District Panipat
Panipat
Panipat is an ancient and historic city in Panipat District, Haryana state, India. It is 90 km from Delhi on NH-1 and comes under the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Three battles fought at the city were turning points in Indian history.
Panipat was one of the five cities (prasthas) founded by the Pandava brothers during the times of the Mahabharata; its historic name being Panduprastha. Panipat is known for its textile and yarn industry. The famous Urdu shayar Maulana Hali was born in Panipat.
Panipat was the scene of three pivotal battles in Indian history.
The First Battle of Panipat was fought in 1526 between Ibrahim Lodhi, Sultan of Delhi, and the Timurid warlord Zaheeruddin Babur. Babur's force of twelve thousand soldiers defeated Ibrahim's much larger force of over one lakh (one hundred thousand) soldiers. Babur founded the Mughal Empire in India.
The Second Battle of Panipat was fought in 1556 between the Mughal general Bairam Khan Shaibani, regent for the young Emperor Akbar, and Hemu, chief minister and general of the Sultan of Bengal, who had captured Delhi. Hemu was struck down by an arrow in the eye and his army fled. He was beheaded and the Mughal comeback in India was complete.
The Third Battle of Panipat was fought in 1761 between the Afghan warlord Ahmad Shah Abdali and the Marathas under Sadashivrao Bhau Peshwa of Pune. Ahmad Shah won decisively.
Panipat is a city of textiles and carpets. It is the biggest centre for cheap blankets and carpets in India and has a handloom weaving industry. The pickle "Pachranga International" is also well known. Panipat also has heavy industry, with a refinery of the Indian Oil Corporation, a National Thermal Power Corporation power plant and a National Fertilizers Limited plant.
Some salient features of industry in Panipat include:
Three major public sector projects - IOC Refinery, NFL and Thermal Power Station.
Biggest centre in the country for producing shoddy (recycled) yarn.
Biggest centre in the country for producing low priced blankets.
Biggest centre in the country engaged in export of cotton durries, made-ups, throws and mats.
Large consumer of rags for re-processing.
Traditional supplier of barrack blankets to the armed forces.
Samalkha, a small town near Panipat, is known for foundry work and supply of agricultural machinery to neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
Relatively high wages compared to the Indian national average - a worker earns Rs.70/- to 120/- per day on Handloom/ Powerloom.
The town has infrastructure such as rail, road and inland container depots well suited to industry and export.
