Overview
Kaithal district is an administrative district in the northern Indian state of Haryana. Its headquarters is the town of Kaithal. The district lies in the north-western part of Haryana, sharing an international and inter-state context through its proximity to Punjab on the north-west. Predominantly agrarian, the district is part of the wheat- and rice-growing belt of the Indo-Gangetic plain.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Haryana |
| Headquarters | Kaithal |
| Region | North India / Indo-Gangetic plain |
| Formed | 1 November 1989 (carved out of Kurukshetra district) |
| Official language | Hindi |
| Common spoken languages | Haryanvi, Hindi, Punjabi |
Geography
Kaithal district occupies a generally flat alluvial tract typical of the Haryana plain. It is bordered by Kurukshetra district to the east, Jind district to the south, Karnal district to the south-east, and the state of Punjab — particularly Patiala district — to the north and west. The terrain is supported by canal irrigation drawn from the Bhakra system and by groundwater, which sustains intensive cultivation.
Administrative setup
The district is divided into several tehsils and sub-tehsils for revenue administration, and into community development blocks for rural development. Major towns and administrative centres in the district include Kaithal, Pundri, Guhla-Cheeka, Kalayat and Rajaund. The district administration is headed by a Deputy Commissioner, while law and order is supervised by the Superintendent of Police.
Parliamentary and assembly representation
Kaithal is part of the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency. The Vidhan Sabha (assembly) constituencies within the district include Kaithal, Pundri, Guhla (reserved for Scheduled Castes) and Kalayat.
History
The town of Kaithal has a long historical presence and is traditionally associated in local legend with Hanuman; the name is popularly derived from Kapisthal, "the abode of the Kapis (monkeys)". During the medieval period, Kaithal was an important pargana in the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal administration. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries it was the seat of a Sikh chieftaincy, the Kaithal riyasat of the Bhai dynasty, before lapsing to British paramountcy in the mid-19th century.
After Indian independence, the area formed part of Punjab until the reorganisation of 1 November 1966, when Haryana was created as a separate state and Kaithal became part of Karnal district, and later Kurukshetra district. Kaithal was constituted as a separate district on 1 November 1989.
Economy
The economy of Kaithal district is dominated by agriculture. Wheat and paddy are the principal crops in the rabi and kharif seasons respectively, with sugarcane, cotton, mustard and vegetables also cultivated. The district has rice shelling, milling and agro-processing units, and Kaithal town is a notable grain market in Haryana. Cooperative sugar production and dairy farming further contribute to the rural economy.
Demographics
The population is largely rural, with Hindi as the official language and Haryanvi widely spoken in everyday use; Punjabi is also spoken, particularly in areas adjoining Punjab. Hinduism is the majority religion, with Sikh and Muslim minorities. Major communities include Jats, Brahmins, Rajputs, Banias, Sainis, Rors and Scheduled Caste groups.
Culture and places of interest
- Kaithal town — historic gates, old havelis, and the shrine associated with Shaikh Shahabuddin (Anjana Pir).
- Pundri — old market town and tehsil headquarters.
- Kalayat — known for a group of ancient brick temples attributed to early medieval north Indian temple architecture.
- Guhla-Cheeka — a sub-divisional centre near the Punjab border.