The history of Himachal Pradesh dates back to the days of Indus Valley civilization. The original tribes that inhibited the Indus valley civilizations were Koilis, Halis, Dagis, Dhaugris, Dasas, Khasas, Kinnars and Kirats. Gradually the Aryan civilization invaded this region.
In fact, human settlements in Himachal Pradesh date back to two million years. Evidence suggests that the places of prehistoric settlements are found in the Bangana valley of Kangra, Sirsa valley of Nalagarh, and Markanda valley of Sirmour. In ancient times, the region of Himachal Pradesh was made up of a number of small republic states known as Janapadas. These Janapadas enjoyed independence till the Muslims invaded these parts of India. Mahmud Ghaznavi conquered Kangra valley around the 10th century and Timur and Sikandar Lodi also exercised their imperialistic ambitions in this state.
The history of Himachal Pradesh had been subjected to various imperialistic ambitions. The Kashmiri king, Sankar Varma, exercised an influence over Himachal Pradesh way back in the ninth century. In 1009 AD, Himachal Pradesh saw the invasion of Mahmud Ghazni, who had looted the wealth from the temples in north India. Himachal Pradesh was also no exception to his plunders.
Himachal Pradesh was ruled by the Rajputs from 1043 AD to 1804 AD, till the Maharaja Ranjit Singh crushed the Rajput empire in 1804. During the late 1760s, the Gorkhas, a tribe with special martial arts prowess, came to power in Nepal. They captured most of the areas of the north eastern side of the state and eventually annexed the territories of Sirmour and Shimla to their kingdom. Under the leadership of Raja Ram Singh, they also defeated Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Eventually the southward expansion of the Gorkhas led to the Anglo Gorkha war in which the British gradually came out to be victorious. They expelled the Gorkhas from the provinces of Sutlej. During the early 19th century, the British captured and annexed the area of Shimla and its surrounding areas, following the Anglo Gorkha War of 1815-16. Most of the rulers or rather puppet rulers of Himachal Pradesh extended support to the British government during the 1857 mutiny. The rulers also supported British war efforts during the World War I, both with men and materials.
After the independence of India in 1947, Himachal Pradesh became a centrally administered territory with the integration of 31 hill provinces. Some additional regions were integrated into the ambit of Himachal Pradesh in 1966. In 1956, Himachal Pradesh became a union territory, and it was elevated to the status of statehood on 25 January 1971.
List of districts of Himachal Pradesh
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Bilaspur:-
Bilaspur is a district of Himachal Pradesh state, India. It contains the manmade Govind Sagar Lake on the Sutlej River which acts as the reservoir for the Bhakra and Nangal Dam project. The road bridge on this lake at Kandraur is highest of its kind in Asia. Its headquarters are in the town of Bilaspur. The district has an area of 1,167 km², and a population of 340,735 (2001 census).The area that is now Bilaspur District was formerly known as Kahlur, a princely state of British India. The ruler acceded to the Government of India on 12 October 1948, and Bilaspur was made an Indian state under a chief commissioner. The state of Bilaspur was merged with Himachal Pradesh on 1 July 1954, and became Bilaspur District.Administratively, the district is divided into three tehsils, Ghumarwin, Bilaspur Sadar, and Jhandutta. Jhandutta was created out of Ghumarwin in January 1998. Naina Devi is a sub-tehsil of Bilaspur Sadar, and was created in January 1980.
Chamba:-
Chamba is the northwestern district of Himachal Pradesh, in India, with its headquarters in Chamba town. The towns of Dalhousie and Khajjhiar are popular hill stations and vacation spots for the people from the plains of northern India.
Hamirpur:-
Hamirpur district ( हमीरपुर जिला) is one of the 12 districts of the state of Himachal Pradesh. The headquarters of the district is in the Hamirpur town. The district occupies an area of 1,118 km².
It is most educated District of Himachal and has highest density of roads amongst all districts of India
History:-
Carved out from the Kangra district in 1972, the district is closely associated with the Katoch dynasty. It was the part of old Jalandhar-Trigarta empire. Panin referred to the people of this kingdom as great warriors and fighters. Even today Army is the largest employer for Hamirpuris, who form large bulks of Dogra, Granadiers, Jakrif regiments as well as paramillitary forces especially Assam Rifles. In addition to their repute for being brave and professional soldiers they are well known for the hardiness characteristic of hill people thus earning the name VeerBhumi for Hamirpur as rest of Himachal calls itself Dev Bhumi.
The Katoch dynasty predominated during the period of Raja Hamir Chand who ruled from 1700 to 1740. It was Raja Hamir Chand who built the fort at Hamirpur and the present town derived its name from this ruler.
Geography:-
Hamirpur District is situated between 76º18' and 76º 44' east longitudes and between 31º25' and 31º 52' north latitudes. Situated at an altitude of 785 meters, Hamirpur is the district Headquarters.
Climate:-
It is not a typical "Hilly & Chilly" type of climate in district Hamirpur as it is more closer to plains. During winter, the climate is cold but pleasant when woollens are required. During summer the temperature is hot and cottons are recommended.
Divisions:-
The district comprises 4 sub-divisions: Hamirpur, Barsar, Nadaun and Bhoranj. Hamirpur sub-division consists 2 tehsils: Hamirpur and Sujanpur. Barsar, Nadaun and Bhoranj sub-divisions comprise only one tehsil: Barsar, Nadaun and Bhoranj respectively.
There are five Vidhan Sabha constituencies in this district: Bhoranj, Sujanpur, Hamirpur, Nadaun and Barsar. All of these are part of Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency.
