History of Kangra | HPPSC HPAS Preparation - HPPSC HPAS (Himachal Pardesh) PDF Download

Ancient History of Kangra

• Ancient Names: Kangra was known as ‘Nagarkot’ or ‘Bhimkot’ in ancient times. It was part of ‘Trigarta,’ a region drained by the Satluj, Beas, and Ravi rivers during the Mahabharata era. Trigarta is also mentioned in the Puranas and Rajtaringini.
• Divisions of Trigarta: The plain areas of Trigarta were called Jallandhara, while the hill areas were called Nagarkot.
• Stone Age Evidence: Stone Age artifacts have been found in the region. G.C. Mahapatra discovered 52 stone axes in the village of Rahaur near the Banganga River. More Stone Age remnants were found in Nadaun by the Beas River, and an almond-shaped stone axe was discovered in Nandrool near Kangra.
• Coins Found:
  • Out of 360 coins of the Audumbaras, 103 were found near Tripal and Jwalamukhi.
  • 4 Kushana coins were found in Kanihara.
  • 3 Kuninda coins were found in Jwalamukhi.
• Demon Jalandhara Legend: According to Sir A. Cunningham, the name Trigarta came from the demon Jalandhara, son of Ganga and the Ocean. Jalandhara was killed by Lord Shiva, and his wife was Barinda. Another account says he was killed by Vishnu. His body is believed to rest in Kangra Valley, with the pine forests between Jadrangal and Palampur called Brindavan, after his wife.
• First Mention of Trigarta: The first historical mention of Trigarta is in the 5th century B.C. by Sanskrit writer Panini, who referred to it as Ayudhajivi Sangha, a warrior community.
• Mention in Ptolemy’s Work: According to Cunningham, Jalandhara is mentioned in the works of the Greek geographer Ptolemy as Kalindarine.
• Susharma Chandra: Susharma Chandra, identified with King Susharma of the Mahabharata, is considered the traditional founder of Trigarta. He fought with the Kauravas against the Pandavas. The family’s original seat was in Multan, and the Nagarkot fort is traditionally attributed to him.
• Nagarkot in History: In the Tarik-i-Yamini, Utbi, Mahmud Ghazni’s private secretary, called Nagarkot Bhimnagar, while Farishta referred to it as Bhimkot.
• Katoch Dynasty: In recent times, Trigarta is identified with the Katoch dynasty.
• European Travelers: European travelers who visited Kangra include Thomas Coryat (1615 A.D.), Thevenot (1666 A.D.), Foster (1783 A.D.), William Moorcraft (1832 A.D.), and Vigne (1835 A.D.). Foster and Moorcraft did not visit Kangra directly but passed through the outer hills.
• Hieun Tsang’s Visit: The Chinese pilgrim Hieun Tsang visited Jalandhara in 635 A.D., staying as a guest of Raja Utitas in Kangra Hills. He stayed again in 643 A.D. on his return journey through Jalandhara.

Medieval History of Kangra

Mahmud Ghazni's Capture of Nagarkot (1009 A.D.)

• Mahmud Ghazni captured Nagarkot fort during his fourth expedition to India in 1009 A.D.
• The Raja of Kangra at the time was Jagdish Chand, 436th descendant of Bhuma Chand and 202nd of Susharma Chandra.
• The fort remained in Ghazni's control until 1043 A.D.

Liberation by Tomar Raja Mahipal (1043 A.D.)

• In 1043 A.D., Tomar Raja Mahipal of Delhi liberated Nagarkot Fort by defeating Modud, the grandson of Mahmud Ghazni.
• However, Abdul Rashid, Mahmud’s son, recaptured the fort by appointing Hastagin Hajib as the governor of Punjab in 1051-52.

Raja Jay Chandra and Baijnath Temple

• Raja Jay Chandra is referenced on two slabs in the Shiva Temple of Baijnath (Vaidyanath) in the village Kiragrama.
• Laxman Chandra was the Rana of Kiragrama, as engraved on the slabs.

Prithvi Chand's Reign (1330)

During Prithvi Chand’s reign, Mohammed Bin Tuglaq captured the Kangra fort in 1337 A.D.

