History of Hindus taking Shelters in Garhwal Hills (including Haridwar)

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -36

                                            

 History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -281

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Student)

History of Hindus taking Shelters in Garhwal Hills (including Haridwar) due to Muslim Suppression

               Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in 1192 and captured Chauhan Kingdom and Hindu kings lost their Kingdom from Ganges to Brahmaputra. Muslim rulers were not only cruel and aggressive but they used to suppress the self esteem of opposite religious people. Though, Hindu people were brave but never liked to get their religion diluted.

 Due to rule of Muslims on North and Central India and parts of east India (Maghad), Hindus started taking shelters in forests and hills.  

            From the time of Muslim attacks, Hindus took shelters in hills of Garhwal including Haridwar, Bijnaur, and Saharanpur too.

             Hindus taking the Shelter in Western Garhwal (including Haridwar)

           According to Tabkat –i Nasiri (edited by Elliot and Dowson), there were a few strong rulers in Garhwal, Haridwar, Bijnaur  (Garhwal of that Period) were ruling Garhwal region and those rulers refused to be subordinating rulers under Muslim rulers of Delhi (1249-1449).

                 There must be twelve or thirteen rulers might have been ruling the Garhwal region. However, Muslim historians referred only three rulers of southwest Garhwal. Muslim rulers of Delhi used to attack on South-West Garhwal (today’s Bhabhar Garhwal, Haridwar, Dehradun and Bijnaur and part of Saharanpur). Those Muslim attackers used to attack, loot the region but could not rule the region.

               Attacks on Shivalik Hill Region

  There was a Muslim rule of Delhi on Ganges-Yamuna regions. The boundary of Delhi rules was touching south Garhwal (including Haridwar). The Muslim rulers were busy in expanding their rules on plains of India and they did not pay attention on hills of Garhwal.

             In 1211, Iltutmish the son in law of Kuttubdden ascended the  crown of  Delhi Kingdom. At the time of Kuttubdeen, Iltutmis was commander in chief of Bulandshahar (Baran).

                 Iltutmis had rule on Meerut and bordering region of Garhwal. The Hindu chieftains of Badayun, Farukhabad, Bareli used to rebel against Iltutmish. Iltutmish had to have wars several times with those chieftains of Badayun, Farukhabad, and Bareli.  

        In 1223, Krachala was ruler of Garhwal whose rule was expended to Bijnaur and Saharanpur. In 1227, Iltutmish attacked on Mandur Garh of Shivalik hills and looted properties and people.

             Today, there is no knowledge of exact location of Mandur Garh. There a a few places in Shivalik hills with the name as Mandal, Maandal, Mandalaa. These names are similar to Mandur. There are ruins of fort in Danda Mandal 8-9 Kilometers in east of Haridwar. According to local folklore, a Shahi (Muslim) army destroyed the fort of Danda Mandal.  

            Historian Hague suggests that Mandavar Garh of Bijnaur is the fort that was attacked by Iltutmish.

          According to Tabkat –i-Nasiri and Farishta, Iltutmish won over Shivalik territory. The Shivalik shrine is extended for three hundred fifty kilometers. It is difficult to judge the exact location of Iltutmish rule on Shivalik hills. No mention is the time period of rule of Iltutmish on Dehradun or Shivalik hills.

        When Razia the daughter of Iltutmish took over Delhi rule , many ministers and nobles had conspiracy to dethrone Razia. One of conspirators was Junaidi . After exposure of conspiracy Junaidi took shelter with the ruler of Sirmaur (Dehradun region). That means Siramur or Dehradun was not under Razia or Iltutmish.

**History of Muslim Attacks on Garhwal, Dehradun, Haridwar to be continued …

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com5/3//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

(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 -282  

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… 

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History of Iltutmish attacking on Shivalik Hills; History of Iltutmish attacking on Dehradun; History of Iltutmish attacking on Sirmaur part of Garhwal; History of Iltutmish attacking on Haridwar region; History of Iltutmish attacking on Dada Mandal, Haridwar; History of Junaidi minister of Iltutmish taking shelter in Dehradun; Medieval History of Shivalik Hills .. History of Hindus taking Shelters in Garhwal Hills (including Haridwar)