Demography:-
The district has a population of 412,009 (male 195,971, female 216,038) (2001 census). Literacy rate is 83.16% (2001 census). There is a famous village named Kudhar, 3 km far from Slouni. This village has got huge reputation for its people and bright youth who are serving nearby villages in case any problem, accident or disaster happens with great morality & decensy in every possible ways.
External links
- Hamirpur district website
- DISTRICT PROFILE
- CULTURAL & TOURISM HERITAGE OF THE DISTRICT
- Developmental Data of the District
- Himachal tourism
Kangra:-
Lying 526-km north-west of New Delhi, Dharamshala is the headquarters of the Kangra District in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Kangra valley is one of the most pleasant, relaxing and spiritual places in the Himalayas. Marvelously scenic, especially upper Dharamshala, is well wooded with oak, cedar, pine and other timber yielding trees and offers some lovely walks and finer views. In 1855, Dharamshala had only two major areas where civilians settled in : McLeod Ganj, named after Lieutenant Governer of Punjab "David McLeod", and Forsyth Ganj, named after a Divisional Commissioner.
Lord Elgin, the British Viceroy of India (1862-63) fell in love with the natural beauty of Dharamshala because of its likeness with Scotland, his home in England. Lord Elgin died in 1863 while on a tour. He now lies buried in the graveyard of St. John's Church-in-Wilderness which stands in a cosy pine grove between McLeod Ganj and Forsyth Ganj.A Legend has it that Lord Elgin liked Dharamshala so much that he had sent a proposal to the British monarch to make Dharamshala the summer capital of India. However, the proposal was ignored. By 1904, Forsyth Ganj and McLeod Ganj had become nerve centres of trade , business and official work of Kangra District, But on April 4,1905, as a result of a severe earthquake, whole of the area was devastated. Alarmed at the massive destruction, the British goverment decided to shift the district headquater offices to the lower reaches of spur. As a result, the present-day district courts and kotwali bazar areas came into being which earlier had only a jail, a police station and cobbler's shop to boast of. Until India attained independence from Britain on Aug. 15,1947 McLeod Ganj and Forsyth Ganj continued to serve as health resorts and resting places for the British Rulers. But all this changed when the goverment of India decided to grant political asylum to the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatsho, in 1959. In 1960, he was allowed to make McLeod Ganj his headquaters. After his arrival, trade, commerce and tourism picked up afresh. This because with the Dalai Lama came thousands of Tibetan refugees, who gradually settled in Mcleod Ganj. During the last three decades, The Tibetans have built many religious, educational and cultural instutions in and around McLeod Ganj, which has helped in preservation of their culture. This has been a keen area of interst for the people around the world and as a result they flock at Dharamshala at various times.
The present Kangra district came into existence on the 1st September, 1972 consequent upon the re-organisation of districts by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. It was the largest district of the composite Punjab in terms of area till it was transferred to Himachal Pradesh on the 1st November, 1966 and had Six (6) tehsils namely Nurpur, Kangra, Palampur, Dehragopipur and Hamirpur. Kullu was also a tehsil of Kangra district up to 1962 and Lahul & Spiti which also formed a part of Kangra was created as a separate district in 1960. On the re-organisation of composite Punjab on the 1st November, 1966 the area constituting Kangra district were transferred to Himachal Pradesh along with the districts of Shimla, Kullu and Lahul & Spiti and tehsils of Una and Nalagarh and 3 villages of Gurdaspur district.
Mandi:-
The present District Of Mandi was formed with the merger of two princely states Mandi and Suket on 15th April 1948, when the State of Himachal Pradesh came into existence. Ever since the formation of the district, it has not witnessd any changes in it's jurisdiction.
The chiefs of Mandi and Suket are said to be from a common ancestor of the Chandravanshi line of Rajputs of Sena dynasty of Bengal and they claim their descent from the Pandavas of the Mahabharata. The ancestors of the line believed to have ruled for 1,700 years in Indarprastha(Delhi), until one Khemraj was driven out by his Wazir, Bisarp, who then took over the throne. Khemraj, having lost his knogdom, fled eastward and settled in Bengal, where 13 of his successors are said to have ruled for 350 years. From there they had to flee to Ropar in Punjab, but here also the king, Rup Sen, was killed and one of his sons, Bir Sen, fled to the hills and reached Suket.
The State of Suket is said to have been founded by Bir Sen, an ancestor of the Sena Dynasty of Bengal. The seperation of Mandi from suket took place about the year 1200 AD. Upto that time, it was the single state of Suket. The then reigning chief Sahu Sen had a quarrel with his younger brother Bahu Sen, who left Suket to seek his fortunes elsewhere. Bahu Sen after leaving Suket settled at Manglan in Kullu, where his descendents lived for 11 generations. Then then chief, Kranchan Sen was killed fighting against the Kullu Raja and his Rani, who was pregnant at that time. fled alone to her father who was the chief of Seokot, who had no son. Here she gave birth to a baby boy who was named Ban, the tree under which he was born. Ban had hardly crossed the age of 15 when he defeated the chief of Kilti who used to plunder travellers.On the death of the chief of Seokot, Ban succeeded to the chiefship of Seokot. He, after some time killed the Rana of Sakor and took posesssion of his lands. he then changed his residence to Bhiu, on the banks of Beas and a few miles from the present Mandi town.
Mandi emerged as a seperate state in the begining of the sixteenth century. Down the line of descendants of Ban came Ajbar Sen, nineteenth in descent from Bahu Sen, who founded Mandi Town in 1527 AD, the capital of the erstwhile state of Mandi and the headquarters of the now Mandi District. Ajbar Sen was the first great ruler of Mandi. He was probably the first to assume the designation of Raja. He consolidated the territories that he had inherited and added to them new ones that he wrested from the hands of his neighbours. He built a palace here and adorned it with four towers. He also built the temple of Bhut Nath and his Rani constructed that of Trilok Nath.