Rup Chand’s Reign (1360-75)

• Raja Rup Chand of Kangra is mentioned in Dharam Chand Natak (1562 A.D.) by Manik Chand.
• Rup Chand plundered the plains up to Delhi but lost his wealth to Shahab-ud-din, the Sultan of Kashmir.
• Firoz Shah Tuglaq invaded Kangra in 1365 A.D. after Rup Chand’s plundering.
• Rup Chand and Firoz Shah reached an agreement, and Rup Chand accepted Firoz Shah’s suzerainty.

Firoz Shah's Visit to Jawalamukhi

• After the agreement, Firoz Shah Tuglaq visited Jawalamukhi and took 1300 Sanskrit books.
• A book was translated into Persian by Ajjudin Khalid Khani, titled Dalai-i-Firozshahi, dealing with philosophy, astrology, and divination.

Sangara Chand’s Reign (1375)

• Nasir-ud-din (Mohammed Tuglaq), successor of Firoz Shah, took refuge at Nagarkot after being ousted by his brothers in 1388 A.D. He stayed there until he regained his throne in Delhi in 1390.

Megh Chand’s Reign (1390)

• During Megh Chand's reign, Mongol invader Timur-i-Lung plundered the lower Sirmaur Hills during his return from Delhi in 1398-99.
• Pathankot and Nurpur also suffered from Timur’s attacks, though he failed to capture Nagarkot.

Hari Chand-I (1405)

• Hari Chand-I fell into a well during a hunting expedition and was presumed dead.
• His brother Karam Chand was made Raja, while his wives became Sati.
• Hari Chand was later rescued by a passing merchant after 22 days. He did not return to Kangra but founded a new state, Guler, near the Banganga, Kurali, and Neugal rivers.
• Guler was given precedence over Kangra in ceremonial matters.

Sansar Chand-I (1430)

An inscription from his reign in the Vajresvari Devi temple at Bhawan states that Sansar Chand-I was a tributary to Muhammad Shah, Sayid of Delhi.

Dharam Chand (1528)

• After Sher Shah Suri took the Delhi throne in 1540, he sent his general Khawas Khan to capture the hill region of Nagarkot.
• After the conquest, Hamid Khan Kakar was appointed in charge of Nagarkot Fort, though many historians believe the fort was first captured by Jahangir in 1620.
• Sikandar Shah Sur, a nephew of Sher Shah, ruled Punjab during this period, but Akbar later defeated him, forcing Sikandar to seek refuge in the Maukot Fort between Pathankot and Nurpur. Sikandar Shah eventually surrendered and was allowed to retire to Bengal.
• Akbar started the practice of sending hostages from the Hill States to the Mughal court, and during Jahangir's reign, 22 young princes were held as hostages.

Jai Chand (1570)

• Akbar sent Raja Ram Chand of Guler to arrest Raja Jai Chand of Kangra under suspicion.
• Jai Chand’s minor son, Bidhi Chand, assumed his father’s death and revolted against Akbar in 1572.
• Akbar’s army, under the Viceroy of Punjab, Khan Jahan Hussain Quli Khan, subdued the revolt and gave the territory to Birbal as a jagir.
• Birbal, along with Mughal forces, marched to capture Nagarkot but was interrupted by an invasion in Punjab by Akbar's relatives, Ibrahim Hussain Mirza and Musud Mirza.

Bidhi Chand (1585)

• Bidhi Chand became Raja after the death of his father in 1585 and formed an alliance with neighboring states between Jammu and Kangra.
• The alliance rebelled in 1588-89, and Akbar sent Zain Khan Koka, who suppressed the rebellion.
• Bidhi Chand was forced to keep his son Trilok Chand as a hostage in Akbar's court.
• Another rebellion occurred in 1594-95, led by the Raja of Jasrota, but Bidhi Chand and Raja Basu of Nurpur did not participate.

Trilok Chand (1605)

• When Jahangir succeeded to the throne in 1605, a story spread in Kangra about a conflict between Trilok Chand and Salim (Jahangir). 
• Jahangir wished to possess Trilok’s parrot, but Trilok refused, leading to Jahangir’s invasion of Kangra after becoming emperor.

