http://karnal.nic.in/history.asp
Karnal
The city of Karnal, said to have been founded by Raja Karna, of the Mahabharta fame, spring into prominence in 1739 when Nadir Shah defeated Muhammad Shah at Karnal. Raja Gopal Singh of Jind seized Karnal in 1863, and the Marhattas established themselves at Karnal in 1785. Skirmishes however, followed between the Marhattas and the Sikhs.
In 1795 the Marhattas finally wrested it from Raja Bhag Singh of Jind and made it over to the George Thomas, who took part in the fight. Meanwhile Raja Gurdit Singh of Ladwa obtained possession of Karnal. It was captured by the British in 1805 and made over to Muhamdi Khan (Mandal). Karnal, on being formed into a British cantonment, the fort which had been built by Raja Gajpat singh of Jind, was taken over by the British and converted into a residence for Dost Mohd. Khan Amir of Kabul. The fort was used as a jail,as quarters for native cavalry and as poor house.
In 1862, it was made over to the Education Department, when the district school was moved into it from the city.
(Pseudo-paragraphs created to facilitate ease of reading.)
Oh yeah, that made it crystal clear. ;-)
It was at the Karnal Flying Club that Kalpana Chawla, a native of the city, first became interested in flying. Ms Chawla went on to complete her engineering degree at Punjab Engineering College and later become the first Indian origin woman to fly in space. She died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster of 2003.