Down the line of descendants was Raja Sidh Sen, who succeeded Raja Gur Sen in 1978 AD. Mandi had never been so powerful before his reign and after that never was. He captured great areas from the adjoining areas. it was during his reign that Guru Govind Singh, the tenth guru of the sikhs visited Mandi in the close of the 17th century. He had been imprisoned by Raja singh, the chief of Kullu, from whom he had sought assistance against Mughal troops and his followers believe that Guruji escaped by using miraculous powers. Raja Sidh Sen, who is also considered to be a posessor of great miraculous powers, entertained his with great hospitality. He built the great tank before the palace. He also built the temples of "Sidh Ganesha" and "Trilokinath".
The entire history of both the states of Mandi and Suket is littered with wars with among themselves and other adjoining states. These two states had always been rivals and generally enemies, but there was no great result of their warfare. The fertile valley of Balh was the common ground of desire and dispute.
On 21st February 1846 the chiefs of Mandi and Suket visited Mr. Erskine, Suprintendent of the Hill States for the British Government, owing their allegiance to the Britishers and securing their protection. on 9th march, 1846 a treaty was concluded between the British Government and the Sikh Durbar whereby the whole of the Doab area between the Beas and the Sutlej was ceeded to the British Government, and this included the ststes of Mandi and Suket also.
On 1st November 1921, both the state of Mandi and Suket were transferred from the political control of Punjab Government to that of Government of India till 15th August 1947, India's Independence Day.
Una:-
The present Una district until 1st Nov., 1966 was one of the tehsil of the Hoshiarpur district of Punjab. Consequent upon reorganization of Punjab all the hill areas including Una tehsil was transferred to Himachal Pradesh. Eversince, until September, 1972 it continued to remain as tehsil of the then Kangra district. On the 1st September,1972 the Himachal Pradesh Govt. reorganised the then Kangra district into three districts namely Una, Hamirpur and Kangra. Una district consists of two Sub-Divisions(Una and Amb), three Tehsils(Bangana, Amb and Una) and two Sub-Tehsils(Haroli and Bharwain) and is having five Development Blocks(Una, Bangana, Gagret, Amb and Haroli).
Kullu:-
There are several reference of Kullu in the Ramayana & Mahabharata, Vishnu Purana & other Sanskrit literature. But it is believed that Manu after the great deluge, first stepped into the earth from the celestial boat at a place on this land. The particular spot where he established his abode was the present Manali (village), which is regarded as the changed name of 'MANU-ALAYA', that is the home of Manu. It was from here that the human race came into being after the deluge.
Kullu was probably the most ancient state next to Kashmir and Kangra. Like other hill states, Kullu had its ups and downs till it was ceded to the British in 1846 according to Lahore agreement, along with other trans-Sutluj states.
Kullu was made a sub-division of Kangra District. Lahaul-spiti was attached to Kullu for administration. In 1960 Lahaul-Spiti was a separate district. Kullu was also declared a district in 1963 and was a part of Punjab up to October 1966. On 1st November 1966, on reorganization of states, Kullu became a District of Himachal Pradesh.
Lahaul & Spiti
Lahaul & Spiti is a big district having international boundary with Tibet. It attained the status of a district in the year 1960. Till then it was merely a tehsil of Kullu Sub-division. The valleys. mountains, glaciers, rivers, forests, pastures, gompas (monastries) and ancient buildings of the former ruling dynasty are the principal objects of study.
The two units of the district i.e. Lahaul & Spiti, have separate historical backgrounds. In the distant past Lahaul had been changing hands between the rulers of Ladakh and Kulu. In the second half of the seventeenth century with the disintegration of Ladakh kingdom, Lahaul passed into the hands of the Kulu chief. In 1840, Maharaja Ranjit Singh took over Lahaul along with Kulu and ruled over it till 1846 when the area came under the sway of the British. From 1846 to 1940, Lahaul formed part of the Kulu sub-division of Kangra district and was administered through the local jagirdars/thakurs. One of the thakurs was designated as Wizier of Lahaul & was invested with judicial and executive powers. Another thakur was given the powers of a Revenue Officer. These functionaries exercised traditional as well as other power conferred by the Government. The Assistant Commissioner. Kulu used to visit the area once a year for a month or so. In the late thirties the unprecedented prosperity of the people through growing kuth and their consequent awakening created a formidable challenge to the power and influence of the Wizier of Lahaul, which gradually started declining. The inadequacy was soon noticed by the Government which considered the extension of the regular system of administration. Accordingly in 1941, a separate sub-tehsil comprising Lahaul & Spiti was formed and a naib-tehsildar was posted at Keylong thereby divesting the thakurs of their powers. The system remained in vogue till June, 1960 when Lahaul & Spiti district came into being. Simultaneously, Lahaul was constituted into a separate tehsil, and, later on it was formed into a sub-division.
The East India Company took over the possession of the Spiti portion in the year 1846 after the cessation of cis-Satluj States as a result of the Anglo-Sikh War. Before that it formed a part of Ladakh, a subsidiary of Jammu & Kashmir. Because of its remoteness and poverty of natural resources, the British following the example of the Ladakhi rulers, did not introduce any substantial changes in the administrative set up of the territory. The Nono of Kyuling was recognized as the hereditary Wizier of Spiti (re-affirmed by the Spiti Frontier Regulations of 1883) and was suppose to represent the British India Government. He collected the land revenue for the Government, his judicial jurisdiction included trial of all criminal cases, except cases of murder; and he performed all functions and enjoyed all necessary powers for the fulfillment of his tasks and duties, as laid down in the regulations of 1883.
