Karnal district is an administrative district in the northern Indian state of Haryana. The district headquarters is the city of Karnal, located on the Grand Trunk Road (National Highway 44) between Delhi and Chandigarh. The district lies in the fertile Indo-Gangetic plain and is widely regarded as one of the principal rice-producing regions of India, often referred to as the "Rice Bowl of Haryana".
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Haryana |
| Headquarters | Karnal |
| Region | Indo-Gangetic plain |
| Major river | Yamuna (eastern boundary) |
| Major highway | National Highway 44 (Grand Trunk Road) |
| Division | Karnal division |
The district is bordered by Kurukshetra district to the north, Kaithal district to the west, Jind district and Panipat district to the south, and the Yamuna river to the east, which forms the boundary with the state of Uttar Pradesh. The terrain is generally flat alluvial plain, suitable for intensive agriculture, and the Western Yamuna Canal system supports irrigation across much of the district.
Karnal district is part of the Karnal administrative division of Haryana. The district is subdivided into tehsils and sub-tehsils, with major towns including Karnal, Indri, Assandh, Gharaunda, Nilokheri, Nissing and Taraori. The district administration is headed by a Deputy Commissioner, while law and order is supervised by a Superintendent of Police. Karnal is also the centre of the Karnal Lok Sabha constituency.
The region around Karnal has long-standing associations with Indian history and is traditionally linked to legends of the Mahabharata, with the city's name often connected to Karna, the warrior king of Anga. In the medieval period the area was part of successive Delhi-based polities. The town of Taraori (Tarain), located in the district, is associated with the Battles of Tarain (1191 and 1192) fought between Prithviraj Chauhan and Muhammad of Ghor.
In 1739, the Battle of Karnal was fought near the town between the forces of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah and the invading Persian army of Nader Shah, resulting in a decisive Persian victory and the subsequent sack of Delhi. During the colonial period Karnal was an important station in the British administration of Punjab. After the reorganisation of states, the district became part of Haryana when the state was carved out of Punjab on 1 November 1966. Panipat district was later separated from Karnal district in 1989.
Agriculture dominates the district economy, with paddy (especially basmati rice), wheat, sugarcane and vegetables among the principal crops. Karnal is also a centre for dairying and seed production. Industrial activity includes rice milling, agro-processing, food products and light engineering, with industrial estates located in and around Karnal city and Gharaunda.
Karnal hosts several institutions of national importance in agriculture and animal sciences:
The district is well-served by road and rail. National Highway 44, part of the historic