city, central Haryana (Haryāna) state, northwestern India. It is connected by rail with Delhi and by road with Bhiwani and Panipat. Rohtak, formerly called Rohtasgarh (“Fort of Rohtas”), is said to have been founded by Raja Rohtas, a Panwar Rajput. It was constituted a municipality in 1867. The Dini mosque there dates to 1140; excavations at nearby Khokra Kot mound have revealed pieces of Buddhist sculpture. Rohtak is a major grain and cotton trade centre, and there is some light industry. The city has an agricultural research station and is the seat of Maharshi Dayanand University (established 1976) and affiliated colleges, including a medical school.

The surrounding area consists of a high, level plain between the Sutlej (Sutlej River) and Ganges (Ganga) (Ganges River) rivers. Irrigation is chiefly by branches of the Western Yamuna Canal system. Grains, gram (chickpeas), sugarcane, and cotton are the chief crops. There are also brine and limestone deposits. Pop. (2001) city, 286,807.