History Of Kullu District (Himachal Pradesh)

|| History Of Kullu District (Himachal Pradesh)|| Brief History Of kullu District (Himachal Pradesh)||kullu distt History In English ||kulluDistrict Hitsory for HAS & PSC Exams||

Kullu is bordered by Lahaul-Spiti and Kangra in north and north-east, Kinnaur and Shimla in cast and south-cast.

History of kullu Distt

Colonel A.P.F Harcourt in his book "Kooloo, Lahaul and Spiti" has written about Kullu history. In ancient time Kullu was ruled by "Seven Wazirs". Kullu proper came under Waziri parol and track between Parbati and Sainj Nullah came under Baziri Rupi.

Original name of Kullu was Kuluta which is mentioned in Vishnu Purana, Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Rajtarangini.

Hiuen Tsang (630-644) visited India described the country as Kiulute.
Nirmand plate of 7th century which was granted by Raja Samudra Sen whose identity has not yet been fully found.
In traditional folklore Kullu was originally known by the name of "Kulantpitha" which means last point of inhabited world.
Ancient Tibetan chronicle "Gyalrabs" book on the kings and a Kashmiri chronicle "Jonaraja" also talked about Kullu.
Founder of Kullu was Bihangmani Pal is said to come from Prayag (Allahabad) accompanied by Rani, Purohit Udai Ram and his son Pachch Pal.
During struggle against petty chief he was living in the house of Chapai Ram at Jagat Sukh.
After death of Bihangmani Pal he was succeeded by his son Pachch Pal who continued the conquest with the 'Rana" and "Thakuras" and consolidated kingdom.

Rajender Pal :

During his reign there was a small state name "Kothi Barsai" between Jagatsukh and Naggar whose chief Surat Chand died without male heir leaving only daughter named Rup Sundari.
Rajender Pal took it as an opportunity to acquire "Kothibarsai" by force but could not succeed and later Raja Sent marriage proposal to Rup Sundari which was accepted by her.

Visal Pal:

Since beginning till Visal Pal, capital of Kullu was "Nast", also known as Jagat Sukh.
During his time Naggar was under a Rana named Karam Chand with whom Raja fought a war in which Rana was killed.

Visud Pal : During his reign capital was shifted from Nast to Naggar.

Rudra Pal : During his reign Spiti Raja Rajender Sen attacked Kullu and paid tribute yearly.

Prasid Pal: He was Grandson of Rudra Pal.

Decided not to pay tribute to Spiti Raja which caused a battle between Prasid Pal and Spiti, in which Prasid Pal emerged victorious.

Sri Dateshwar Pal: During 700 AD Chamba ruler Meru Varman invaded Kullu state and in a battle Dateshwar Pal was killed. Now his first son Amar Pal took command. He was also killed and his second son Shital Pal fled to Bushahr state. Shital Pal and his five descendants could not regain their state from Chamba.

Sri Jareshwar Pal : He succeeded to regain his kingdom when Chamba was attacked by Kiras or Tibetans. In battle, Raja of Chamba was killed.

Narad Pal: During his reign Kullu fought twelve year war against Chamba which was stopped by signing peace treaty. To celebrate peace Kullu invited people from Chamba but later great part of Chamba people and army was drowned in Beas by Kullu people.

Bhup Pal: He was contemporary of Bir Sen, founder of Suket state who attacked Kullu and made Bhup Pal prisoner and later he was released on a condition to pay tribute yearly.

Hast Pal-I: He was great son of Bhup Pal who was contemporary of Raja Bikram Sen, grandson of Bir Sen of Suket.

Bikram Sen went on pilgrimage to Haridwar and made his younger brother "Tribikram Sen" in charge of state, but after two years when Bikram Sen came back he found that his brother had cheated him by joining hands with Hast Pal against him. '
Bikram Sen sought help from Keonthel and a battle took place at "Jiuri" on the bank of Satluj, in which both Hast Pal and Tribikram were killed.

Surat Pal: He liberated his state from Suket during the reign of Lakshman Sen who was minor at that time.

Uchit Pal: He invaded Tibet but after his death Raja of Tibet Lhachen Utapala captured while performing his father's funeral ceremonies.

