Battles of Tarain The Battles of Tarain , also known as the Battles of Taraori , were fought in 1191 and 1192 near the town of Tarain ( Taraori ) , near Thanesar in present - day Haryana , approximately 150 kilometres north of Delhi , India , between a Ghurid force led by Sultan Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghauri and a Chauhan Rajput army led by Prithviraj Chauhan . The First Battle . Size of the armies and generals . The total Rajput army , under Prithviraj , is estimated at 50 , 000 with cavalry at 20 , 000 by the modern historians . The Muslim army was estimated at 15 , 000 cavalry ( including camels , of which the numbers unknown ) , 10 , 000 infantry with 5 , 000 in either wing and a few thousand rearguard . The Ghurid army , consisted mainly of Turkic slaves ( " Mamluks " ) dominated by cavalry . Battle . In 1191 , Muhammad Ghori captured the fortress of Bhatinda in East Punjab which was on the frontier of Prithiviraj Chauhan ' s domains . Prithviraj marched on to Bhatinda and met his enemy at a place called Tarain ( also called Taraori ) near the ancient town of Thanesar . The Ghurid army initiates battle by attacking with cavalry who launch arrows at the Rajput center . The forces of Prithviraj counter - attack from three sides and dominate the battle , pressuring the Ghurid army into a withdrawal . Meanwhile , Muhammad Ghori is wounded in personal combat with Prithviraj ' s brother , Govind Tai . Prithviraj succeeded in stopping the Ghurid advance towards Hindustan in the first battle of Tarain . He did not pursue Ghori ' s army either not wanting to invade hostile territory or misjudging Ghori ' s ambition , instead electing to retake the fortress of Bhatinda . The Second Battle . On his return to Ghazni , Ghori made hectic preparations to avenge the defeat . When he reached Lahore , he sent his envoy to Prithviraj to demand his submission , but the Chauhan ruler refused to comply . Prithviraj saw through Ghori ' s stratagem . So he issued a fervent appeal to his fellow Rajput chiefs to come to his aid against the Muslim invader . About 150 Rajput chiefs responded favourably but Ghori , upon hearing this news sent a letter asking for a truce in order to deceive Prithviraj . Size of the forces and generals . According to Firishta , the Rajput army consisted of 3 , 000 elephants , 300 , 000 cavalry and infantry , most likely a gross exaggeration . Minhaj - i - Siraj , stated Muhammad Ghori brought 120 , 000 fully armoured men to battle . Battle . Prithviraj ' s gesture was repaid by Ghori who re - attacked Prithiviraj with a stronger army . Prithviraj had called his banners but hoped to buy time as his banners ( other Rajputs under him or his allies ) had not arrived . Ghori got news of this and deceitfully sent a letter to Prithviraj for truce , and as we expect had requested Ghauri ' s brother to be turned to Ghauri . Before the next day , Ghori attacked the Rajput army before dawn . Rajputs had a tradition of fighting from sunrise to sunset . Although they were able to quickly form formations , they suffered losses due to surprise attack before sunrise . Rajput army was eventually defeated and Prithviraj was taken prisoner and subsequently executed . The aftermath . The victory of Sultan Mohammad of Ghur was decisive , he took Bihar province in 1193 eradicating Buddhism in that area . Later in 1202 , his army completes the occupation of Hindustan by taking the city of Bengal . The victory of Ghori led to the foundation of Sultanate of Delhi . It results in the further conquest of Muslims in India . Ghori made His slave , Qutb - ud - din Aibak , the first king of India and India came under the rule of Muslims . Bibliography . There was also a Third battle of Tarrain which was fought between Iltutmish and Yalduz in which Yalduz was defeated . Though this battle is less popular and less relevant but Tarrain had witnessed not 2 but three battles . This battle took place in 1215 - 16 A . D . Details submitted by Mr . Ankit Abhishek .