Hari Chand-II (1612)

• In 1615, Jahangir sent Raja Suraj Mal of Nurpur and Sheikh Farid (Murtaza Khan) to capture Kangra, but internal disputes postponed the plan.
• A second attempt in 1616, led by Raja Man Singh of Jaipur, failed when Man Singh was killed by a local zamindar named Sangram.
• Jahangir tried again in 1617, sending Suraj Mal and Shah Quli Khan Muhammad Taqui. Another dispute arose between them, and Shah Quli Khan was ordered to retreat.
• Suraj Mal rebelled against the Mughals, but Jahangir's commander Raja Raiyan Sunder Dass (Bikramjit) suppressed the rebellion. Suraj Mal fled and eventually died in 1619 at the Taragarh fort in Chamba.

Mughal Capture of Kangra (1620)

• Kangra Fort was captured by the Mughals in 1620, with Raja Jagat Singh, the younger brother of Suraj Mal, assisting them.
• Nawab Ali Khan was appointed as the first Mughal governor of Kangra Fort, and his son Humrat Khan succeeded him.
• Jahangir visited Dhameri (now Nurpur) in 1622 and renamed it after his wife, Nur Jahan.
• He constructed a mosque inside Kangra Fort and named one of the fort's gates ‘Jahangiri Darwaza.’

Chandar Bhan Chand (1627)

• Chandar Bhan Chand engaged in guerilla warfare against the Mughals.
• The only territory he retained was above Alampur, including Lambagram, Jaisinghpur, and Bijapur.
• He built a fort near Nirwanah, east of Dharamshala, and lived on the outskirts of Dhauladhar, a place now called ‘Chander Bhan ka Tilla.’

Datarpur State

• Founded in 1550 A.D. by Datar Chand, an offshoot of Siba, with the ruling family known as the Dhadwals.
• 1786: Came under the control of Sansar Chand of Kangra.
• Gobind Chand (1806): Sided with the Gurkhas in their invasion of Kangra.
• 1809: Reduced to a jagir under Ranjit Singh. Following Gobind Chand's death in 1818, the state was fully annexed by Ranjit Singh.
• Jagat Chand (1818): Surrendered his state to the Sikhs and received an annual jagir of ₹4600. He rebelled against the British in 1848 alongside Katoch princes and was exiled to Almora, where he died in 1877.

Nurpur State

• Founded by Raja Jhet Pal in 1000 A.D., Nurpur was originally known as Dhameri and was renamed Nurpur in honor of Jahangir’s wife, Noor Jahan, by Raja Jagat Singh.
• The clan name Pathania is derived from "Paithan" (Pathankot), the state’s original capital.
• The region’s ancient name was Audambara, from the Udumbara tree (Ficus glomerata), and the Nurpur rulers were said to be descendants of the Pandavas and Tomar Rajas of Delhi.

Key Rulers

• Kailash Pal (1353): Defeated Tatar Khan, a general who invaded Punjab, and constructed an irrigation canal from the Ravi to Pathankot.
• Nag Pal (1397): His birth was accompanied by a snake, which became the family’s deity.
• Bakht Mal (1513): Supported Sikandar Shah Sur after his defeat by Humayun in 1555 and gave him refuge in Maukot Fort. Bakht Mal was later captured and executed by Bairam Khan in 1558 after the Mughals besieged the fort.
• Takht Mal or Pahari Mal (1558): Brother and successor of Bakht Mal. Planned to shift the capital to Dhameri but died before accomplishing it.
• Bas Dev or Basu (1580): Shifted the capital from Pathankot to Dhameri. He revolted against Akbar multiple times but was spared by Todal Mal. Basu had a close friendship with Jahangir and was tasked with capturing Shah Jahan but died in 1613 before capturing the Rana of Mewar.
• Suraj Mal (1613): Sent by Jahangir in 1615 and 1617 to capture Kangra, but internal conflicts with other commanders delayed the campaign. He eventually rebelled against the Mughals and fled to Taragarh Fort in Chamba, where he was killed by Raja Janardhan in 1619.

