The town is said to derive its name from Amba Rajput who supposedly founded it during the 14th century CE.

According to another version, it is named after the goddess "Bhawani Amba," whose Temple still exists in Ambala city.

Ambala Air Force Base is one of the oldest and largest airbases that were inherited from the British by the IAF.

It was from this airbase that Spitfires and Harvards flown by Instructors of the Advanced Flying Training School took part in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948.

Ambala rebellion was led by Ananti Mishra, Parmeshwar Pandey, Beni Prasad, Sheikh Faiz Ul-Khan, Bikhan Khan who moved towards Red Fort in Delhi via Bilaspur, Sadhaura, Yamunanagar and Saharanpur.

After the war was over, the British authorities burnt the villages of Bilaspur and Sadhaura as punishment for providing aid to the rebels.

[15] Ambala was given the status of a district in 1847, formed by the merging of the jagir estates of hitherto independent chieftains whose territories had lapsed or had been confiscated by the British Indian Government.

Previously, it extended across tehsils of Ambala, Chandigarh, Jagadhri, Pipli, Kharar, Ropar and Nalagarh.

Kalka-cum-Kurari State, Pinjore, Mani Majra, Kasauli & Sanawar were also merged later into the district at different times.

For their participation in first war of independence, the Chaudharys and Lambardars of villages who participated in rebellion were also deprived of their land and property, including 368 people of Hisar and Gurugram were hanged or transported for life, and fine was imposed on the people of Thanesar (Rs 235,000), Ambala (Rs.

[16] In November 1949, Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was hanged at Ambala Central Jail[17] along with Narayan Apte, a co-conspirator.

As of 2011[update] India census, Ambala UA had a population of 207,934 consisting of 112,840 males and 95,094 females, a ratio of 843.

The office of the General Manager has situated on the premises of the depot workshop at Ambala City.

Besides, the Haryana Roadways buses, the government has issued permits to private operators on local routes.

Situated 200 km (120 mi) north of Delhi, this town is well connected by the rail and road network.

Ambala Cantonment railway station serves maximum Shatabdi Express after New Delhi.