Rohtak, city in northwestern India, in eastern Haryana state, about 65 km (about 40 mi) from Delhi. Rohtak is part of the National Capital Region (NCR), designated in 1973. It is located in the southwestern part of the Punjab plains, in the middle of a prosperous agricultural region, and serves as a processing and marketing center for sugar, grains, and other agricultural products. The city is also known for the manufacture of bicycles and of turbans interwoven with gold and silver thread. A major rail line and a national highway link Rohtah with other cites and towns. The nearest airport is in Delhi. Rohtek is the site of Rohtak University and Maharshi Dayanand University. Ancient Buddhist sculptures (600? BC) have been uncovered in the area, and Dini Mosque (AD 1140) is located in the city. Rohtak became a frontier between Sikh and Maratha powers after the disintegration of the Mughal Empire in the 1700s. In 1824 the British took over the area, and Rohtak became a district capital. Rohtak was officially designated a city in 1867. The plan that created the NCR specified the city as an area to accommodate population overflow from Delhi. Population (1991) 216,096.
