The place is believed to be the ancient city of "Virat Nagar" mentioned in the Mahabharata however, Bairat, a town in northern Jaipur district of Rajasthan is more established as the ancient "Virat Nagar". The place is one of the most important historical sites in Jammu and Kashmir. Excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India have established the fact that Akhnoor was one of the last bastion of the Indus Valley Civilization and Manda, Akhnoor is the northernmost site. Terracotta figures and other anthropological objects belonging to the later Indus period have been found during the excavations. Beyond Akhnoor, towards the upper hilly area that joins Sivalik Hills, there has been no trace of any object that could show that Harappans moved any further beyond this town.