KAITHAL

kaithal, or kythal, an ancient town of british india in karnal district, punjab. pop. (1901), 14,408. it is said to have been founded by the mythical hero yudisthira, and is connected by tradition with the monkey-god hanuman. in 1767 it fell into the hands of the sikh chieftain, bhai desu singh, whose descendants, the bhais of kaithal, ranked among the most powerful cis-sutlej chiefs. their territories lapsed to the british in 1843. there remain the fort of the bhais, and several mahommedan tombs of the 13th century and later. there is some trade in grain, sal-ammoniac, live stock and blankets; and cotton, saltpetre, lac ornaments and toys are manufactured.