In the Mahabharatha, Sonepat is referred to as one of the five pats or prasthas which were demanded by Yudhistar from Duryodhana. In 1871 some 1200 hemidrachms of Graeco Bactrians were unearthed which indicate it to be a town of great antiquity. The evi dence of its occupation by Yaudheyas is available through the recovery of a large
hoard of their coins here. In the 11th cen tury AD, one Dipalhar was governor of Sonepat and was defeated by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni in 1037 AD, when he marched through the Punjuab in an at tempt to expand his empire in Hindustan. A number of legends are related about Sonepat. It is said that Srawan Kumar related to Raja Dasaranth of Ramayana fame, who was carrying his old and blind jparents on his shoulders, refused to take them any further when he reached here. The change in his mind occured due to the atmosphere of the place. There is a mausoleum called Mammu Bhanja, adjacent to old ruins of the city, which is associated with an uncle and nephew, both traders, who came from some foreign country and died here under tragic circumstances. Many people come t make offerings to the graves, which are inside the Mausoleum. For many years, Sonepat was a flourishing sub division of Rohtak. Now it isa separate district. It is one of the largest industrial towns in Haryana.
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