In 1941, Spiti,with Lahaul, was constituted into a separate sub-tehsil of Kullu sub-division which had its headquarters at Keylong. Later on, after the formation of Lahaul & Spiti into a district, in 1960, Spiti was formed into a sub-division with its headquarter at Kaza.
Sirmaur:-
The legend goes that during the earliest history of Sirmour State when Raja Madan Singh used to rule, a woman knowing necromancy presented before the Raja and talked about her acrobatic skill. Raja being susceptible about it, promised her half of his kingdom if she displayed her skill by crossing over the river Giri by means of acrobatic rope. To his surprise, she succeeded in crossing and when she was returning on the rope one of the courtiers of the Raja feeling apprehensive, cut the rope and consequently the woman was drowned in the river. This treachery on the part of Raja resulted in a flood, which swept the town, and the entire princely family perished leaving the state without a ruler.
One version goes that on this state of affairs, the subjects of the Sirmour State approached the Raja of Jaisalmer to give one of his sons as the ruler of the State, which was conceded and sent one of his sons who as crowned as Raja of Sirmour. According to another version, in about 1097 AD, Raja of Jaisalmer, Ugar Sen who happened to visit Hardwar on pilgrimage and on hearing the throne vacant in the near by state sent his son Soba Rawal who conquered and established his kingdom with the capital at Rajban taking the title of Subans Parkash. He ruled the state uptil 1099 AD and thus after 4 years of rule he expired. Ever since, the name “Parkash” in the princely family of Sirmour continued till to-day and uptil the date of lapse of paramountcy the same dynasty continued to rule Sirmour State. Malhi Parkash ruled the state from 1108 AD to 1117 AD. He was a man of deep religious and charitable disposition. He fought battle with the Raja of Sirinagar of Garhwal and wrested from him the fort of Malda. His decendant Udit Parkash ruled from 1121 to 1127 AD who changed his capital from Rajban to Kalsi in Dehra Dun otherwise his period was not much eventful. Down the decent in the line, comes the name of Somar Parkash who ruled the stae from 1149 AD to 1158 AD, who conquered the fort of Ratesh in Kenothal state and made it his capital. But, Suraj Parkash who ruled from 1158 AD to 1169 AD, returned his capital to Kalsi whereupon his subjects revolted against him and his daughter was killed in the process of defending the fort. Hearing this news, Suraj Parkash returned from Kalsi and subdued the rebels and also overcome the Thakurs of Jubbal, Balsan, Kumharsain, Ghond, Sahri, Theog, Rewain and Kotgarh and forced them to pay tribute. Next century in the history of Sirmour state perhaps passed on uneventfully. However, the period of Jagat Parkash from 1342 to 1356 was known for its mal-administration with the result the aforesaid Thakurs again revolted against the suzerainty. His son Bir Parkash who took over the reign of state in 1356 Ad and ruled till 1366 AD was an energetic ruler and crushed the revolt of the misery junction of Rawin and Jubbal States.
During the time of subsequent rulers the capital of the state shuttled between Neri, Kot and Gargah in Ratesh Pargana. But, during the time of Budh Parkash it was shifted to Kalsi again. The present capital at Nahan was founded in 1621 AD by Karam Parkash who ruled the state from 1616 to 1630 AD. He became a spirtual desciple of Baba Banwari Dass whose decendant still hold the temple of Jagan-Nath at Nahan. It is believed that Shah Jahan, the Mugal Emperor of India had requested Karam Parkash for 2,000 horses to conquer Srinagar in Garhwal. The request was accepted by raja. But his commander Nijabat Khan after initial successes in capturing the forts of Shergarh, Kalsi, Bairat etc., met a disaster in his adventure. Whereupon he lost his position and he was replaced by Mirza Khan as Fauzdar who with the help of Raja Subhag Parkash of Sirmour and other jagirdars of hills, conquered Srinagar in Garhwal. Raja Subhag Parkash in recognition of his services received a firman on hehalf of the Mughal Emperor and area of Kotaha was annexed to Sirmour State.
Raja Subhag Parkash was a good administrator and took keen interest in the development of the state, particularly in the field of agriculture. This led to the confirement of area of Kalakhar (area near Dehradun) by the Mugal Princes. Again, during the reign of Budh Parkash during 1664 to 1684 AD, the Mughal Prince passed on the fort of Bairat and Kalsi from Raja of Srinagar who had occupied the fort which originally belonged to Sirmour state. It is believed that Raja of Sirmour had closed correspondence with the Begum Jahan Area whom he sent musk, wild pomegranates and wild fowls etc. Budh Parkash’s son Jog Raj succeeded his father under the title of Mat Parkash, who ruled between 1684 and 1704 AD, and was recognized by the Mughal Emperor. One of the interesting features of his reign was the visit of Guru Gobind Singh to Paonta, who resided there for 3 years when he was expelled from Anandpur by the Raja of Bilaspur for failing to confirm to his directions. Later the Raja of Bilaspur and Srinagar fought a battle with the Guru at Paonta where the former were killed and the guru emerged victorious and the present Gurdwara of Paonta Sahib marks the spot where the Guru had won the battle.
