High Middle Ages · South Asia · War

1012

Mahmud of Ghazni raids Thanesar

1012

The Ghaznavid sultan's army stormed the Hindu pilgrimage city of Thanesar in Haryana, sacking its temples and carrying off a bronze idol of Chakraswamin. The raid struck at one of Hinduism's seven sacred cities and demonstrated that no holy site in northern India was beyond the reach of Ghaznavid cavalry and ambition.