# Thanesar

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City in Haryana, India

Thanesar Sthāṇvīśvara City Thanesar city or Sthāṇvīśvara city Brahma Sarovar and Kurukshetra City Entrance Gate At National Highway 44 (India) Thanesar Location in Haryana, India Show map of Haryana Thanesar Thanesar (India) Show map of India Coordinates: 29°58′N 76°49′E / 29.967°N 76.817°E / 29.967; 76.817 Country India State Haryana District Kurukshetra district Elevation 232 m (761 ft) Population (2011)[1] • Total 154,962 Languages • Official Hindi, Haryanvi Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST) Vehicle registration HR Website haryana.gov.in

**Thanesar** ([IAST](/source/IAST): Sthāṇvīśvara) is a historic city and [Hindu pilgrimage centre](/source/Hindu_pilgrimage_sites) in the [Kurukshetra district](/source/Kurukshetra_district) of [Haryana](/source/Haryana), [India](/source/India). It is located approximately 160 km northwest of [Delhi](/source/Delhi). The city [Kurukshetra](/source/Kurukshetra)'s area merges with Thanesar.[2][3]

Thanesar was the capital of the [Pushyabhuti dynasty](/source/Pushyabhuti_dynasty), whose rulers conquered most of [Aryavarta](/source/Aryavarta) following the fall of the [Gupta Empire](/source/Gupta_Empire). The Pushyabhuti emperor [Prabhakarvardhana](/source/Prabhakarvardhana) was a ruler of Thanesar in the early seventh century CE. He was succeeded by his sons, [Rajyavardhana](/source/Rajyavardhana) and [Harsha](/source/Harsha).[4] Harsha, also known as Harshavardhana, consolidated a vast empire over much of North India by defeating independent kings that fragmented from the Later Guptas.

## Demographics

The [2011 census of India](/source/2011_census_of_India) noted that Thanesar had a population of 154,962.[5][1] Males constituted 55% of the population and females 45% (83,655 – 71,307). Thanesar had an average literacy rate of 85.73%, higher than the national average of 74.04: male literacy is 89.89%, and female literacy is 80.85%.[1] In Thanesar, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

## Geography

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Thanesar is located at [29°58′N 76°49′E / 29.967°N 76.817°E / 29.967; 76.817](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Thanesar&params=29_58_N_76_49_E_).[6]

## History

*Harsha Ka Tila* mound west of [Sheikh Chilli's Tomb](/source/Sheikh_Chilli's_Tomb) complex, with ruins from the reign of 7th century ruler [Harsha](/source/Harsha).

Present-day Thanesar is located on an ancient mound. The mound (1km long and 750m wide) is known as *Harsh ka Tila* (Mound of Harsha). It has ruins of structures built during the reign of [Harsha](/source/Harsha), seventh-century CE. Among the archaeological finds from the mound include [Painted Grey Ware](/source/Painted_Grey_Ware) shards in the pre-[Kushana](/source/Kushana) levels and [Red Polished Ware](/source/Pottery_in_the_Indian_subcontinent) from the post-[Gupta period](/source/Gupta_period).[7][8]

In the post-Gupta period, Sthanishvara was the capital of the [Vardhana dynasty](/source/Vardhana_dynasty), which ruled over a major part of [North India](/source/North_India) during the late-sixth and early-seventh centuries. [Prabhakarvardhana](/source/Prabhakaravardhana), fourth king of the Vardhana dynasty, had his capital at Thanesar. After his death in 606 CE, his eldest son [Rajyavardhana](/source/Rajyavardhana) ascended the throne, who was later murdered by a rival, which led to Harsha ascending to the throne at age 16. In the following years, he conquered much of North India, extended to [Kamarupa](/source/Kamarupa), and eventually made [Kannauj](/source/Kannauj) his capital, and ruled until 647 CE. His biography *[Harshacharita](/source/Harshacharita)* ("Deeds of Harsha") describes his association with Thanesar.[3][7][9]

Thanesar is listed in the [Ain-i-Akbari](/source/Ain-i-Akbari) as a [pargana](/source/Pargana) under the [sarkar](/source/Sarkar_(administrative_division)) of [Sirhind](/source/Sirhind), producing a revenue of 7,850,803 [dams](/source/Dam_(Indian_coin)) for the imperial treasury and supplying a force of 1500 infantries and 50 cavalries. It had a brick fort at the time.[10]

Majority of architectural remains including [Karavan serai](/source/Caravanserai), cells, and various arched and vaulted structures date from the [Mughal period](/source/Mughal_Empire). Building remains of a large palatial structure from the pre-Islamic era were also found with two distinct phases of construction which exposed brick covered drains and rooms situated around a central courtyard.[11]

