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

History of District Lahaul-Spiti

1. Ancient Mention

   • In ancient Buddhist scriptures such as Padma Thang Yiang and Mamkambum, the area south of Ladakh and Zanskar is referred to as Khasa or Hasha, which may have evolved into the local name "Garzha" used by Tibetans and Kinnaurs for Lahaul.
   • The name "Lahaul" was commonly used by people from Kullu and other parts of India.

2. Migration of Saka and Khasa Tribes

   • Between the 6th century B.C. and 5th century A.D., Saka and Khasa tribes migrated to the Himalayas after being driven from Central Asia by the Huns.
   • Some of these tribes settled in the Mid-Himalayan valleys between Garhwal and Ladakh, and their graves can still be found in these regions.
   • A Nullah near Keylong, called Shaks, is thought to derive its name from the Saka tribe that settled in the Bhaga Valley.

3. Control by Kullu, Kunindas, and Chamba

   • Before the visit of the Chinese traveler Hieun-Tsang, Lahaul was under the influence of Kullu, Kunindas, and Brahmpura (modern Chamba).
   • The cultures of Kullu, Chamba, and Ladakh influenced Lahaul, while Spiti was mostly shaped by Tibetan and Ladakhi influences.

4. Hieun-Tsang's Observation

   • During his travels, Hieun-Tsang recorded the region of Lahaul as "La-Hu-La."
   • Spiti was ruled by the Sen dynasty, with one of the earliest known rulers being Samudra Sen.
   • During Rajendra Sen’s reign, Kullu briefly became a tributary to Spiti.

5. Ladakh’s Influence on Spiti

   • In the 7th century, Spiti was annexed by the Ladakhi King Skyid-Lde-Ni-Ma-Mgon during the reign of Chet Sen of Spiti.
   • Under strong Ladakhi rule, Spiti was integrated into Ladakh, but during periods of weak rule, Spiti enjoyed autonomy.

6. Raja Lha-Chen Utpala (1080-1110 A.D.)

   • Raja Lha-Chen Utpala of Ladakh invaded Kullu, forcing the Kullu Raja to pay tribute in the form of iron and "Mdsos" (a crossbreed of yak and cow).
   • Utpala also converted the Marikula Devi temple into a shrine of Marachi Vajra Varah.

7. Kullu and Chamba’s Aspirations

   • Both Kullu and Chamba frequently sought control over Lahaul and Spiti due to their proximity. The capitals of these regions—Nast (Kullu) and Brahmapura (Chamba)—were close to Lahaul, strengthening their desire for influence over the area.

History of Lahaul-Spiti: Mongols, Kullu, Mughals, and British

1. Mongol Invasion and Annihilation

   • The Mongol army occupied Lahaul for two years, acquiring the fort of Keylong, before being annihilated near "Tinan" by a glacier.

2. Kullu’s Role with the Mughals

   • Bidhi Singh of Kullu (1672-1688) assisted the Mughals under Fidai Khan, who had been invited by the Ladakhis to fight the Mongols.
   • As a reward, the Mughals granted Bidhi Singh the annexation of the upper portion of Lahaul.
   • "Thirot" was established as the dividing boundary between Kullu and Chamba during Bidhi Singh’s reign.

3. Raja Man Singh’s Expansion (1688-1719)

   • Raja Man Singh fixed Kullu's boundary with Ladakh at "Lingti" around 1700 A.D.
   • After the Tibetan-Ladakhi and Mughal war of 1681-1683, Spiti nominally remained under Ladakh, but Man Singh took advantage and forced Spiti to pay tribute to Kullu.
   • He built the Gondhla Fort, also known as "Rani-ki-Kothi."

4. Kullu’s Influence Over Lahaul

   • During Raja Tedhi Singh’s reign, a Lahauli goldsmith named Phuntson was called to manufacture a golden parasol for Raghunath Ji.
   • Under Raja Pritam Singh (1767-1806), Lahaul’s army, led by Gepanglha, supported Kullu in defeating Mandi at the battle of Bajaura.

5. Moorcraft's Observations (1820-1821)

   • When British traveler William Moorcraft visited Lahaul in 1820, he noted that four villages—Barkalanak, Mooling, Shipting, and Gus—were still paying revenue to Ladakh, a practice that was stopped by the British in 1862.
   • Tandi was the capital of Lahaul at the time, where the Raja of Kullu’s administrators governed.

6. Sikh and British Control

   • In 1840, the Sikh army subjugated Mandi, and Kullu, along with Lahaul, came under Sikh control after the death of the Kullu Raja in 1841 at Shangri.
   • Zorawar Singh, the governor of Ladakh under Sikh rule, controlled trade between Lahaul and Ladakh, but his oppressive tax system created unrest.
   • In 1841, Zorawar Singh led an unsuccessful attack on Tibet and was killed. The following year, the Tibetan army moved toward Ladakh but was defeated by Gulab Singh’s forces in December 1842.

