Himachal Pradesh came into being as a centrally administered Chief Commissioner’s Province on April 15, 1948. It was made integrating 26 Shimla hill States and 4 Punjab hill states (a total of 30 erstwhile Princely States) with it’s headquarter in the historic building of British India Foreign Office at Shimla. At that time there were… Read More »
During the war with Gurkhas, the British had promised to give full independence to Hill states after the war is over. But after the war, the British didn’t fulfill their promises completely. Although they gave back the thrones of States to their respective Kings, they also kept many strategically important places under their occupation. British… Read More »
British & Gurkhas: Gurkhas together with Raja of Kahlur (Bilaspur) defeated Sansar Chand in 1806 A.D. In 1809 A.D. Amar Singh Thapa drove out Rana of Bhagal State (Presently in Solan District) and captured Arki. Amar Singh Thapa sent his son Ranzor Singh to attack Sirmaur. Raja Karam Prakash of Sirmaur had to run away… Read More »
Akbar sent his very able finance minister Todar Mal to build imperial demesne in Kangra and adjoining areas of Chamba. In this process, Chamba lost Rihlu, Chari, and Gharoh areas. Raja Pratap Singh Verman was the contemporary of Mughal Emperor Akbar. He was loyal to the Mughals. When Raja Surajmal of Nurpur took refugee in… Read More »
Sikhs: Guru Nanak visited Kangra, Jawalamukhi, Kullu, Sirmaur, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti. Fifth Sikh Guru Arjun Dev sent Bhai Kaliana to hill states to collect charity for the construction of Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple). Sixth Sikh Guru Hargovind Singh started the construction of Kiratpur on the land given gifted to him by the Raja of Kehlur… Read More »
Turks and the Kangra Hills: Mahmud Ghaznavi had invaded India 17 times. Anandpal a Shahi king of Trans Himalayas formed a confederacy of Himalayan rulers against Mahmud Ghaznavi. Anandpal had bad luck when his elephant ran away from the battlefield causing chaos in his army which resulted in his defeat against Mahmud Ghaznavi. Mahmud Ghaznavi… Read More »
इतिहास कमलाह फोर्ट (History of Kamlahgarh Fort): जिला मंडी के धर्मपुर उपमण्डल में स्थित कमलाह गढ़ रियासत का सबसे मजबूत अजय गढ़ है। यह किला मंडी से 101 किलोमीटर की दूरी पर स्थित है। किले की ऊंचाई लगभग 4500 फुट है तथा किले के ऊपरी भाग में कमलाहिया बाबा का मंदिर है। मंडी रियासत के… Read More »
Sources of History The history of Himachal Pradesh is obscure and does not give a clear picture since ancient times. The only available sources we have are some Archeological and Literary sources. They are coins, Vamshavalis, Inscriptions, Travelogues, and literature. They are discussed in detail below: Vamshavalis (Genealogical rolls): It includes the names of the… Read More »