Ancient period The villages of
Rakhigarhi in
Hisar district and
Bhirrana in
Fatehabad district are home to ancient sites of the
Indus Valley Civilization, which contain evidence of paved roads, a drainage system, a large-scale rainwater collection storage system, terracotta brick and statue production, and skilled metalworking (in both bronze and precious metals). During the
Vedic era, Haryana was the site of the
Kuru kingdom, one of India's great
Mahajanapadas. The south of Haryana is the claimed location of
Manu's state of
Brahmavarta. The area surrounding
Dhosi Hill, and districts of
Rewari and
Mahendragarh had Ashrams of several Rishis who made valuable contributions to important Hindu scriptures like
Vedas,
Upanishads,
Manusmriti,
Brahmanas and
Puranas. As per Manusmriti, Manu was the king of
Brahmavarta, the flood time state 10,000 years ago surrounded by oldest route of Sarasvati and Drishadwati rivers on the banks of which Sanatan-Vedic or present-day Hindu ethos evolved and scriptures were composed.
Medieval period Ancient bronze and stone idols of Jain
Tirthankara were found in archaeological expeditions in
Badli,
Bhiwani (
Ranila,
Charkhi Dadri and
Badhra),
Dadri,
Gurgaon (
Gurugram),
Hansi,
Hisar, Kasan, Nahad,
Narnaul,
Pehowa,
Rewari, Rohad,
Rohtak (
Asthal Bohar) and
Sonepat in Haryana. complex, with ruins from the reign of 7th-century ruler
Harsha Pushyabhuti dynasty ruled parts of northern India in the 7th century with its capital at
Thanesar.
Harsha was a prominent king of the dynasty.
Tomara dynasty ruled the south Haryana region in the 10th century.
Anangpal Tomar was a prominent king among the Tomaras. After the sack of
Bhatner fort during the
Timurid conquests of India in 1398,
Timur attacked and sacked the cities of
Sirsa,
Fatehabad,
Sunam,
Kaithal and
Panipat. , who fought and won across North India from the
Punjab to
Bengal, winning 22 straight battles
Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, also called
Hemu, claimed royal status and the throne of Delhi after defeating Akbar's Mughal forces on 7 October 1556 in the
Battle of Delhi, and assumed the ancient title of
Vikramaditya. The area that is now Haryana has been ruled by some of the major empires of India.
Panipat is known for three seminal battles in the history of India. In the
First Battle of Panipat (1526),
Babur defeated the
Lodis. In the
Second Battle of Panipat (1556),
Akbar defeated the local Haryanvi Hindu Emperor of Delhi, who belonged to
Rewari.
Hem Chandra Vikramaditya had earlier won 22 battles across India from 1553 to 1556 from
Punjab to
Bengal, defeating the Mughals and Afghans. Hemu had defeated Akbar's forces twice at Agra and the
Battle of Delhi in 1556 to become the last Hindu Emperor of India with a formal coronation at
Purana Quila in Delhi on 7 October 1556. In the
Third Battle of Panipat (1761), the Afghan king
Ahmad Shah Abdali defeated the
Marathas. The growth of trade centers like Bhiwani was supported by influential merchants such as Seth Nand Ram Ji Katla Wale, who promoted social development and commerce during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was one of the prominent leaders who devoted his life to establishing Bhiwani as a trade centre in the 18th century.
British period The state was part of the British
Punjab province. The
Delhi division of Punjab province formed the bulk of Haryana. Among the princely states that were located in the state were
Jind,
Kalsia,
Loharu,
Dujana and
Pataudi, as well as parts of the
Patiala State. ; Haryana formed the southeastern areas of the province
Partition and aftermath During the
Partition of India, the Punjab province was one of two British Indian provinces, alongside Bengal, to be partitioned between India and Pakistan. Haryana, along with other Hindu and Sikh-dominated areas of Punjab province, became part of India as
East Punjab state. As a result, a significant number of Muslims left for the newly formed country of
Pakistan. Similarly, a huge number of Hindu and Sikh refugees poured into the state from
West Punjab.
Gopi Chand Bhargava, who hailed from Sirsa in present-day Haryana, became the first Chief Minister of East Punjab.
Formation of Haryana Haryana as a state came into existence on 1 November 1966 the Punjab Reorganisation Act (1966). The Indian government set up the Shah Commission under the chairmanship of Justice JC Shah on 23 April 1966 to divide the existing state of
Punjab and determine the boundaries of the new state of Haryana after consideration of the languages spoken by the people. It encompassed the predominantly Hindi-speaking southern part of former Punjab, while the state of Punjab was reduced to the area where Punjabi speakers formed the majority population. The commission delivered its report on 31 May 1966 whereby the then-districts of
Hisar,
Mahendragarh,
Gurgaon,
Rohtak and
Karnal were to be a part of the new state of Haryana. Further, the
tehsils of
Jind and
Narwana in the
Sangrur district – along with
Naraingarh,
Ambala and
Jagadhri – were to be included. The commission recommended that the tehsil of
Kharar, which includes
Chandigarh, the state capital of Punjab, should be a part of Haryana. However,
Kharar was given to Punjab. The city of Chandigarh was made a
union territory, serving as the capital of both Punjab and Haryana.
Bhagwat Dayal Sharma became the first
Chief Minister of Haryana.
Chaudhary Devi Lal is credited to be the individual who pushed for the creation of this commission. He was an instrumental figure in the separation of the Haryana state from Punjab in 1966.
Punjabi migration to Haryana in 1947 and 1980s The Punjabi migration to Haryana occurred in two major waves—first during the Partition of India in 1947, and later during the 1980s, influenced by the Khalistani movement in Punjab. The Partition of India led to one of the largest mass migrations in history, as millions of people were displaced due to the creation of Pakistan. Many Punjabi Hindus and Sikhs fled West Punjab (now in Pakistan) and settled in Haryana, bringing with them their agricultural skills, business expertise, and cultural traditions. Their arrival helped in the economic development of Haryana, particularly in agriculture and trade, as they introduced advanced farming techniques and expanded local businesses. The Khalistani movement, which emerged in Punjab during the 1980s, led to political instability and violent insurgency. The demand for a separate Sikh state (Khalistan) resulted in clashes between separatist groups and security forces, making the region unsafe for many civilians. This turmoil prompted Punjabi families, including both Hindus and Sikhs, to migrate to neighbouring Haryana, seeking security, stability, and economic opportunities. The urban centers of Haryana witnessed an influx of Punjabi migrants, who contributed to the state's business and industrial sectors. By the mid-1990s, the insurgency declined due to government interventions, weakening separatist factions, and changing political dynamics. These migrations have shaped Haryana's demographic, cultural, and economic landscape, making Punjabis an integral part of the state's growth and identity. ==Demographics==