Janapada of Pañcāla: Map & History
Panchala was an ancient kingdom of northern India, located in the Ganges-Yamuna Doab of the upper gangetic plain, which is identified as Kanyakubja or region around Kannauj.
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Panchala was an ancient kingdom of northern India, located in the Ganges-Yamuna Doab of the upper gangetic plain, which is identified as Kanyakubja or region around Kannauj. During the late Vedic period, it was one of the most powerful states of ancient India, closely allied with the Kuru kingdom. By the c. 5th century BCE, it had become an oligarchic confederacy, considered one of the sixteen mahajanapadas of the Indian subcontinent. After being absorbed into the Mauryan Empire, Panchala regained its independence until it was annexed by the Gupta Empire in the 4th century CE.
Janapada of Pañcāla in Depth
Location
The Pañcāla state was located to the west of the Gomti River, and the north of the Chambal River. Its western neighbours were the Sūrasenas and the Yakṛllomas, while in the north-west it was separated from the Ganga and the Kurus by dense forests. The northern boundaries of Pañcāla were the forests around the region of the Gaṅgā's source. The territory of Pañcāla corresponded to the modern-day areas of Rohilkhand such as Pilibhit, Bareilly, Budaun, Shahjahanpur, Farrukhabad, Kannauj and Kanpur, and parts of Awadh such as the western half of Hardoi, and parts of Lakhimpur as well as the Central Gaṅgā-Yamunā Doab in Uttar Pradesh.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Panchala (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Janapada of Pañcāla: Key Facts
| Founded | 9th century BCE |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 4th century BCE |
Facts from Wikidata Q558603 (CC0).
Janapada of Pañcāla Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Janapada of Pañcāla appears, with the other states of the time.
Janapada of Pañcāla Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 4,959 km² in 428 BCE.
Janapada of Pañcāla: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Janapada of Pañcāla exist?
Janapada of Pañcāla is dated to 600 BCE – 405 BCE, in the Bronze & Iron Age Civilizations era.
What was the capital of Janapada of Pañcāla?
The capital of Janapada of Pañcāla was Ahichatra (northern), Kampila.
How large was Janapada of Pañcāla at its peak?
At its peak in 428 BC Janapada of Pañcāla covered about 4,959 km².
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