### Sack of Sthaneshwar by Mahmud of Gazni

Thanesar was sacked and many of its temples were destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1011.[12]

'The city of Taneshar is highly venerated by Hindus. The idol of that place is called Cakrasvamin (Chakra Swami), i.e. the owner of the cakra, a weapon that we have already described. It is of bronze and is nearly the size of a man. It is now lying in the hippodrome in Ghazna, together with the Lord of Somnath, which is a representation of the Mahadeva, called Linga."[13]

[Firishta](/source/Firishta) records[14] that

In the year A.H. 402 (A.D. 1011) Mehmood Gazini resolved on the conquest of Thanesur, the most sacred Hindu place, in the kingdom of Hindoostan. It had reached the ears of the King that Thanesar was held in the same veneration by idolaters, as Mecca by the faithful; that they had there set up a number of idols, the principal of which they called Jugsoma, pretending that it had existed ever since the creation.

Mahmud, having reached Thanesar before the Hindus, had time to take measures for its defence; the city was plundered, the idols broken, and the idol Jugsoma was sent to [Ghazni](/source/Ghazni) to be trodden underfoot. According to Haji Mahommed Kandahary, a ruby was found in one of the temples weighing 450 [mithqals](/source/Mithqal). It was allowed by everyone who saw it to be a wonder that had never been heard of. About the attack on Thanesar, [Utbi](/source/Tarikh_Yamini) wrote "The blood of the infidels flowed so copiously that the stream was discoloured, notwithstanding its purity, and people were unable to drink it."[15]

Sheikh Chilli's Tomb

[Battle of Thanesar](/source/Battle_of_Thanesar_(1567)) (1567)

Karawan serai ruins at "Harsh ka tila" mound area spread over 1 km, [Mughal period](/source/Mughal_Empire)

### British era

See also: [Haryana in 1857](/source/History_of_Haryana#Colonial_period), [Ballabhgarh history](/source/Ballabhgarh#History), [Farrukhnagar history](/source/Farrukhnagar#Under_British_Raj), [Nahar Singh](/source/Nahar_Singh), and [Rao Tula Ram](/source/Rao_Tula_Ram)

For their participation in the [first war of independence](/source/Indian_Rebellion_of_1857), the [Chaudharys](/source/Chaudhary) and [Lambardars](/source/Lambardar) of villages who participated in the [rebellion in Haryana](/source/History_of_Haryana#Colonial_period) were deprived of their land and property. 368 people from [Hisar](/source/Hisar_district) and [Gurugram](/source/Gurugram_district) were hanged or transported[*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*] for life, and fines were imposed on the people of Thanesar ([Rs](/source/Indian_rupee) 235,000), [Ambala](/source/Ambala) (Rs. 253,541) and [Rohtak](/source/Rohtak) (Rs. 63,000 mostly on [Ranghars](/source/Ranghar), [Shaikhs](/source/Punjabi_Shaikh) and [Muslim Kasai](/source/Qassab)).[16]

## Tourism

Bhishma Kund at Narkatari.

### Religious

Thanesar derives its name from the word *Sthaneshwar* which means "place of god." The [Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple](/source/Sthaneshwar_Mahadev_Temple) is believed to be the place where the [Pandavas](/source/Pandavas) and Krishna prayed to [Shiva](/source/Shiva) and received his blessings for victory in the battle of Mahabharata.[17] It is the central and the most important place in the [48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra](/source/48_kos_parikrama_of_Kurukshetra). 1.5 km from Thanesar on [Kurukshetra](/source/Kurukshetra)-[Pehowa](/source/Pehowa) road is the water tank named Bhishma Kund is believed to be the spot when [Bhishma](/source/Bhishma) lay of the bed of arrows during the [Mahabharata war](/source/Mahabharata_war).[18][19]