Mat Parkash died in 1704 AD issueless. Therefore, Hari Parkash ascended the throne in 1704 AD and continued to rule uptil 1712 AD. On his death, his son Bije Parkash ruled the state from 1712 AD to 1736 AD. There upon his son Partap Prakash was the ruler from 1736 to 1754 AD. He was a weak ruler and many of his feudatories rebelled against his rule. In 1754 AD his sin Kirat Parkash ascended the throne and ruled for 16 years up to 1770 AD. He was an efficient ruler and effected great reforms inhis state. He won battles over the Raja of Srinagar of Garhwal and thereafter he annexed Narayangarh, Rampur, Thanadhar, Morni, Pinjore, Ramgarh and Jagatgarh. Having won the aforesaid principalities he consolidated his power over the entire area and entered into alliance with Raja Amar singh of Patiala and secured from him Saifabad. Further in alliance with Raja of Shirinagar of Garhwal, he fought battles with Gorkhas and forced a treaty on them. After his death in 1770 AD, his son Jagat Parkash ruled the state uptil 1789 AD. This period, of course, was not much of historical happenings and quietly passed on to his son Dharam Parkash who ruled the state from 1789 to 1793 AD. During his time, it is said that Raja Ram singh of Nalagarh encroached a portion of his territory which he got recovered and also occupied the fort of Khushalpur near Dehradun from Raja of Srinagar of Garhwal. Further in his time Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra attacked the Bilaspur state whereupon Bilaspur Raja sought help from Raja of Sirmour. The help was readily offered. Raja of Sirmour himself commanded his forces and after a pitched battle he lost his life, whereupon his brother Karam Parkash ascended the throne and ruled from 1793 to 1815 AD. He was an indolent king as a result he lost all the feudatories for ever. In his time, the princely house was known for court conspiracies, where with the help of some courtiers his brother Rattan Prakash tried to seize the throne of Sirmour. But, Karam Parkash appealed to Kaji Ranjor Thapa, Commander in Chief of the Gorkha army at Dehradun for help. Commander Thapa was looking for a opportunity and immediately rendered help and crushed the court consipirators of Rattan Parkash. However, he did not return the principality to Karam Parkash, the real ruler of Sirmour State and he was left in lurch with the result, he had to live at Subathu under the Ramgarh State. But after the death of Kushal singh, the Ramgarh and his sons ordered Karam Parkash to leave their state and he accordingly moved to Buria where he spent his time until death in 1826 AD. At this time Rani Goler, wife of Karam Parkash appealed to the British Commander at Ludhiana, Col. Ochteclony for assistance to recover the state from the illegal occupation of the Gorkhas. This appeal coincided with general declaration of war by British Government against the Gorkhas. The British Commander moved from Ludhiana and on the way drove away the enemy out of Kalinagar fort in Dun. Thereafter, the British Army reached at Nahan and attacked the Gorkhas who were hiding inside the Jatak fort, 7 KMs from Nahan. But, the British army had to suffer heavy loss of men and materials and the Gorkhas continued to remain entrenched in the fort until they evacuated it in pursuance of the treaty entered into the Nepal Governemt with the British India Government in 1815.
The British, however, did not reinstate Karam Parkash instead the sanad was granted to his son Fateh Parkash and the Goler Rani was appointed as regent during his minority. Fatedh Parkash on attaining majority in 1827 was vested with the full powers of the state. The Jaupsar pargana with the forts of Morni, Jagatgarh, Kiardadun were retained by the British under them. However, in 1833, Kiardadun was restored to Fateh Parkash on the payment of Rs.50,000.00 to the British. Raja fateh Parkash had best of the relations with the British during his 35 years of reign from 1815 to 1850 AD. In 1836, during the first Afgan war, Fateh Parkash assisted the British with men and material, which was acknowledged by the British Government. During the first Sikh war in 1839-46 Raja sinrour again sided with the British and sent a contingency to reinforce the British Army at Hari-ki-Pattan.
On his death, his son Raghubir Parkash ruled the state from 1850 to 1856 AD. He was succeeded by Shamsher Parkash who ruled for 42 years from 1856 to 1898. He has married to the daughter of the Rja Keonthal who ws a lady of great beauty and ability and who used to conduct the judicial and administrative business of the state in the absence of the Raja. On her death, he abandoned the palace and made Shamsher Villa his residence which was built by him. In her memory, he laid the garden known as Ranital Bag at Nahan.
He was avery able and far sighted urler and modernized the administration of the state. He established police, judicial, revenue courts, district board and public works department at Nahan became the first municipality in the principality during his time. Dispensaries, Schools and Post Offices were opened and an attempt was made to develop iron mine at Chheta which proved to be unremunerative.
Raja then established Nahan Foundary. His greatest achievement was said to be the colonization of Kiardadun which wa hitherto a wild and dense forest track. The land reforms of the state for the first time was settled and the proprietory right conferred on the Zamindars. Forests were preserved which became a source of revenue to the state.
Raja Shamsher Parkash was appinted as a member of the Imperial Legislative Council and also conferred with a title of Khillat in recognition of the services rendered by him during the mutiny in 1857. In 1876, he was conferred with K.C.S.I and in 1886 G.C.S.I. and as personal distinction he was entitled to 13 guns salute. In 1896 the Sirmour state was taken out of the political control of the Superintendent of Shimla Hill State and Placed under the Commissioner of Delhi.
On his death in October, 1898, he was succeeded by Raja Surendra Bikram Parkash who was installed byb Sir Machworth Young on October, 27th of that year. Raja was carefully educated during his father’s time took keen interest in the development and proper administration of the state. He had marriage alliance with the daughter of Raja Suket. In 1901, he received KCSI and in 1902 he was appointed as a member of the Imperial Legislative Council. He supported with men and material the British Army in South-African war. He died at Mussoorie on the 4th July,1911 after a rule of 12½ years.