Nurpur's history reflects its strategic significance and repeated involvement in conflicts with both the Mughals and neighboring hill states.

Jagat Singh of Nurpur (1619 - 1646)

• Kangra Fort: In 1620, Raja Jagat Singh helped the Mughals capture the Kangra Fort. The news of its capture reached Jahangir on 20th November 1620.
• Renaming of Dhameri: Jahangir visited Dhameri (Nurpur) in 1622 and renamed it Nurpur to honor his wife, Noor Jahan.
• Battle of Dhalog (1623): Fought near Dalhousie between Raja Jagat Singh of Nurpur, with Mughal assistance, and Raja Janardhan of Chamba. Janardhan's brother, Bishamber, was killed in battle, and Janardhan himself was later killed by deception by Jagat Singh.
• Conflict with Basholi: Jagat Singh extended his control over Basholi in 1627, but Raja Bhupat Pal of Basholi reclaimed it after expelling the Nurpur garrison.
• Revolt Against Mughals (1640): Jagat Singh revolted against Mughal authority, but Shah Jahan sent his son Murad Baksh to suppress it. Despite Jagat Singh’s stronghold over Nurpur, Maukot, and Taragarh, he surrendered and was later pardoned by Shah Jahan.
• Later Years and Death: Jagat Singh accompanied Prince Dara Shikoh to Qandahar in 1642 and died in 1646 while returning from Peshawar. Under his reign, Nurpur reached its peak prosperity. He is remembered in the poem "The Rhapsodies of Gambir Rai" (1650), and he had a close relationship with Noor Jahan, addressing her as "Beti" (daughter).

Rajrup Singh (1646)

• Received the title of Raja from Shah Jahan. He spent his later years serving Aurangzeb. 
• In 1650, his younger brother Bhau Singh was granted a portion of the Nurpur state for his loyalty during the Mughal campaign in Badakhshan.

Prithvi Singh (1735)

• Faced challenges from Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, who made several hill states, including Nurpur, his tributaries.
• In 1785, Nurpur acquired the territory of Lakhanpur from Basholi.

Bir Singh (1789)

• The last ruling chief of Nurpur. When Ranjit Singh took control of Kangra Fort, he also subdued Nurpur and other hill states.
• 1815: Bir Singh, along with Jaswan, was fined for failing to attend a military assembly called by Ranjit Singh, leading to the subjugation of their territories.
• 1826 Revolt: Bir Singh attempted to raise a rebellion against Ranjit Singh but was ultimately captured and held for seven years at Gobindgarh Fort.

Jaswant Singh (1846)

• After the British captured the Kangra valley in 1846, Jaswant Singh was granted a jagir worth ₹5000 per annum, and Nurpur was merged with Kangra.
• 1848 Uprising: Wazir Ram Singh, with forces from Jammu, captured Shahpur Fort and declared Jaswant Singh as Raja of Nurpur. The British quashed the rebellion, and Ram Singh fled to the Sikh army.

Nurpur Fort

• As mentioned in Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, Nurpur Fort was founded by Raja Basu.
• The fort has a Thakurdwara (shrine) dedicated to Lord Vishnu, built by Raja Mandhata, and houses an image of Lord Krishna made from black marble. Excavations in 1886 uncovered a red sandstone temple similar to the Govind Dev temple in Brindaban.

Banghal State

• The Banghal state included regions like Bara Banghal, Chhota Banghal, and Bir, with Bir Banghal as the capital.
• Prithi Pal (1710): Son-in-law of Sidh Sen of Mandi, he was executed by Sidh Sen, leading to a conflict between Banghal and Mandi.
• Man Pal (1749): The last ruling chief of Banghal. After his death, his territory was divided between Kangra and Guler.

Kutlehar State

• The smallest principality in the Kangra area, founded by a Brahmin who became a Rajput and took the name Kutlehria.
• In 1758, Raja Ghamand Chand annexed part of Kutlehar. In 1786, the state was annexed by Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra and later came under Sikh control in 1809.