Kaithal is the 131st largest Hindi speaking city of India with a total population of 1,44,915. The highest employment in Kaithal district is in the sectors of Agriculture, Wooden furniture, Engineering and other household Industry. 57% of the workforce is employed in the Agricultural Sector, 40% in the Industrial Sector and the remaining 3% are Household workers. The Ghaggar and Markanda rivers are important seasonal rivers in the district and flow through the northern part of the district. River Ghaggar sometimes gets flooded during monsoon and causes extensive damage to crops and property. The major crops produced are Rice, Bajra, Wheat and Sugarcane. Paddy constitutes main Kharif crop whereas the wheat is the main Rabi crop. Historically, it was known as Kapisthal, meaning "Abode of Kapi", another name of Lord Hanuman, and it is said to have been founded by the Pandava Emperor, Yudhishthira of Mahabharata. It is also said that it is the birthplace of Lord Hanuman and there is a temple constructed at that place known as "Anjani Tila". Timur stopped here in 1398, before attacking Delhi. Later, the city became a Muslim cultural centre, under the rule of Delhi Sultanate. Razia Sultana, the first woman ruler of India, fled Delhi with Malik Altúniya after they were defeated on the 24th of Rabi al-awwal A.H. 638 (Oct. 1240), and reached Kaithal the next day, where their remaining forces abandoned them, and they both fell into the hands of the Hindus and were killed on 13 Nov. 1240. Tomb of Razia Sultana is still found here.
