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| Dharamshala village |
The history of the area that now constitutes Himachal Pradesh dates back to the time when the Indus valley civilization flourished between 2250 and 1750 BCE. Tribes such as the Koilis, Halis, Dagis, Dhaugris, Dasa, Khasas, Kinnars and Kirats occupied the region from pre-historic era. During the Vedic period, several small republics known as "Janapada" existed which were later conquered by the Gupta Empire. After a brief period of supremacy by king Harshavardhana, the region was once again divided into several local powers headed by chieftains, as well as some Rajput principalities. These kingdoms that enjoyed a large degree of freedom were confounded by Muslim invaders a number of times. Mahmud Ghaznavi under enemy control Kangra at the beginning of the 10th century. Timur and Sikander Lodi also marched through the lower hills of the state and captured a number of forts and fought many battles. Numerous hill states recognized Mughal suzerainty and paid regular honor to the Mughals.
The Gurkhas, a martial tribe came to power in Nepal in the year 1768. They consolidated their military power and began to expand their territory. Gradually the Gorkhas annexed Sirmour and Shimla. With the headship of Amar Singh Thapa, Gorkhas laid siege to Kangra. They managed to defeat Sansar Chand, the ruler of Kangra, in 1806 with the help of many regional chiefs. However Gorkhas could not capture Kangra fort which came under Maharaja Ranjeet Singh in 1809. After the defeat the Gorkhas began to get bigger towards the south of the state. The revolt of 1857 or first Indian war of independence resulted due to the structure up of political, social, economic, religious and military grievances against the British government. People of the hill states were not as politically active as the people in other parts of the state. Some of them even rendered help to the British government during the revolt. Among them were the rulers of Chamba, Bilaspur, Bhagal and Dhami. The rulers of Bushars rather acted in a manner aggressive to the interests of British.
The British territories in the hill came under British Crown after Queen Victoria's declaration of 1858. The states of Chamba, Mandi and Bilaspur made good progress in many fields during the British law. During World War I, virtually all rulers of the hill states remained faithful and contributed to the British war effort both in the form of men and materials. Amongst these were the states of Kangra, Jaswan, Datarpur, Guler, Nurpur, Chamba, Suket, Mandi and Bilaspur
After freedom the Chief Commissioner's Province of Himachal Pradesh came into being on 15 April 1948 as a result of integration of 28 petty princely states (including feudatory princes and zaildars) in the promontories of the western Himalaya, known in full as the Shimla Hills States & four Punjab southern hill States by issue of the Himachal Pradesh (Administration) Order, 1948 under Sections 3 & 4 of the Extra-Provincial authority Act, 1947 (later renamed as the Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947 vide A.O. of 1950). The State of Bilaspur was combined in the Himachal Pradesh on 1 April 1954 by the Himachal Pradesh and Bilaspur (New State) Act, 1954. Himachal Pradesh became a Union Territory on 1 November 1956. Following area of Punjab State namely Simla, Kangra, Kulu and Lahul and Spiti Districts, Nalagarh tehsil of Ambala District, Lohara, Amb and Una kanungo circles, some area of Santokhgarh kanungo circle and some other particular area of Una tehsil of Hoshiarpur District besides some parts of Dhar Kalan Kanungo circle of Pathankot tehsil of Gurdaspur District; were merged with Himachal Pradesh on 1 November 1966 on enactment of Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 by the Parliament. On 18 December 1970, the State of Himachal Pradesh Act was passed by Parliament and the new state came into being on 25 January 1971. Thus Himachal emerged as the eighteenth state of the Indian Union.
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| Shimla Church |
It is said that the spot now occupied by Shimla was a sea on whose surface icebergs floated, melted and dropped the stones which they carried on their surface, or entrenched in their substance.
In 1804 the Gurkhas who suffered a defeat on the hands of the Sikhs at the battle of Kangra, commenced to devastate the states and the hills surrounding Shimla. The Gurkhas built several forts in Baghal state. Jagatgarh now known as Jutog and Sabathu, Dhami, and one on the hill of Sanjouli bazaar were some of the fortresses built by them. The invaders had occupied all posts between Jumna and Sutlej, and from their capital of Arki ravaged the neighbouring hill states.
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| Shimla |
Following to the demand of the people, and out of necessity for their own welfare the British fought with the Gorkhas in 1815. With their army of 3000 men, and aided by a preponderance of the hill chiefs they overtook the Gorkhas. Many of the Gorkhas attached the British forces upon being conquered where they faithfully served the British army. Sir David Ochterlony satisfied the hill chiefs with the restoration of their land, rights and privileges.
The Maharaja of Patiala gave the British Sabathu, Kotegarh, The village on the base of Kalka and the forces posts of Kasauli. 1st Gurkha rifles was formed when the lost soldiers showed an interest towards serving the British Army in these military posts occupied by the British.
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| Kangra fort |
The Kangra Fort situated at a 20 KM distance from Dharamsala on the out start of the Kangra Town. The fort is entered through a small courtyard enclose between two gates which are known as Patak and only date from the Sikh period, as appears from an dedication over the entance. These gates possess no archaeological interest. From here a long and tapered passage leads up to the top of the Fort through the Ahani and Amiri Darwaza, both credited to Nawab Alif Khan, the first governor of Kangra.