Capital Shrinagar in Pal / Shah Dynast in Garhwal

Administration, Social and Cultural Characteristics History of Garhwal in Shah Dynasty -7

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -196      

   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -444 

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

   Shrinagar at Alaknanda bank was the capital of Garhwal Kingdom from Ajay Pal to Pradyuman Shah Period.

             The climate for health was not so conducive in summer and rainy season in Shrinagar. However, being on the main route of Haridwar –Badrinath; water availability, Alaknanda crossing facilities, fertile land in nearby regions, Garhwal Kings opted for Shrinagar as capital. The place e was also safe from all directions.

              The capital was 10-12 Feet above the Alaknanda River surface. The capital was in elliptical shape and had area of ¾ mile by ¾ mile.

          There was no planning at the time of establishing Shrinagar as capital. The houses were two stories building built by mud and stone and roofed by gray colored flat stones. There were shops and godown  on ground floors and people used to live in first or second floor. There was not much distinction among the archeological structure of houses. Stone balconies were on each house. The streets were very congested and two persons could not walk together.

 The Gadhi  was in east of Shrinagar. There was Gorakhnath Temple near Fort or Gadhi. Multistoried Palace was in the middle of Shrinagar.

 There were many temples as Kamleshwar, Shankarmath, Bhairav, Garud, Keshoray temple are still there in Shrinagar. Gorakhnath Temple, Jain Temple and other Math or temples flew away in a flood and the capital was totally destroyed in earth quake.

                             The Court in Shrinagar

       The multistoried building court was called ‘Darbar’.  The records and other offices were there in the court.

  The court in second floor, used to start at 9.30 AM till 3.30PM. Then there was evening session from evening till mid night. The second session used to be entertaining session for elite. King, Mukhtyar, Bisht, Raur, Negi, Ministers, Goldar , Dharmadhikari used to attend both the session.

       In entreating session or Majlish,  there used to be storytelling, poetry reading, song, dances and jokes.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com30/9/2014

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -445

(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; South Asian 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, History of Characteristics of Garhwal Kings Shah dynasty ,  to be continued