On his death, his son Raja Amar Parkash assumed the throne and was formally installed by Sir Louis Dane, Lt. Govenor of Punjab on the 24th October, 1911. he was properly trained during his father’s time and proved a very able administrator. He continued the policies of reforms initiated by his grand-father and maintained the administrative standard at a very high level. He was a man of simple living, punctuality, hardwork and had an immense love for justice and like his predecessor continued to be very loyal to the British India Government. He married in 1910 to the eldest daughter of Maharaja Dev Shamsher Jang Bahadur of Nepal who was highly educated, intelligent, polished in manners and charitable in disposition. During First World was, Raja Amar Parkash sent a contingent of state force to Mesopotamia to fight for the British Empire who rendered a good service in the war. In recognition of his services, he was given the distinction of KCSI. in 1915 and in 1918 he was made a Lieutenant Colonel and in 1921 he was titled KCIE and in 1931 his salute was raised from 11 guns to 13 guns as a personal distinction.
He effected many reforms of which Surendra Water Works Nahan was completed. He opened free primary Schools throughout the state and built hostels for the students and high school buildings. He inaugurated Mahima Library and got the road metalled from Nahan to Kala Amb which was completed in 1927. In the field of revenue administration, the important land mark of his time was the revision of settlement in 1931 which made the state revenue records reliable and uptodat. He died in August, 1933 away from his kingdom to hill in treatment of his Maharani in Europe.
His son, Maharaja Rajendra Parkash succeeded him in 1933. During his father’s time itself, he was trained in the state carft thoroughly. He was a keen sportsman also. He had marriage alliance with the Nagod state in Central India since 15th April, 1936. The most important aspect of his administration was the promulgation of Usurious Loans Act. One of the most interesting activities during the reign of the last ruler was the increased activity of the freedom fighters in the state in which Praja Mandal played the predominat role in mobilizing public opinion against the state and the British India Government which ultimately culminated into state’s succession to the Union of India and final merger in Himachal Pradesh.
Solan:-
Solan district is one of the twelve districts of Himachal Pradesh state in northern India. Solan town is the administrative headquarters of the district. The district occupies an area of 1936 km².
The district in its present form comprises of the erstwhile princely states of Bhagal, Bhagat, Kunihar, Kuthar, Mangal, Beja, Mahlog, Nalagarh and parts of Keonthal and Kothi and hilly areas of composite Punjab State which were merged in Himachal Pradesh on the Ist November, 1966 on the reorganisation of composite Punjab on the linguistic basis. Most of these princely state as per history were subjected to the onslaught of Gorkha invasion from the year 1803 to 1805. it was in the year 1815 that after th gorkhas lost to the Britishers, these states were freed and restored tot he respective rulers.
Most of the states were small in area and population and were under the control of the superintendent of Shimla Hill States before Independence. Himachal Pradesh appreared on the administrative map of the country on the 15th April, 1948 and the states of Bhagat, Baghal, Kunihar, Kuthar, Mangal, Beja, Keonthal and Koti formed a part of the then Mahasu District. Nalagarh state which was merged after Independence in Patiala and East Punjab State Union later on formed a part of Punjab when the reorganisation of the states took place in 1956 and remained a tehsil of Ambala District, Kandaghat and Shimla tehsils of Shimla district like othe rhilly areas of Kullu, Lahul and Spiti and Kangra districts become part of Himachal Pradesh on the Ist November, 1972 and Solan District sprang up on the administrative map of the state.
This district came into existence on 1 September, 1972. The district was carved out by amalgamating Solan and Arki tehsils of the erstwhile Mahasu district and Kandaghat and Nalagarh tehsils of the erstwhile Shimla district. The district is divided into 4 sub-divisions: Solan, Nalagarh, Arki and Kandaghat. Solan sub-division comprises Solan and Kasauli tehsils. Nalagarh, Arki and Kandaghat sub-divisions comprise Nalagarh, Arki and Kandaghat tehsils respectively. The district comprises 5 Vidhan Sabha constituencies: Arki, Nalagarh, Doon, Solan and Kasauli. All of these are part of Shimla Lok Sabha constituency.
Solan District derives its name from Solan town which came into existence after the construction of the Cantonment at that palce around the last quarter of the 19th century
Shimla
Shimla is the Capital Town of Himachal Pradesh. It was formerly the summer capital during the British Rule. The town of Shimla is built over several hills and connecting ridges. The important hills are Jakhu(8050 ft), Prospect Hill (7140 ft), Observatory Hill ( 7050 ft), Elysium Hill (7400 ft), and Summer Hill (6900 ft). There is a great controversy over the origin of the name Shimla. The name Shimla was derived from 'Shyamalaya' meaning blue house said to be the name of house built of blue slate by a faqir on Jakhu. According to one version Shimla takes it name from 'Shamla' meaning a blue female another name for Goddess Kali. The place was on the Jakhu Hillside, there was a temple of Goddess Kali. During the British period the image of the Goddess was shifted to a new place ,now famous Kali Bari Temple. Shimla remained unnoticed during the Gurkha War. It was only in 1819 A.D. that the then Assistant Political Agent of hill states Lt. Ross set up first British residence, a mere wood cottage. His successor Lt. Charles Patt Kennedy' errected the first pucca house in 1822 named after Lt. Kennedy as 'Kennedy House'.
The construction of Hindustan Tibet road was started in 1850-51 commencing from Kalka and first lap was upto Shimla. The Road upto Shimla came to be used for wheeled traffic by 1860. A 560 feet long tunnel was constructed beyond Sanjauli.
In 1864 Shimla was declared as the summer capital of India. After Independence, Shimla became the capital of Punjab and was later named the capital of Himachal Pradesh. In 1903 a rail line was constructed between Kalka and Shimla.
Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties, one can think of. Dwelling on a panoramic location, the hilly town is surrounded by green pastures and snow-capped peaks. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by the structures made during the colonial era create an aura, which is very different from other hill stations. Bulging at its seams with unprecedented expansion, Shimla retains its colonial heritage, with grand old buildings, among them are the stately Viceregal Lodge, Charming iron lamp posts and Anglo-Saxon names. The Mall, packed with shops and eateries, is the centre of attraction of the town, and Scandal Point, associated with the former Maharaja of Patiala's escapades, offers a view of distant snow clad peaks. In 1946 leaders of the Indian nationalist movement came to Shimla for a crucial conference that paved the way to Independence. Shimla’s legacy of British control has left in somewhat of Aesthetic anomaly: an Indian town, a state capital, no less that looks and feels like a village in Northern England.
The completion of the Kalka-Shimla narrow-gauge railway line, in 1903, gave a fillip to the towns development. After Independence, Shimla was initially the capital of Punjab. Following the creation of Himachal Pradesh, in 1966, it was designated the capital of the Himachal Pradesh.
History of Shimla goes back to the period of Anglo-Gurkha war in the beginning of 19th century. In 1804 the Gurkhas , who had suffered a severe defeat at the hands of the Sikhs at the battle of Kangra, a hill fortress about sixty miles from Shimla, where according to some accounts they lost thousand of men in the fight and many others from disease, commenced to ravage the states and hills surrounding Shimla. Gurkhas built many forts around Shimla. One of these strongholds, the Jagatgarh fortress, was the origin of the modern Jutogh, the well known military cantonment adjoining Shimla. By 1808 the invaders had conquered all the fortified posts between the Jamuna and Satluj, and from their capital Arki began their ruthless rule over the neighbouring hill states, until at length the people in their wretchedness appealed to the British for help. A small British force under Major General 'Sir David Ochterlony' was despatched to liberate the hill men from Gurkhas. Majority of hill chiefs responded to the call and joined the British forces. The rivals were engaged in the toughest battle at 3750 ft high Ramgarh fort at Nalagarh. A decisive battle took place near the fort at Malaon in which superior guns of the British overpowered the enemy. The battle of Malaon on 15th May 1815 ended the dream of the Gurkhas, to rule over this part of the land for any longer. After few days, an official declaration was made according to which all Chieftains who had joined British in expelling the Gurkhas were restored with their land under the British protection. The maharaja of Patiala who has also rendered invaluable services to the British was rewarded with land in the neighborhood of the area now comprising Shimla. After the defeat of Gurkhas they were forced to sign the 'Treaty of Sanjauli' . The company retained the strategic forts of Sabathu, Kotgarh, Ramgarh and Sandoch.
Present day Shimla District comprises of 19 erstwhile hill states mainly Balson, Bushahr, Bhaji and Koti, Darkoti, Tharoch & Dhadi,Kumharsain, Khaneti & Delath, Dhami, Jubbal , Keothal, Rawingarh, Ratesh, Sangri.
Bushahr was one of the oldest of the hill states after Kashmir in the Western Himalayas. According to one legend .the Bushahr dynasty was founded by 'Pradhuman', the son of Lord Krishna. In order to marry the daughter of Banasur, the local chief of shonitpur(Sarahan), Pradhuman is said to have come to that place and after the death of Banasur in an encounter with him, he became the chief of Bushar and Kinnaur regions, since Banasur has no son. According to C.F.Kennedy , Bushar was founded by Danbar Singh an immigrant Rajput from Deccan in 1412 A.D. In 1914 Britishers recognized Padam Singh as legitimate heir and was crowned Raja of Rampur Bushahr. Ultimately in March, 1948 Rampur Bushahr became part and parcel of province of Himachal Pradesh.
Jubbal one of the Shimla Hill States with an area of 288 Sq miles was originally tributary to Sirmaur, but after Gurkha war, it became independent. Raja Karam Chand was the founder of the Jubbal State. Jubbal merged with the Indian Union after independence and became a part of Himachal Pradesh on 15th April, 1948. at the time of merger 'Dig Vijay Singh ' was the ruler of the state.
Shimla District in its present form came into existence from 1st September 1972 on the reorganization of the districts of the state. After the reorganisation , the erstwhile Mahasu district lost its entity and its major portion was merged with Shimla. Shimla district derives its name from Shimla town, the district headquarters and now state capital of Himachal Pradesh
Kinnaur:-
The district a erstwhile known as Chini tehsil of the former Mahasu district, came into being as an independent district w.e.f. 1st May, 1960. Prior to merger of State on the eve of independence, Kinnaur valley was a part of erstwhile Bushahr State which had its headquarters at Rampur.
In the absence of authentic historical record the early history of Kinnaur region is obscure and the reference of the Kinnaura or Kannaura and there land is by the large confined to legends and mythological accounts. It would be worthwhile to look at the region of Kinnaur alongwith general conditions of northern India particularly the hilly regions of Himalayas during the period from 6th century B.C. India was divided in to sixteen geat janpadas and several smallers ones. Among them Gandhara, Kamboja, Kuru, Koshal, Mull, Vajji, Panchal, Sakya were either in the southern Himalayas ranges or had territories extended up to Himalayans ranges. Among the states that were flourishing in the six century B.C. The kingdom of Magdha was the first to make a successful bid for supermacy under Bimbisara.