Kailash Pal: He was the last Raja of Kullu who used the surname of Pal and probably ruled till 1450. After him there seem to have no Raja in Kullu for about 50 years. After Kailash Pal Kullu was controlled by Suket, Ranas and Thakuras.

Sidh Singh (1500 AD): He founded new dynasty in Kullu after the gap of 50 years. It is assumed that he was descendant of Pal family.

Sidh Singh put forth great efforts to subdue the Ranas and Thakuras.
Jhinna Rana was a powerful chief ruled around Beas and above Jagatsukh. He had groom of Dagi caste who was known as "Muchiani" because of long moustache, Rana.
Jhinna had disliked for his moustache and ordered him to cut them, but he refused. Sidh Sen took advantage of this conflict between them and bribed "Muchiani" to kill the Rana
When Rani heard the news that Rana has been killed, she set fire to the fort, became sati with her all women including Muchiani's wife except one of Rana's wife who was pregnant at that time. These ladies are worshipped as Jogins (Goddess in Kullu),
After death of Rana, Raja Sidh Sen was succeeded in capturing Madankot and Manali.
He captured Baragarh fort which was under the control of Suket garrison.

Bahadur Singh:

Waziri Ruppi was still under the control of Suket and during his reign Ranas of Ruppi became part of Kullu again because Suketi Raja was notorious and arrogant,
Bahadur Singh's capital remained Naggar but he built his residence at Makarasa. It is said that Makarasa place was associated with Makas who was son of Vidura of Mahabharata, married to a daughter of Tandi (demon), chief of south of Rohtang Pass. Makas was brought up and taught by "Vayasa Rishi".
Bahadur Singh's three daughters married to Pratap Singh who was son of Chamba Raja Ganesh Varman.

Jagat Singh:

He annexed Lag area which was under the control of two Brother Jai Chand and Sultan Chand from whom he captured Sultanpur and shifted his capital from Naggar to Sultanpur in 1660. He captured outer Saraj area also.
During his reign a Brahmin Durga Datt residing at "Tippari" was said to have three pounds of pearls, when Raja was on his way to Manikaran, he ordered Brahmin to give him pearls but Brahmin refused when Raja sent his man before their arrival Brahmin set fire to his house and perished with whole family.
This incident caused guilt and restlessness to Raja. A brahmin came from Suket told him that sin of Brahmin's murder could be expanded only by bringing the image of 'Raghunath Ji' from Ayodhya, which was brought by Damodar Das (brahmin) in 1653 AD. On receiving the image Raja placed it on "Gaddi" after then Kullu Raja considered themselves subordinate of Raghunath Ji.

Man Singh (1688-1719 AD)

He invaded Mandi and conquered an area including "Darang Salt" mine.
He forced ruler of Ladakh to fix a boundary between Kullu and Ladakh at "Lingti Plain" and Spiti was made to pay tribute. By passing through Satluj he captured Shangri from Thakur.
He built a palace at Rath village.
Raja Man Singh was assassinated by Rana of Kumarsain with whose wife Raja had fallen love.

Raj Singh (1719-1731 AD): During his reign Guru Govind Singh visited Kullu to seek Raja's help against Muslim but Raja refused to help Guru.

Jai Singh: He was not in good term with his Wazir "Kalu of Diyar" and expelled him from country, Wazir raised revolt. Raja went Lahore to seek Mughal's viceroy support. Raja Shamsher Sen of Mandi took advantage of this and acquired Chauhar territory.

Raja Jai Singh did not return to Kullu, but went to Ayodhya, started living there to worship Raghunath Ji till death.

Pritam Singh :- During his reign in 1778 a combined force of Sansar Chand (Kangra), Shamsher Sen (Mandi) and Raj Singh (Chamba) attacked Kullu. They seized Banghal area and Wazir Bhag Chand was captured.

Bikram Singh (1806-1816 AD) In 1809 Kangra fort came under the possession of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who forced Kullu also to pay tribute, 1813 Sikh forced under Mokham Chand entered the Kullu valley by Dulchi Pass and asked for Rs. 50,000, when Raja refused to Pay, the Sikh army plundered the territory and forced Raja to fled to village "Sangla".

Ajit Singh (1816-41 AD) He was not legitimate son of Raja Bikram Singh. He was installed as Raja by Raja of Mandi.

