History of Gorkhas/Nepali Attack on Ganga Salan Garhwal (Langurgarh)

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -181      

   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -429 

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

              Gorkhas or Nepali strategists in Kumaon did not follow the conventional path for attacking on Garhwal from Kumaon.  Nepali/Gorkha commanders of Kumaon called new well trained and well armed army from Nepal. It was necessary to cross Kaliganga at Brahmdev Mandi to reach Kathgodam from Nepal. The road from Almora via Chhakhata, Bhimtal, Tarai met here. From Brahm Dev Mandi the raod goes to Kashipur via Chilkiya (present Ramnagar) . From Ramnagar , the road goes to Bhabhar, Kotdwara , Salan Garhwal via Kalagarh by crossing Ramganga River. From Bhabhar, Kotdwara, road goes to Shrinagar via Dwarikhal, Langurgarh  (still today footpath road goes to Shrinagar via Dwarikhal).

  Another reason for taking the above rout was that ex-Kumaon King Mahendra Chand and his uncle Lal Singh tried to attack on Kumaon from Birgul in between Gangol Ppatti and Sipti Patti. Gorkha defeated Mahendra Chandra at Birgul. They tried to attack on Kumaon via Balkheri valley. Therefore, it was essential for Gorkhas to control Tarai –Bhabhar of kumaon too to stop invasion of Mahendra Chand. By attacking on Salan (South of Garhwal), it was easy to watch on South of Kumaon too.

            Gorkha Army Cordoning or Surrounding Langurgarh

  Due to Gorkha army reaching to South of Kumaon, Garhwal King kept an army at Langurgarh (Langur and near Dwarikhal, Goomkhal).  Langurgarh was very strong Garh or fort. There is Bhairav statue there. The slop from South (coming from Kotdwara or Duggadda) was aprotecting slop for Langurgarhi as soldiers could throw or push heavy stones to harm soldiers coming from slop to Langurgarh. The North Slop reaches to Nayar (near Satpuli, Banghat etc. There was water source too in Langurgarhi. The food supply could come from raskil, Barsudi, villages and other villages from Northern slop.

        Gorkha first planned to capture Abhedya (unwinnable) Langurgarh. They marched to Kotdwara, Bhabhar. When Nepal/Gorkha army attacked on Kotdwara Bhabhar, Garhwal Army did not resist. When Gorkha reached at the south valley of Langurgarh, in 1791, Garhwal army threw big stones on Nepal Army.  By hard work, Gorkha army reached to Langurgarh. It was not possible for Gorkha army to win there with Garhwal army. Nepal or Gorkha army surrounded Langurgarh and dug trench on another hill just opposite of Langurgarh (Kutalmanda) .  Garhwali army used to trap Gorkha soldiers by attacking them in one post and then used to get food etc from villages. Gorkha Army surrounded Langurgarh for one year but was unable to capture Langurgarh fort. Langurgarh was the door to reach Shrinagar.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com13/9/2014

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -430

(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 ….

XX                     

Notes on South Asian Modern Period  History of Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Pauri Garhwal; South Asian  Modern Period  History of Chamoli Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rudraprayag Garhwal;  South Asian Modern  History of Tehri Garhwal; Modern  History of Uttarkashi Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period  History of Dehradun, Garhwal;  Modern  History of Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rurkee Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; South Asian Modern Period  History of Haridwar district to be continued

XX

History of Gorkhas/Nepali Attack on Kotdwara, Ganga Salan Garhwal (Langurgarh); History of Gorkhas/Nepali Attack on Sheela Patti Ganga Salan Garhwal; History of Gorkhas/Nepali Attack on DuggaddaGanga Salan Garhwal; History of Gorkhas/Nepali Attack on dwarikhal Ganga Salan Garhwal; History of Gorkhas/Nepali Attack on madanpur Dhulgaon, Ganga Salan Garhwal; History of Gorkhas/Nepali Attack on Langur Patti Ganga Salan Garhwal;