History of Anonymous Brave, Strong, Prosperous Karachal King in Muhammad -bin- Tughluq Period

 History of Bloodsheds in East Garhwal (1337-1424) –art II

           History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -42

                                            

 History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -288

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

                The African traveler Ibn Battuta provides some descriptions of a Himalayan Kingdom named Karachal in the period of Tughluq dynasty rule in Delhi (Elliot and Dowson). 

              The Karachal King was brave, bold and strong. The prosperity of Karachal was enormous. The kingdom was prosperous due to gold mines, food, animals, forest produces. The Karachal king was well versed with diplomacy and was wise in using it. The Karachal King was smart in war principles uses. He used to flank, used to act as guerrilla. When the period is not suitable the king used to make treaty. However, Ibn Battuta did not mention the name of Karachal King.

     His travelogue suggests that Delhi Sultanate army attacked on Garhwal –Kumaon kingdoms or Kingdom. The confusion is that whether there was only one king ruling over Kumaon-Garhwal or the region was ruled by many Kings in 1338. Though, there is one rock inscription in Baijnath temple (Kumaon) of 1339 that refers the name of Jaychand and his son Brahmpal.

         Reasons for Delhi Sultanate Attacking on Karachal (Garhwal-Kumaon)

              The historians offer many reasons for Delhi Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq attacking one Garhwal-Kumaon (Karachal).

   Historian Mahdi Husain offers the reference of Burny that Muhammad Tughloq wanted to attack on Kharsan and for getting safe road he attacked on Karachal. However, Karachal was not in between Delhi and Kharsan.

            Farishta suggested that Sultan wanted to attack on China and Karachal was in between Delhi and China.

        Hazi Dabir argued that Sultan had interest to capture women from Karachal for his harem.

   The modern historians suggest that Delhi Sultan Muhammad Tughluq wanted to create safe boundaries for his rule as Garhwal-Kumaon chieftains used to provide shelter to rebellions of Delhi Sultanate.

*** Read about bloodsheds in East Garhwal in next chapter

** Main references for this chapter – Elliot and Dowson

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com13/3//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 

15-Furar, Monumental Antiquities

16-Haudiwala, Studies in Indo-Muslim History

17- Rahul Khari 2007, Jats and Gujjar Origin, History and Culture

18- Upendra Singh, 2006, Delhi: Ancient History, Barghahan Books

19- B.S. Dahiya, 1980, Jats the Ancient Rulers (A Clan Study) , Sterling Publications

20- Maithani, Bharat –Gotrapravardeepika

21 Prem Hari Har Lal, 1993, The Doon Valley Down the Ages

22-Dashrath Sharma, Early Chauhan Dynasties

23- Shailndra Nath Sen, Ancient History and Civilization

24-H.M Elliot, 1867, The History of India as told by its Own Historians

25- Jaswant Lal Mehta, 1979, Advance Study in Medieval India

(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 -289  

Notes on Early Medieval History of Garhwal; Early Medieval History of Pauri Garhwal; Early Medieval History of Chamoli Garhwal; Early Medieval History of Rudraprayag Garhwal; Early Medieval History of Tehri Garhwal; Early Medieval History of Uttarkashi Garhwal; Early Medieval History of Dehradun, Garhwal; Early Medieval History of Haridwar ; Early Medieval History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  Early Medieval History of Rurkee Haridwar ; Early Medieval History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; History of Haridwar district to be continued…  

Xx

       Notes on History of Anonymous Brave, Strong, and Prosperous Karachal King in Muhammad -bin-Tughluq Period; History of Anonymous Brave, Strong, and Prosperous Karachal King (Garhwal) in Muhammad -bin-Tughluq Period; History of Anonymous Brave, Strong, and Prosperous Karachal King (Kumaon) in Muhammad -bin-Tughluq Period; History of Anonymous Brave, Strong, and Prosperous Karachal King (Dehradun) in Muhammad -bin-Tughluq Period; History of Anonymous Brave, Strong, and Prosperous Karachal King (Haridwar  in Muhammad -bin-Tughluq Period; History of Anonymous Brave, Strong, and Prosperous Karachal King (Bhabhar) in Muhammad -bin-Tughluq Period