In 1739, the Persian King Nadir Shah defeated the Mughal ruler Muhammad Shah in the Battle of Karnal.
Karnal was annexed by the Raja of Jind in AD 1763 and was taken from him by George Thomas in 1797.
Karnal is surrounded by Kurukshetra district on its north-west, Jind, Kaithal districts on its west, Panipat district on its south and Uttar Pradesh on east.