Tehri Estate : History of Uttarakhand

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Tehri Garhwal gets its name from the presence of a number of forts built by the Panwar dynasty rulers in old days. It had been an epicenter of politics and economics of Uttarakhand since ages. It is surrounded by Uttarkashi district in the north, Rudraprayag in the east, Pauri Garhwal in the south and Dehradun district in the west.

Tehri Garhwal is considered one of the sacred hill districts of Uttarakhand. It is made up of two words Tehri and Garhwal. Tehri has been derived from ‘Trihari’, which signifies a place that washes away all three types of sins born out of thought (mansa), word (vacha) and deed (karmana), and the other part ‘Garh’ means a country fort or glen. Many historians believe that there were 52 garhs or forts in Garhwal but a new study shows that there were more than 160 garhs, says Bhawani Pratap Singh Panwar, custodian of Purana Darbar House, Tehri. The Muni-ki-Reti and Tapovan areas in the district were known places of penance for saints in ancient times.

Devprayag on the confluence of the sacred Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda is a small town of great religious importance in the district. Devprayag was known for the Raghunath temple that was built in the 12th and 13th century. The temple was damaged in an earthquake in 1803 but Daulat Rao Scindia restored it, according to Yashwant Singh Katoch, editor of the book “Garhwal ka Itihas” written by Pandit Harikrishan Raturi.

Raturi says the royal family of Tehri Garhwal belongs to the ancient Panwar clan of Rajputs. Kanak Pal, the progenitor of their family line, arrived in Garhwal from Dhar, Malwa, in 688 AD. Before 688 AD, the whole of the Garhwal region was divided into small ‘garhs’ruled by independent kings known as Rana, Rai or Thakur etc. It is said prince Kanak Pal before reaching Garhwal created a small hamlet near Saharanpur known as Gangoh. According to British writer GRC Williams, the numismatic records reveal that Kanak Pal was the younger brother of King Vakpati and was known as Gang. Hence the name of the hamlet Gangoh, near Saharanpur.

Kanak Pal under the influence of a saint thought of renouncing the world and headed towards the Badrinath shrine in Chamoli district for penance and meditation. It is believed that the King of Chandarpur Garh, Bhanu Pratap, was in search of a groom for his daughter and came to know about Kanak Pal’s presence at the Badrinath shrine.

He rushed to the shrine and requested Kanak Pal to marry his daughter. Kanak Pal initially did not show interest but when he saw Bhanu Pratap’s daughter, he fell for her beauty and agreed to marry her.

Bhanu Pratap, satisfied with the outcome, handed over his kingdom to Kanak Pal and retired into the forests of Badrivan in Chamoli district and later died. Gradually, Kanak Pal and his descendants extended their empire by conquering all garhs and bringing petty nobles and tribal clans under their sway.

Raja Sohan Pal, the ruler who succeeded Kanak Pal, completed the task by establishing a degree of hegemony over most of Garhwal. However, it was Som Pal’s successor Ajay Pal who fully consolidated the gains and substantially expanded the kingdom.

Ajay Pal (or Purba Deo) ruled from 1500 to 1519 AD. He excelled as a warrior, administrator and scholar. He relentlessly waged wars against his neighbours and conquered 64 forts and subjugated 52 petty rulers. The only defeat Ajay Pal faced was at the hands of the king of Champawat, who had come right at the border of Badhaan and challenged his Sovereignty.

There are many legends about the royal family of Garhwal but the one that stands out is of Rani Karnavati, wife of King Mahipati Shah, who took over the throne after his death in 1631. She is known to have cut the noses of captured Mughal soldiers who attacked the kingdom of Garhwal. After Mahipati Shah’s death, his seven-year-old son Prithvi Shah was named the heir to the throne but as he was still a sibling, Rani Karnavati took charge and ruled Garhwal for many years with Srinagar as its capital.

According to historian Niccolao Manucci, Nazakat Ali Khan, the chieftain of the Mughal army of Shah Jahan, attacked Garhwal around 1635 AD. According to the book “Garhwal ka Itihas”, brave Rani Karnavati undeterred by the attack set up a camp at Ranihat. It is believed that Rani Karnavati fought the Mughal army soldiers with full strength and forced them to flee the battlefield. She punished the captured Mughal army soldiers in her own unique way by cutting their noses, say historians. It was after this nose cutting incident that Rani Karnavati came to be known as “Nak Kati Rani” (The Rani who cut the noses of Mughals).

French writer Tavernier also mentions the defeat of the Mughal army at the hands of Rani Karnavati who was able to keep her kingdom safe from invaders. She is also known to have ruled the kingdom ably as caretaker for five years.

Nose chopping made Rani Karnavati famous throughout the region. She was able to successfully defend the kingdom from the Mughals and other invaders for several years.

A painting depicting Rani Karnavati cutting the noses of Mughal army soldiers is still intact and available at the Amar Niwas guesthouse owned by Bhawani Pratap Singh at Dehradun. Bhawani Pratap is also the custodian of the Purana Darbar House of Archaeological and Archives Material Collection Trust. Purana Darbar refers to the old palace of the Garhwal kings when they shifted their capital to Tehri.

