Sonipat

▪ India

also spelled  Sonepat 

      city, east-central Haryana (Haryāna) state, northern India, about 25 miles (40 km) north of Delhi. The city was probably founded by early Aryan settlers about 1500 BCE and flourished on the banks of the Yamuna River, which now has receded 9 miles (14 km) to the east. Mentioned in the Hindu epic Mahabharata as Shonaprastha, the city is in the region known as the Kurukshetra (“Field of Kuru”), the scene of the epic war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. It is one of the largest cities in Haryana state, and its proximity to Delhi as a source of raw materials and power has helped its industrial development. Sonipat is one of the major bicycle-manufacturing centres in the country. Other products include sewing-machine parts, automobile parts, rolled steel, hosiery, and textiles. Carpets, hand-loomed textiles, and brass and copper ware are among the handicrafts. The mosque of Abdullah Nāṣer al-Dīn (built in 1272), tombs of Khwāja Khizr, and the ruins of the old fort wall are in the city. Pop. (2001) 214,974.

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