History
| Chota Char Dham | |
|---|---|
| Kedarnath | Badrinath |
| Gangotri | Yamunotri |
The Garhwal Himalayas have nurtured civilization from the wee hours of history. It appears to have been a favorite locale for the voluminous mythology of the Puranic period. The traditional name of Garhwal was Uttarakhand and excavations have revealed that it formed part of the Mauryan Empire.
The earliest reference regarding Garhwal and its pride spots are cited in the Skanda Purana and the Mahabharata in the Van Parva. Skanda Purana defines the boundaries and extend of this holy land. It also finds mention in the 7th-century travelogue of Huen Tsang. However, it is with Adi Shankaracharya that the name of Garhwal will always be linked, for the great 8th-century spiritual reformer visited the remote, snow-laden heights of Garhwal, established a Joshimath and resorted some of the most sacred shrines, including Badrinath and Kedarnath. The history of Garhwal as one unified whole began in the 15th century, when king Ajai Pal merged the-52 separate principalities, each with its own garh or fortress. For 300 years, Garhwal remained one kingdom, with its capital at Srinagar (on the left bank of Alaknanda river). Then Pauri and Dehradun were perforce ceded to the Crown as payment for British help, rendered to the Garhwalis during the Gurkha invasion, in the early 19th century.
The earliest ruling dynasty of Garhwal known is of the Katyuris. The Katyuri Raja of Uttarkhand (Kumaon and Garhwal) was styled, Sri Basdeo Giriraj Chakara Churamani, and the earliest traditions record that the possessions of Joshimath Katyuris in Garhwal extended from Satluj as far as Gandaki and from the snows to plains, including the whole of Rohilkhand. Tradition gives the origin of their Raj at Joshimath in the north near Badrinath and subsequent migration to Katyur Valley in Almora disctrict, where a city called Karthi-Keyapura was founded.
Katyuris ruled Uttarkhand up to the 11th century and in certain pockets even after their decline.In Garhwal their disruption brought into existence many independent chiefs, fifty-two in number. One of the important principalities in that period was that of Parmars, who held their sway over Chandpur Garhi or Fortress. Katyuris ruled Uttarkhand up to the 11th century and in certain pockets even after their decline. In Garhwal their disruption brought into existence many independent chiefs, fifty-two in number. One of the important principalities in that period was that of Parmars, who held their sway over Chandpur Garhi or Fortress. Kanak Pal was progenitor of this dynasty. Raja Ajay Pal, a scion of the parmars in the 14th century is credited with having brought 52 of these chiefs under his rule. After his conquest Ajay Pal's domain was recognised as Garhwal owing to exuberance of forts. It is possible that after annexing all principalities, Raja Ajay Pal must have become famous as Garhwala, the owner of forts and with the passage of time his kingdome came to be known as Garhwal
Read more about this topic: Garhwal Division
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