Rani Karnavati of Garhwal Kingdom was the wife of Raja Mahipat Shah, King of Garhwal. The capital of Garhwal Kingdom was shifted from Dewalgarh to Srinagar by him, who ascended to the throne in 1622 and further consolidated his rule over most parts of Garhwal, though he died young in 1631. When king Mahipati shah died, his son was only 7 year old. Hence, queen of Mahipati Shah took over the administration. Rani Karnavati ruled the kingdom on the behalf of her very young seven-year-old son, Prithvi Pat Shah. She ruled over for many years to come, during which she successfully defend the kingdom against invaders and repelled an attack of Mughal army of Shah Jahan led by Najabat Khan in 1640, over the time she earned the nickname 'Nakti Rani' (Nak-Kati-Rani) as she had the habit of cutting the noses of the invaders. Then Rani Karnavati resorted to psychological warfare by sending a message to the Mughal court that if she could chop off their noses, she could also chop off their heads. The Mughals panicked and tried to force their way back, but were encircled and massacred. Thus, the Mughal advance into the mountain passes was restrained by the fierce Karnavati. She had a very Loyal Commander Dost Beg. Massir– al –Umara mentions that queen had a brave, devoted commander Dost Beg. It seems that Dost beg became powerful commander after the death of Lodi Rikhola, Madho Singh, and Banvari Das Tunwar. Dost Beg was also commander of Garhwal King Mahipati Shah.
Rani Karnavati is said to have orchestrated a number of hydraulic constructions, the most noted of which was an irrigation system that prevented the water from sinking underground as it exited the hill into the gravels leading to the valleys. This allowed agricultural development that allowed an efflorescence of several towns in the region.This consequently fed a local Hindu revival which was mainly seen in the form of various productions of certain tantrika, legal, and medical texts under the patronage of this dynasty. Monuments erected by her still exist in Dehradun District at Nawada,she is also credited with the construction of the Rajpur Canal, the earliest of all the Dun canals, which starts from the Rispana River and brings its waters till the city of Dehradun.Rispana River is one of the tributaries of Song River that drains the central and eastern part of the Doon Valley. Some years later her grown up son Prithvi Pat came to the throne and ruled wisely under his mother’s influence.