## See also

- [Tatka Village](/source/Tatka_Village)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-2011census_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-2011census_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-2011census_1-2) ["Cities having population 1 lakh and above, Census 2011"](http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf) (PDF). Census of India, 2011. p. 1. Retrieved 9 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Lochtefeld2002_2-0)** James G. Lochtefeld (2002). [*The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z*](https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch). The Rosen Publishing Group. pp. [694](https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/694). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8239-3180-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8239-3180-4).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-encystan_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-encystan_3-1) ["Sthanvishvara (historical region, India)"](http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/566090/Sthanvishvara). Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 9 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Sadasivan2011_4-0)** Balaji Sadasivan (2011). [*The Dancing Girl: A History of Early India*](https://books.google.com/books?id=980SAvbmpUkC&pg=PT110). Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. pp. 110–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-981-4311-67-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-981-4311-67-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999). Census Commission of India. Archived from [the original](http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999) on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Maps, Weather, and Airports for Thanesar, India"](http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/10/Thanesar.html). *www.fallingrain.com*. Retrieved 5 November 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-asi_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-asi_7-1) ["Sheikh Chilli's Tomb, Thanesar"](http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_haryana_thanesar.asp). Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 9 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Harsh Ka Tila"](http://www.kurukshetra.nic.in/tour/Archeologysite/harsh_ka_tila.htm). Kurukshetra district website. Retrieved 8 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Harsha (Indian emperor)"](http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/256065/Harsha). Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 9 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Ain-i-Akbari_10-0)** Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak; Jarrett, Henry Sullivan (1891). [*The Ain-i-Akbari*](https://archive.org/details/ainiakbarivolum00mubgoog). Calcutta: Asiatic Society of Bengal. p. 296. Retrieved 21 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Pande, B.M. (2016). *textsThanesar*. Archaeological Survey of India. pp. 19–21.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Kurukshetra (India)"](http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/325415/Kurukshetra). Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 9 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Abu Rihan Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Biruni al-Khwarizmi, Tarikhu'l-Hind

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** *Farishta Vo1.* Page 29 Translation by John Briggs.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Elliot, Henry M. (1869). ["The History of India"](https://books.google.com/books?id=RZBkGsFMrxcC&q=Utbi%2C+The+blood+of+the+infidels+flowed+so+copiously+that+the+stream+was+discoloured%2C+notwithstanding+its+purity%2C+and+people+were+unable+to+drink+it.&pg=PA40).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-balidan1_16-0)** Mittal, Satish Chandra (1986). [*Haryana, a Historical Perspective*](https://books.google.com/books?id=2RKTigrrP1cC). Atlantic Publishers & Distri.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Prasad2010_17-0)** Dev Prasad (2010). [*Krishna: A Journey through the Lands & Legends of Krishna*](https://books.google.com/books?id=o0_5caqiUH0C&pg=PT216). Jaico Publishing House. pp. 216–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-81-8495-170-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-8495-170-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Biju2006_18-0)** M.R. Biju (1 January 2006). [*Sustainable Dimensions Of Tourism Management*](https://books.google.com/books?id=AkAdvTbg0dEC&pg=PA28). Mittal Publications. pp. 28–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-81-8324-129-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-8324-129-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** [Narkatari](http://www.kurukshetra.nic.in/tour/Religious/tirath/Kurukshetra/007-bhishamkund/index.htm) Kurukshetra district website.

## Bibliography

- [Banabhatta](/source/Banabhatta) (1897). [*The Harsa-carita of Bana*](https://archive.org/stream/harsacaritaofban00banaiala#page/n7/mode/2up). Translated by [E. B. Cowell](/source/Edward_Byles_Cowell); [F. W. Thomas](/source/F._W._Thomas). London : Royal Asiatic Society.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: publisher location ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_publisher_location))

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Thanesar](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thanesar)***.

- Media related to [Thanesar](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Thanesar) at Wikimedia Commons

v t e Kurukshetra district topics History Kurukshetra War Harsha Cities and towns Kurukshetra Ladwa Pehowa Shahbad Thanesar Education Kurukshetra University National Institute of Technology Tourist attractions Brahma Sarovar Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple Jyotisar Sannihit Sarovar Transport NH 1 NH 65 Lok Sabha constituencies Kurukshetra

v t e Municipalities of Haryana Municipal corporations Ambala Faridabad Gurgaon Hisar Karnal Panchkula Panipat Rohtak Sonipat Yamunanagar Municipal councils Ambala Sadar Bahadurgarh Bhiwani Charkhi Dadri Fatehabad Gohana Hansi Hodal Jhajjar Jind Kaithal Kalka Mandi Dabwali Narnaul Narwana Nuh Palwal Pataudi Jatauli Mandi Rewari Sirsa Sohna Thanesar Tohana Municipalities Assandh Ateli Mandi Barara Barwala Bawal Bawani Khera Beri Bhuna Cheeka Dharuhera Ellenabad Farrukh Nagar Ferozepur Jhirka Ganaur Gharaunda Hathin Indri Ismailabad Jakhal Julana Kalanaur Kalanwali Kalayat Kanina Kharkhoda Kundli Ladwa Loharu Mahendergarh Meham Nangal Chaudhary Naraingarh Narnaund Nilokheri Nissing Pehowa Pundri Punhana Radaur Rajaund Rania Ratia Sadhaura Safidon Samalkha Sampla Shahabad Siwan Siwani Taraori Taoru Uchana Uklana

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