7. British Annexation (1846)

   • Following the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846 between Gulab Singh and the British, the hill areas of Punjab were granted to Gulab Singh, but Lahaul and Spiti remained under British control.
   • The area below "Thirot" remained under Chamba’s control, known as "Chamba Lahaul," while the rest of the region was called "British Lahaul."

History of Lahaul-Spiti: British Era and Administrative Changes 

1. Boundary Fixation by Cunningham and Vans Agnew (1846)

   • Cunningham and Vans Agnew fixed the boundary between Spiti, Ladakh, and eastern Tibet in 1846.
   • The boundary runs from the west of Baralacha Pass, crosses the Lingti plain, and extends eastward to the south of Tsomoriri Lake, reaching the Sutlej and touching Tibet proper along the way.
   • The uninhabited mountainous region to the east of Baralacha and north of the Parang passes was attached to Spiti.

2. Annexation by the British

   • After the British annexed Lahaul and Kullu, Lahaul became part of the Kullu subdivision, which was under the supervision of an assistant commissioner working under the deputy commissioner of Kangra district, headquartered in Dharamshala.

3. Role of the “Negi”

   • The "Negi" was the highest officer in Lahaul, responsible for collecting revenue and arranging Begar (forced labor).
   • The Negi’s headquarters were in Keylong, and they served as an honorary magistrate with jurisdiction over Lahaul.
   • Bali Ram was the first Negi appointed by the British government, followed by Thakur Tara Chand of Khangsar. The position remained hereditary until 1941, when a Naib Tehsildar was appointed.

4. British Administration of Spiti

   • In 1849, Major Hay, Assistant Commissioner of Kullu, took charge of Spiti, and the hereditary Wazir (Nono) of Spiti was granted a Jagir (land grant).
   • In 1873, the Nono was formally given honorary magisterial powers.

5. Contribution During World War I

   • During the First World War (1914-1918), Wazir Amir Chand of Lahaul personally commanded a unit as a Jamadar and assisted the British government.
   • For his services, he was awarded the title Rai Bahadur in 1917.

6. Creation of Sub-Tehsil and District

   • In 1941, a sub-Tehsil for Lahaul and Spiti was created with headquarters at Keylong.
   • In 1960, the government of Punjab upgraded Lahaul-Spiti into a district with Keylong as its headquarters.

7. Transfer to Himachal Pradesh

   • In 1966, Lahaul-Spiti was transferred from Punjab to Himachal Pradesh as part of the reorganization of states.

Important Deities of Lahaul-Spiti

1. Deities in Lahaul-Spiti

   • Ghepang, Tangyur, Srowag, Zangdoulma, Dabla, and Mipusha are key deities worshipped by the tribal people of Lahaul-Spiti.
   • Bucheans are Lamas who entertain the people through performances, storytelling, and chanting legends.

2. Religious Beliefs in Lahaul-Spiti

   • Hinduism is dominant in the Lahaul sub-division, especially in the areas merged from Chamba district and the Pattan Valley.
   • Buddhism predominates in the Spiti sub-division.
   • The people of Lahaul-Spiti sought protection from the natural environment by worshipping mountain gods, with Shiva being particularly significant. Shiva’s trident is often seen over ornamental skulls in the region.

3. Pre-Buddhist Beliefs

   • Before the advent of Buddhism, the region practiced animistic beliefs, known as the religion of the valley, where the people worshipped nature, snakes (Lhu), demons, spirits, and other benevolent and malevolent deities.

4. Spread of Buddhism

   • Buddhism spread in Lahaul during the 11th century A.D., when Buddhist saints established new monasteries and repaired old ones.
   • Monasteries like Gumrang and Sissu were said to have been built during this time by the famous Buddhist scholar and translator Ringchen Zangpo.
   • The Lho-Drugpa and Drugpa sub-sects emerged in the 16th century and remain present today.

5. Buddhism's Introduction (8th Century)

   • The introduction of Buddhism in Lahaul-Spiti dates back to the 8th century, propagated by Padam Sambhava (Guru Rinpoche), a missionary from Udyana (near Kashmir).
   • Tibetan texts mention Padam Sambhava's visit to Mandi and Lahaul, where he preached Buddhism and founded shrines like Triloknath and Guru Ghantal.
   • Triloknath is said to have originally been a Shiva temple but later became a significant Buddhist site, with the white marble image of Avalokiteshvara attributed to Padam Sambhava.

6. Tabo Monastery

   • In the Spiti valley, the Tabo Monastery is also believed to have been established under the patronage of Padam Sambhava during the 8th century, reinforcing the region’s Buddhist identity.