Kothi Temple, Rekong Peo
Its emperor belonging to Sunga, Nanda and Maurya dynasties carried their banners upto the inhabitated parts of inner Himalayan region.Chandragupta Maurya brought about its political unification under one scepter, negotiated an alliance with Parvataka (Himalayan King) before empire building. With the help of several frontier tribes such as Kiratas, Kambojas, Panasikas and Valhika, he built up the great Mauryan Empire.The empire of Ashoka extended upto natural boundaries of India and beyond that in the west. After the collapse of the Mauryan empire the Kushanas established an extensive empire within and beyond India in the northwest. Emperor Kanishkas hegemony spread over Kashmir and the Central Asian regions of Kashgar, Yarkand and Khotan. His hold extended upto the territory of the Inner Himalayas and Kinnaur must have been the part of this empire. In the meantime northern India was divided into a number of small kingdoms and autonomous tribal states. Under such a divided country the Gupta empire grew. Samundragupta's empire included the territories of Rohilkhand, Kumaon, Garhwal, Nepal and Assam. Its northern boundary was along the high Himalayas. Kinnaur must have been included in it too. Early in the seventh century A.D., Harsha came to power at Thaneshwar in A.D. 606. During the course of four decades he had established a most powerful empire in India. All the existing kingdoms of Kapisa, Kashmir, Kuluta, Satadru, Mon-li-pa-lo (Ladakh) and Suwarnagotra (in the high Himalayas) were incorporated in his empire. After the death of Harsha in A.D. 647 the country was once again divided into old principalities of the sixth century B.C.
It appears that the princes being adventurous owing to territorial greed, first went to these high hills and established themselves on varying territories in accordance with their powers. Particularly the area between Satluj, its tributaries and Baspa upto Mansarover was under the rule of Thakkers from very early times. They were known by the place they had occupied like that of Chini Thakur and Kamru Thakur, under the overall suzerainty of Mauryan and Gupta kings later on. It was the Thakur of Kamru who proved strongest of all the other chiefs of the area and annexed their territories by force sometime after the fall of the Kanauj Empire and laid the foundation of the state of Bushahr, to which the region of Kinnaur belonged till the dissolution of the state very recently.
Medieval History
By the beginning of the fourteenth century the entire area of Kinnaur was divided in seven parts, locally called sat khund. There was further splitting up of and the area came to be covered with many small hegemonies, which were constantly warring against, or allying with, each other as conditions required. The neighbouring Bhots also found time to jump into the fray and did not desist from creating trouble. There are various forts like labrang, Morang, and Kamru forts telling the story of that age.
In the medieval period, though some of the hill states such as Kangra, Chamba and Sirmaur were attacked and made tributary to the Mughal emperor at Delhi, Bushahr state could not be reached by any adventurer of that time.The consolidation and addition of territories of the Bushahr state continued during the period also. The Thakoorais of Dulaitoo, Kurungoloo and Kuaitro were annexed about Samwat 1611. Raja Chatar Singh who brought the whole area of the erswhile Bushahr State under his control. He was considered most virtuous ruler during his reign. Nothing particular known about his successor Kalyan Singh. The successor of Kalyan Singh according to generalogy was Raja Kehri Singh. He is the hightest skilled warrior of the time. Kehri Singh's successor were not of the same mattle. Besides mention in genealogy of Bushahr State, nothing is known about Vijay Singh and Udai Singh. It is said that one Raja Ram Singh made Rampur his capital in place of Sarahan and Kamru. During his reign a series of contests began with the Raja of Kulu and Bushahr had lost the territory of Seraj. It seems that the territories which were annexed by Raja Kehri Singh became free during the weak rule of Raja Rudra Singh. But his successor Ugar Singh took them over by force of arms.
Recent History
According to Punjab states Gazetteer-Shimla hill States from 1803 to 1815 the earstwhile states of Bushahr faced the menace of Gurkha invasions. Immediate after the death of Raja Kehri Singh, The Gurkhas made massive attack on Bushahr. The minor ruler and his mother who could not withstand the attack fled away to Namru leaving behind a rich treasury at Sarahan. The Gurkhas looted the treasury and completely destroyed the records of the state. Keeping Gurkhas of Nepal had extended their dominions greatly during the end of the eighteen century. Amar Singh Thapa, the Gurkha leader went up to kangra valley. He was drawn from the valley by the superior forces of Ranjit Singh and those of raja Sansar Chand of Kangra. The tract between theSatluj and Jamuna came under British protection by the treaty of 1809 between Ranjit Singh and the British Govt. Thus the British Government took positive step to expel the Gurkhas and after a long and desperate struggle, completely defeated Amar Singh Thapa on 15 th April, 1815. On the conclusion of the Gurkha war Raja Mahendra Singh was granted a sanad on 6th November,1815. It gave Khaneti and Delath thakurais to Bushahr and a part of Rawin, which was a Distt. of the state was transfered to Keonthal, Kumharsain was constituted a separate Thakurai.
From the foregoing account it would appear that during the princely days Kinnaur valley acted as a bulwark to the Bushahr state. However with the lapse of paramountcy, the Kinnaur then known as Chini tehsil was merged to form a part of then Mahasu district. The pargana Atharahs Bish comprised of village Nichar, Sungra, Kangos, Ponda, Baro, Bari, Tranda, Chaura village with patwar circle at Ponda. The Paragana Bish consisted of the revenue estates of Nathpa, Kandhar, Barakamba, Chhotakamba, Garshu and Rupi with patwar circle at Rupi were in Rampur tehsil.
In fact then Chini tehsil covered the entire Kinnaur valley beyond Wangtu which was created in 1891 by the then ruler Tika Raghunath Singh. Thus 1891 onwards Chinni tehsil continued to be in existence with its vast area beyond Wangtu uptill 1960. Since 1947 it was a tehsil of the then Mahasu district. By 1960 the importance of reorganising border area was realised and consequently in view of ethnic and cultural considerations the areas which were partly in Rampur tehsil were reorganised into a separate District forming the present Kinnaur district.
