History of Garh and Garhpati of South Garhwal

 History of Garhwal (1223- 1804 AD) –part -4

 History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -249

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Student)

                   Gangasalan, Talla Salan, Bhabhar (All in Pauri Garhwal), Narendra Nagar (Tehri Garhwal), Dehradun and Haridwar regions come under South Garhwal. There were maximum Garhs in this region. It is believed that there were at least 24 Garhs in South Garhwal including Haridwar. The folklores have been lost about many Garhs.

              For example, there is folklore about Dhang Garh (Jhaid, Talla Dhangu, Pauri Garhwal). It is said that there was a fort on top of Dhang Garh near Ganga bank where King used to live. It is believed by Jhaid villagers that there was water reservoir and many other facilities in fort. The enemy attacked on fort and the King buried his wealth /jewels and jewelries and handed over snakes to protect the wealth. The enemy killed the Dhang Garh king but could not take wealth of Dhangu King because of snake. Still is believed that now, if anybody enters the wealth area, snakes come to bite people. However, no historian mention about this folklore.

 The high numbers of Garhs in South Garhwal does not mean that there were twenty four rulers. It might be that one ruler or Garhpati might have more than one Garh or Garhi.

 Suntor Garh is in Dehradun. Kaulagarh was in between Vasantpur and Sahaspur of Dehradun district.

            Nalapani Garh or Khalangagad  (Dehradun) was very important Garh even in nineteenth century. After winning this Garh British won war against Gorakha.

There was Shergarh at Yamuna bank. Further to Shergarh there was Kani Garh. The regional commander of Shahjahan won this Garh.

Laldhang Garh was important Garh in Bhabhar. It had importance in Mogul period too.

Mordhwaj Garh is between Kotdwar and Nazibabad .

There are ruins of Garh in east part of Bhabhar.

                  History aspects of Garh in Haridwar  

            Nanorgarh was in between Haridwar and Rishikesh. There must be two or three Garh in present Haridwar district.

There are ruins of a fort in Veer Bhadra and is called Gadhwal Raja ka Kila. Chandighat was one of the important Garh in Haridwar. There are ruins of a Garh near to Chandighat Haridwar.

  There must be Garh or fort in or near Manglaur too in twelfth century.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com20/1/2014

                                      References

1-Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, 1971, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag-4, Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda, Pauri Garhwal, India 

2-Harikrishna Raturi, Garhwal ka Itihas

3-Dr. Patiram, Garhwal ancient and Modern

4-Rahul Sankrityayan, Garhwal

5- Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore

6- Bhakt Darshan, Garhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan

7-Foster, Early Travels in India William Finch

8-Upadhyaya, Shri Shankaracharya

9-Shering, Western Tibet and British

10-H.G. Walton, Gazetteer of British Garhwal

11-B.P.Kamboj, Early Wall Paintings of Garhwal

12-H.g Walton, Gazetteer of Dehradun

13- Vimal Chandra, Prachin Bharat ka Itihas

14-Meera Seth, Wall Paintings of Western Himalayas 

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter          

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -250  

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History of Garh and Garhpati of South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Talla Salan, South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Ganga Salan South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Bhabhar South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Dehradun South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Ninorgarh Haridwar South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Garhwali Raja ka Kila South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Mordhwaj South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Dhang Garh South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Mahab Garh South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Narendra Ngar South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Dhangu South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Langur South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Ajmer South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Udyapur South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Dabralsyun South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Manglaur South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun); History of Garh and Garhpati of Chandighat South Garhwal (including Haridwar and Dehradun);