
Gometeswara85fit.High,erectedin980A.D.byChemundyaRai,thechiefministeroftheGangaking
Rachmal.
99.SOPARA port town known to the Periplus and ptolmey, carried most of the ancient Indian trade
withforeigncountriesgraduallyitbegantoloseitsimportancetoBerygazaandBarhariumIstcentury
A.D.onwards.Itahssurvivedasavillage40milesnorthofBombay.
100.TOSALI(Dhauli)nearBhuaneshwarinPuridistrictofOrissa,wastheseatofoneoftheMauryan
viceroyalties as well as one of the fourteen major rock edicts of Ashoka. The Tosali rock edict refers
onlytotheconqueredprovince.

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101.TRIPURInowvillagenearJabalpur,wasthecapitaloftheKalachuridynasty.TheKalachurikings
becameindependentin10thcenturyA.D.In1939,Tripurihadthedistinctionofbeingthevenueofthe
54thsessionofIndianNationalcongress.
102.TAMRALIPTITamlukintheMidnapurdistrictofWesternBengalwasoneofthemostimportant
porttownsofancientIndia.OutlettosoutheastAsiawhentherewastradeboom.
103.TANJOREisfamousforRajarajeswavaorBrihadeswaratempleoflordShivawhichisthelargest
and tallest of all India temples with its vimana towering to a height of nearly 200 feet over the
Garbhagriha with Pyramidal body in thirteen tiers. It was the seat of Chola government in the 9th
centuryA.D.andlaterofanindependentkingdomafterthefalloftherVijayanagarEmpire.Weightof
thecap80tonnes.Conceivedonagiganticscale.Stonereliefasminuteasthatofjewelers.
104.THANESWARnearKurukshetra,tothenorthofDelhiintheprovinceofHaryana,wasthecapital
of the Pushyabhuti dynsty. The kingdom of thanesar emerged into a powerful state under Harsha's
(606647A.D.)father,PrabhakarvardhanwhowasinconstantwarfareagainsttheHunsonthefrontier
and with the rulers of Malwa. Harsha shifted his capital from Thaneswar to Kannauj. According to
HeunTsang the people of this city were specially inclined to trade. Thus thanesar was a principal
centeroftrade.ItwasattackedbyMahmudofGhazniin1014A.D.itisherethatahmadShahAbdali
firstdefeatedtheMarathaarmyin1759bodingtotheMarathacollapseatPanipatin1761.
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