9 Places In India That Changed The Course Of History But Got Lost On The Map

India has been blessed with a vast and magnificent history. From the Indus Valley Civilisation, the Delhi Sultanate, Hindu kings, the Marathas, Mughal emperors, and colonialism to a newly independent India, there are just too many things to remember. Take the battles for example - it's difficult to count on fingers the number of battles that took place in this country. At times, these were within the kings in the country, while at others these were with outsiders. But what's most difficult is remembering the places where these wars took place.

We decided to dig deep into history, and pick up 9 locations that were once eminent for our country, but remain lost on our map today. 

1. Kurukshetra 

Wikipedia

The Kurukshetra war or the Mahabharata was fought between the Pandavas and Kauravas, over the throne of Hastinapur. It lasted for 18 days, with the Pandavas walking out victorious. Although there have been inconsistencies on the dates about when this war was actually fought, experts are sure that a war that big and violent did take place.   

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Currently, Kurukshetra is located in the modern state of Haryana. The city has several sites dedicated to the Mahabharata war. For instance, they’ve placed a large chariot made of bronze in the middle of Brahma sarovar, a religious site in Kurukshetra. At Arjun Chowk, you’ll find a statue of Arjuna. Interestingly, Kurukshetra is also one of the genealogical society centers. You can visit the place if you wish to find out about your ancestors. 

2. Panipat 

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Panipat witnessed three military engagements. The first battle of Panipat was fought on April 21, 1526, between Mughal chief Babur and then ruler of Kabul, Sultan Ibrahim Lodi of Delhi. Lodi died fighting in this battle, and Babur was declared the winner. This battle remains significant because it marked the beginning of Mughal empire in India. The second battle was fought on November 5, 1556 between Hemu, the Hindu ruler of north India and Akbar’s army led by Bairam Khan. Hemu lost the battle and was captured and beheaded. The third and the final engagement was between the Marathas and the Duraani empire. The latter won, but appointed a Mughal emperor as the nominal head before leaving for Afghanistan.

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Present day Panipat is located in Haryana. They have a statue dedicated to Hemu, the Hindu emperor who sacrificed his life fighting in the second battle of Panipat. Currently, Panipat is regarded as a textiles and carpets hub. The city is home to the country’s weaving industry and is the largest centre for buying quality blankets.

3. Buxar 

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The battle of Buxar was fought on 22nd October, 1764, between the forces of the East India Company and combined Army of Mir Qasim, Nawab of Bengal, Nawab of Awadh and Shah Alam II. The British East India Company won the war. Shah Alam II had to sign the Allahabad Treaty which granted the company rights to secure revenue from modern day states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. 

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Today, the memorial of this war built by the British to commemorate their victory, stands tall at Katkauli located 6 km away from Buxar. The ground where the war happened is also located at the same place. The picture above depicts the same. Another thing that attracts people to Buxar is the ritual of Panchkoshi Parikrama. 

4. Kalinga

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Kalinga war is regarded as one of the bloodiest battles in Indian history. It was fought between the Mauryan Empire led by Emperor Ashoka, and Raja Anantha Padmanabhan of the state of Kalinga. If historians are to be believed, then it was after this battle and its aftermath that King Ashoka decided to adopt Buddhism. Nevertheless, he retained his conquest on Kalinga and made it a part of the Mauryan empire. 

Today, Kalinga does not exist. Back in the day, it comprised modern day states of Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha with some portions of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. 

5. Plassey 

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The battle of Plassey was fought between the British East India company and the Nawab of Bengal in 1757. The company defeated the Nawab and captured Calcutta. Till today, this is considered one of the most eminent battles by the colonial powers. This war saw the expansion of the British empire in India, which led them to rule for the next 100 years. 

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Currently, Palashi or Plassey is a village located on the banks of Bhagirathi river in West Bengal. The battle grounds have shrines and memorials located all over the town. The tombs of Siraj Ud Daulah, Mir Jafar and their family members are located at Murshidabad. 

6. Karnal 

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The battle of Karnal is relatively lesser known. It was fought between Iranian adventurer Nadir Shah, and Muhammed Shah - the emperor of India at Karnal. The Mughals lost this war. Nadir Shah walked to Delhi, and plundered it. It is said that the Mughal empire never really recovered from this setback. 

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The city of Karnal has been significant in mythology too. It is said to be the city of ‘Daanveer Karna.’ Today, the city is home to agricultural institutions and ranks high globally when it comes to production of rice, wheat and  milk.

7. Kannuaj 

The battle of Kannuaj or Bilgram was fought between Humayun and Sher Shah Suri. Humayan was defeated after which he escaped and lived like a wanderer for many years.

Presently, Kannuaj is a city in Uttar Pradesh. It is known to be the place for scents and is a big centre for perfumes, tobacco and rose water. 

8. Tarain 

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The first battle of Tarain was fought between Prithviraj Chauhan and Mohammad Ghori in 1191. The latter lost in this one. Another one took place in 1192, between the same groups, in which Prithviraj Chavan lost. After the war, Prithviraj was made a prisoner. Yet, he’s regarded as a great warrior in our history. 

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Tarain or Taraori is located in Thanesar in present day Haryana. Thanesar has now become an important center of education with a lot of engineering colleges coming up in that area. 

9. Udgir 

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Udgir witnessed the historic war between the Marathas and the Nizam. The great Maratha warrior Sadashivrao Bhau managed to defeat the Nizam.   

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Present day Udgir is located in the state of Maharashtra, close to the Karnataka border. The town is famous for its agriculture production and the Udgir fort. There are around 80 dal processing units.