Tehri Garhwal is a region in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is located in the Garhwal Himalayas and is home to the Tehri Garhwal Kingdom, which was founded in the 11th century. The kingdom was ruled by a series of kings until it was annexed by the British in the 19th century. After independence, Tehri Garhwal became a part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. In 2000, Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh and Tehri Garhwal became a district of the new state.

The early history of Tehri Garhwal is not well-documented. However, it is believed that the region was inhabited by the Khasa people from the 6th century onwards. The Khasa were a warrior tribe who were known for their skills in horsemanship and archery. They were also skilled in agriculture and were able to cultivate the land in the harsh Himalayan Climate.

In the 11th century, the Katyuri dynasty came to power in Tehri Garhwal. The Katyuris were a Hindu dynasty who ruled the region for over 300 years. They were responsible for building many temples and palaces in the region. The Katyuri dynasty came to an end in the 14th century, when the region was invaded by the Muslim rulers of Delhi.

In the 16th century, the Chand dynasty came to power in Tehri Garhwal. The Chands were a Hindu dynasty who ruled the region for over 300 years. They were responsible for building many temples and palaces in the region. The Chand dynasty came to an end in the 19th century, when the region was annexed by the British.

The British ruled Tehri Garhwal for over 100 years. During this time, the region was developed and many new roads and schools were built. The British also introduced a number of reforms, including the introduction of a system of local self-government.

In 1947, India gained independence from British rule. Tehri Garhwal became a part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. In 2000, Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh and Tehri Garhwal became a district of the new state.

Tehri Garhwal is a beautiful and scenic region. It is home to a number of Mountains, including Nanda Devi, the highest mountain in India. The region is also home to a number of rivers, including the Ganges and the Yamuna. Tehri Garhwal is a popular tourist destination and is known for its natural beauty, its temples and palaces, and its culture.

The people of Tehri Garhwal are known for their hospitality and their love of music and dance. They are also known for their skills in agriculture and their ability to survive in the harsh Himalayan climate. The people of Tehri Garhwal are proud of their heritage and their culture. They are also proud of their region and its natural beauty.

Tehri Estate was a princely state in India that existed from the 16th century to 1949. It was located in the Garhwal Himalayas, and its capital was Tehri Garhwal. The state was ruled by the Tehri royal family, who were Rajputs. In 1949, Tehri Estate merged with the United Provinces to form the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Here are some frequently asked questions about Tehri Estate:

What was the capital of Tehri Estate?
Tehri Garhwal was the capital of Tehri Estate.
Who ruled Tehri Estate?
The Tehri royal family ruled Tehri Estate.
When did Tehri Estate merge with the United Provinces?
Tehri Estate merged with the United Provinces in 1949.
What is the current status of Tehri Estate?
Tehri Estate is no longer a separate state. It is now part of the state of Uttarakhand.

Here are some short answers about Tehri Estate:

Tehri Estate was a princely state in India that existed from the 16th century to 1949.
It was located in the Garhwal Himalayas, and its capital was Tehri Garhwal.
The state was ruled by the Tehri royal family, who were Rajputs.
In 1949, Tehri Estate merged with the United Provinces to form the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Tehri Garhwal is now a district in the state of Uttarakhand.

Here are some MCQs about the history of Uttarakhand:

Which of the following is not a state in the Indian Himalayas?
(A) Uttarakhand
(B) Himachal Pradesh
(C) Jammu and Kashmir
(D) Sikkim
The capital of Uttarakhand is:
(A) Dehradun
(B) Haridwar
(C) Mussoorie
(D) Nainital
The highest mountain in Uttarakhand is:
(A) Nanda Devi
(B) Kamet
(C) Manaslu
(D) Dhaulagiri
The major rivers in Uttarakhand are:
(A) Ganga
(B) Yamuna
(C) Alaknanda
(D) All of the above
The major languages spoken in Uttarakhand are:
(A) Hindi
(B) Garhwali
(C) Kumaoni
(D) All of the above
The major crops grown in Uttarakhand are:
(A) Rice
(B) Wheat
(C) Sugarcane
(D) All of the above
The major industries in Uttarakhand are:
(A) Tourism
(B) Hydroelectricity
(C) Agriculture
(D) All of the above
The major tourist attractions in Uttarakhand are:
(A) The Himalayas
(B) The temples of Haridwar and Rishikesh
(C) The Nainital Lake
(D) All of the above
The major festivals in Uttarakhand are:
(A) Holi
(B) Diwali
(C) Kumbh Mela
(D) All of the above
The major Sports in Uttarakhand are:
(A) Cricket
(B) Football
(C) Hockey
(D) All of the above
The major personalities from Uttarakhand are:
(A) Indira Gandhi
(B) Rajiv Gandhi
(C) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
(D) All of the above
The major events in the history of Uttarakhand are:
(A) The establishment of the Garhwal Kingdom in the 11th century
(B) The establishment of the Kumaon Kingdom in the 12th century
(C) The merger of the Garhwal and Kumaon Kingdoms into the United Provinces in 1900
(D) The formation of the state of Uttarakhand in 2000
The major challenges facing Uttarakhand are:
(A) POVERTY
(B) Illiteracy
(C) Unemployment
(D) All of the above
The major opportunities for Uttarakhand are:
(A) Tourism
(B) Hydroelectricity
(C) Agriculture
(D) All of the above
The future of Uttarakhand is:
(A) Bright
(B) Promising
(C) Challenging
(D) All of the above