Ajit's uncle Krishan Singh defeated him with the help of Kangra. But very soon Ajit Singh regained throne with the help of Mandi and his able Wazir Shoba Singh.
In 1816-17 he gave asylum to ex-Amir of Kabul "Shahshuja" when Raja Ranjit Singh Sent force to arrest him, but Raja Ajit Singh allowed him to escape for which Ranjit Singh imposed a fine of Rs. 80,000 on Raja.
To pay this heavy amount Ajit plundered Spiti and Lahaul's chief helped Kullu to raid Zanskar where they came up with heavy booty.
In 1820 Mr. Moorcraft was the first European to visit Kullu on his way to Ladakh.
In 1820 Kullu raised a trade dispute with Ladakh.
The case was brought for decision before Moorcraft. In his judgment Moorcraft found Kullu guilty of attacking neighbouring state in order to get money to pay Ranjit Singh.
In 1839 Sikh army under "Sindhanwala Chiefs" captured Ajit Singh and forced him to surrender the state. When Sikh army was returning back by outer Saraj and Basloh Pass where Kullu people ambushed, and they liberated their Raja. In clash approximately 1000 man of Sikh force were killed.
Raja took shelter in his old territory Shangri which was now under the control of Britisher where he died in 1841. Kullu state along with capital Sultanpur remained under the control of British.
Britisher granted Shangri to Ranbir Singh who was first cousin of Ajit Singh.
Sikh selected Thakur Singh, another cousin of Ajit Singh Raja of "Waziri Ruppi".
After first Anglo-Sikh war the hill country between the Satluj and Indus were ceded to British government and Kullu was also part of ceded territory. By Britishers, Spiti was separated from Ladakh and merged with Kullu.
Thakur Singh died in 1852 and succeeded by his illegitimate son Gayan Singh, Britishers withdrew all political power from him and gave title of Ral instead of Raja.
Shortly before 1857 Paratap Singh, son of Krishan Singh (Uncle of Raja Ajit Singh) appeared in Kullu, put forward his claim for 'Gaddi'. He was arrested by Major Hay and after trial was hanged at 'Dharamshala'.
Since 1846 AD Kullu became subdivision of Kangra and a separate district in 1963. Till 31st October 1966 it continued as part of Punjab.

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People of Kullu

The bulk population of the district comprises population of Hindu and Rajput (Kanets and Khasas), Buddhists and Sikhs. Schedule castes are called "Koli', Chamar and Dumna.
Non-Aryan people are also in districts. Their origin is associated with demon King Hidimb (Tandi), who's sister Hidimba married to Pandava son Bhima. From their union, Ghatotkatch was born.
According to Hiuen-Tsang there were about 20 Buddhist "Sanghams", mostly associated with "Mahayana".
Kullu has distinction of having the oldest democracy in the world in village "Malana" where old customs and conventions are held as high esteem than the rules of modern state. It is also believed that idol worship was first ever started in Kullu valley.

Manali

It is situated on the bank of river Beas below the mighty Pir Panjal range to the north and the Dhauladhar range in the East.
Manali derives its name from Manu-Alya (the house of Manu).
Below Manali flows the Manalsu stream, a tributary of Beas.

Upper Manali

The village Vashisht is named after Rishi Vashishta and is famous for its hot springs.
Ghoshal village named after Rishi Gautam and Vyasa.
The well known lake the Bhrigu is named after sage Bhrigu. He authored Bhrigu Shastra.
In past Manali was known as Dana Aghe.

Naggar

The castle built about 500 years ago is now under Himachal Tourism Department.
Near the castle is located a beautiful cottage and estate of the late Russian painter Nicholas Roerich. He visited India first time in 1923.
He liked Naggar so much that he returned in 1929 (stayed at Hall Estate). He resided there till death 1947.
Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru along with his daughter visited Nicholas Roerich in 1942.
The first lady of Indian screen Devika Rani and her husband Svetoslav Roerich often lived in estate too.
Devika Rani gave the Hall estate to the International Roerich Memorial Trust.
Devika Rani passed away in 1994. Roerich Art Gallery was established at Naggar.

|| History Of Kullu District (Himachal Pradesh)|| Brief History Of kullu District (Himachal Pradesh)||kullu distt History In English ||kulluDistrict Hitsory for HAS & PSC Exams||