History Of Lahaul & Spiti District (Himachal Pradesh)

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It is bordered in north by Jammu and Kashmir, Tibet in east and Kullu and Kinnaur south-east and Chamba in south- west and west.
District is surrounding by high mountains on all sides, the Great Himalayas to the north, the Pir Panjal to the south.

HISTORY OF LAHAUL & SPITI

Before Hieun-Tsang's visit Lahaul was controlled by Kullu, Kunindas and Brampura (Chamba).

Hieun-Tsang noticed Lahaul as country by the name of La- Hu-La and area of Spiti was ruled by Sen King. One of the earliest known rulers was Samudra Sen. During the reign of Rajendra Sen; Kullu became tributary to Spiti for a short period.
During the reign of Chet Sen in 7th century Spiti was annexed by Ladakhi king "Skyid-Lde-Ni-Ma Mgon". It is said that during the strong rule of Ladakh, Spiti was an integral part of the Ladakh and during rule it was autonomous state.
Lha-Chen Utpala (1080-1110 AD), king of Ladakh, invaded Kullu and Raja of Kullu promised to pay tribute in kind of iron and "Mdsos" called "Zo" it is cross breed between Yak and cow. But Mdsos is not found in Kullu and King of Kullu used to bring Mdsos from Lahaul
. King Utpala was responsible for the conversion of Marikula Devi temple into shrine of Marachi Vajra Varah.
Kullu and Chamba always aspired to make control over Lahaul and Spiti. One possible reason which strengthens this belief is that in early time both Kullu and Chamba had their capitals nearest Lahaul i.e. "Nast" and "Brampur" respectively.
During Ladakhi Raja Utpala Lahaul was not under the control of Kullu and Chamba, till 1532-1559 AD when Bahadur Singh became Raja of Kullu, who acquired Lahaul.
It is said that when Kullu succeeded acquire Lahaul, Chamba was in alliance with Kullu because the three daughters of Kullu Raja were married to Partap Singh Varman (1564-1582) who was son of Ganesh Varman. The image of Marikula Devi at Marikul-Udaipur was set up during the reign of Chamba king Partap Singh Varman by Thakur Himpal.
It is said that architect who constructed Marikula Devi temple was the same who built Hidimba (Doongri) Temple in Manali during the reign of Bahadur Singh in 1553.
In order to prevent the artist ever making a duplicate of Hidimba temple Kullu Raja ordered to cut the architect's right hand but the gifted artist trained his left hand and executed an even finer piece of carving at Mrikula.
Since the reign of Bahadur Singh, Kullu ruled over Lahaul till both Kullu by the Sikh.
During the control of Kullu over Lahaul there were petty chiefs who were called RGyalpos and Jo (village headman).
In 1683 Ladakh was invaded by "Qalaaqs" (Mangols), the cause of war was a conflict in Tibet between two religious sects of "Dug-pa (Red-Hat)" and Gelugpa (yellow-hat). Ladakh took the side of "Dugpas". The Gelugpa invited the Mangols for their help and invaded Ladakh.
Simultaneously Mangol invaded Lahaul as its Lamas were followers of "Dugpa sect". This invasion is remembered in Lahaul as Sog-po (Mangol invasion).
The Mangol army stayed in Lahaul for two years; acquired the fort of "Keylong" and was then annihilated by glacier near "Tinan"
Bidhi Singh (1672-1688) of Kullu helped Mughals when they were invited by Ladakhis under the leadership of "Fidai Khasn" against Mangols. For this assistance Mughals rewarded Bidhi Singh with the annexation of the upper portion of the upper Lahaul.
In Lahaul "Thirot" remained dividing boundary between Kullu and Chamba which was decided during the reign of "Bidhi Singh".
Raja Man Singh (1688-1719) of Kullu in about 1700 had boundaries with Ladakh fixed at "Lingti".
After Tibetan-Ladakhi and Mughal war of 1681-83, Spiti was nominally under Ladakh. Raja Man Singh took the advantage of this and took control over Spiti and forced her to pay tribute.
Man Singh built the "Gondhla Fort" which was called "Rani- Ki-Kothi".
During the time of Raja Tedhi Singh of Kullu when no goldsmiths were able to manufacture a golden parasol required to Raghunath Ji. Then a goldsmith "Phuntson" was called from Lahaul.
During the time of Raja Pritam Singh (1767-1806), Lahaul anny under "Gepanglha" was supported against Mandi at "Bajaura" and Mandi was defeated in the battle.
When Moorcraft passed through Lahaul in 1820 he found that four villages i.e. Barkalanak, Mooling, Shipting and Gus were still paying revenue to the state of Ladakh which was stopped by Britishers in 1862.
In those days "Tandi" was the capital of Lahaul where administrators and representatives of Raja of Kullu govem from.
During this time "Baliram of Phurah" was judge who had office at Tandi, he did not fine the culprits but he tied them to a tree and then flogged.
In 1840, Sikh army subjugated Mandi state and Kullu Raja was captured who died in 1841 at "Shangri". At that time along with Kullu, Lahaul also came under direct control of Sikh.
When Cunningham visited Lahaul in 1839, he found it already under Sikh and Zorawar Singh, governor of Ladakh controlled the trade between Lahaul and Ladakh. His tax system was found very oppressive by people.
In 1841, Zorawar Singh attacked Tibet, but could not stand powerful against Tibet and was killed.
In 1842, when Tibetan army moved toward Ladakh but they were defeated by forces of "Gulab Singh" in Dec. 1842 and their general "Sukhang" was taken prisoner.
In 1846 by the treaty of Amritsar, between Gulab Singh and British, hill area of Punjab was given to Gulab Singh but area of Lahaul and Spiti remained under British control.
Area lying below "Thirot" remained under Chamba, after the annexation of Lahaul to British territory. This area was known as "Chamba Lahaul" and rest was called British Lahaul.
After annexation of Lahaul and Kullu by Britishers, Lahaul was made part of Kullu sub-division which was under the charge of an assistant commissioner who worked under the deputy commissioner of Kangra district whose headquarters was at Dharamshala.
Highest officer of Lahaul was "Negi" who was responsible to collect revenue. "Negi" had his headquarters at "Keylong" where he worked as an honorary Magistrate and jurisdiction was extending throughout Lahaul.
Negi was responsible for arranging 'Begar' and forced labour.
Bali Ram was the first Negi of Lahaul appointed by British government and Thakur Tara Chand of Khangsar was appointed the next Negi. After this, the post remained hereditary till 1941, when a Naib Tehsildar was appointed.
In 1849 "Major Hay" assistant commissioner of Kullu went to Spiti and took over hereditary Wazir of Spiti who was called "Nono" was granted a jagir.
In 1873, Nono was formally vested with honorary magisterial power.
During the First World War 1914-1918 Wazir Amir Chand of Lahaul helped the British government and took command in person as "Jamadar", for this valuable service he was given the title of "Rai Bahadur" in 1917.
In 1941 a sub-Tehsil of Lahaul and Spiti was created with headquarters at Keylong.
In 1960, the government of Punjab converted Lahaul-Spiti area into a district with headquarters at Keylong.
In 1966, it was transferred to Himachal Pradesh.