During vedic period of Mahabharat, this town reached its highest glory as the capital of the Panchala Kingdom or mahajanpada, extended from Himalayas in the north to the river Charmanwati in the south during the period of the Mahabharata. It had Kuru, Surasena and Matsya mahajanapadas or kingdoms to the west and the forest Naimisha to the east. Later, Panchala was divided into Southern Panchala (Panchala proper ruled by King Drupada, the father in law of the Pandavas) and Northern Panchala (ruled by Ashwathama, the son of Drona. Drona was Drupada's former friend who became his enemy later). The Ganges River separated the two Panchalas.