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HISTORY
The Ambala District has claims of being one of the Historical famous Districts of
Haryana State . The District was explored during British period by A.C.Cunningham
and C.Rodgers and later by B.B.Lal and many others. On the basis of various literary
and archeological evidences it is possible to give an outline of culture and History
of Ambala District.The earliest literacy reference to the region comprising the
Ambala District in the Taittiriya Aranayaka which mentions Turghna as the bordering
region towards the North of Kurukshetra. This locality identified with Shrughna
Sugh also finds mention in Panini (Ancient Indian Literature). It is surmised that
Ambala District to have been founded by Amba Rajput during the 14th century AD.
Another version is that the name is a corruption of Amba Wala or the mango-village
judging from mango groves that existed in its immediate neighborhood. Still another
version is that the District has taken its name after goddess "Bhawani Amba"
whose Temple still exists in Ambala city.
The earliest inhabitants of district were a primitive people using stone tools of
lower palacolithic Age. These tools were found at various sites in the district
like Tarlokpur etc. Unfortunately this district has not yielded any pre Harappan
or mature Harappan site. However there has been some satisfactory evidence in kins
of late Harappan. The Various evidence specially that of painted Grey ware pottery
support the fact that the Aryans also inhabited the region. The Ambala region was
included in the Kingdom of Pandava and there successors.The Edicts of Ashoka Chiefly
Topara edicts and stupas at Singh and Chaneti associate this district with Maurayan
Empire which further add to the district with Mauryan Empire adding to
the importance of place. The discovering of Sunga Terralottas suggests that they
held this area. Several coins of menander have also been recovered from the area.
The district has also yielded Coins of Indo Parthian Gondophernes and a coin of
Mahakshtrapa Rajuvala (from Ambala and Nariangarh). At some places Kushan
Bricks have also been found which justify the conclusion that this district was
included in the Kushana empire. According to Dr.R.C. Majumdar the region between
Lahore and Karnal formed a part of Samudra Gupta empire . This evidence is supported
by Mehrauli Pillar Inscription and silver coins found at various places.The region
formed an integral part of nearly all the premier ruling dynasties of India. In
7th Century it was a part of Sukantha Janpada of puspabhuti of Thanesar. Some foreign
sources specially those of Chinese pilgrimage Hiven Tsang who visited during Harsha
regime show that this District was also under some influence of Buddhism . The district
further witnessed the Imperial ambition of Yaso Verman of Kanauj and laladitya.
After the invasion of Mohammed Ghaznavi, Charuhaus brought it under their control. The Topara Pillar stands Testimony of this fact. Finally the Muslims under took
the district after the defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan in the second Battle of Terrain
1192. Between 9th to12th century this district retained its importance as a centre
of religious pilgrimage. The discovery of image of lords at several places suggests existence of beautiful temples which were probably destroyed during
Muslim invasions.
Medieval Period
Under the Muslims, district formed a part of Kutab-Bin-Abak Empire. The region also
witnessed the invasion of Timur. In 1450 Bahlol Lodhi the then governor of Punjab
brought the area under his Sway till Babur's invasion in 1526. Akbar's reign was
full of events in Din-E-Akbari .It is mentioned that mahals of Ambala to be part
of Sirhind of Delhi suba. After the Aurangjeb death the political position and various
forces rose in opposition to the Empire. Banda Bahudar, a disciple of Guru Gobind
Singh launched a fierce attack on Ambala area (1709-10) however he lost to Mughals
at Sadhaura in 1710. After Banda ,Khidmat, a Mughal official governed the Ambala
Terrritory till 1739. When Nadir Shah's invasion a dark period followed with the
division of Ambala in to small principalities Abdali held this area from 1757 onwards.
The restive sikhs in 1763 came in possession of this territory after slaying
Abdalis Governor. In short, during medieval age this reign was full of Political
activities and Turmoil's.
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