Kholian Bala - History

History

History of early human settlement in Kholian Bala goes to prehistoric age of civilization in Dor valley. There is no such archeological research of any importance in this regard after remains traced in Manikrai on right bank of Dor. In Kholian Bala there are ruins in Choi area where the villagers dig to lay foundations for a new building they find earthen wares and scarcely ornaments or broken pieces of domestic goods. This connects the tract with Dor valley civilization of prehistoric ages. There is no valuable archeological research throughout Hazara after Sir John Marshall and his team in 1925. Everyone knows in Haripur that at many occasions there were golden and silver coins found in Manikrai and smuggled to black markets. No doubt this is great loss for nation, and no one is responsible for this in Pakistan. Traces of village sites, historical research as well as geographical aspects uniform it to Gandahara age of second century BC to 5th century AD. Prior to this, Ashoka the Great, during the kingship of his father has been governor in this region. Rock edicts by Ashoka in Mansehra are at the distance of 45 km from here and the (then) provincial capital city of Taxila is also at the distance of about 45 km Villagers tell stories about Raja Rasalu, a legendary Hero of second century AD. They also tell stories about his beloved wife Rani Konklan and a Rakshis defeated by the Raja. Folk legends say that there is Raja Rasalu da ranjata (stone used as an arrow)in the mid of River Dor. The region including Kholian entered in medieval ages of Hindu supremacy and Hiuen Tsang crosses Dor valley through village carvanserai. It was the time of Harasha's empire in Kashmir and Kholian seems a carvanserai on left bank of Dor. Hiuen Tsang hosted by King Harsha describes the Kingdom of Woo-la-she (Urasha) near Mangal stream at the distance of about 30 km from from here. It is remarkable that Mangal is place with ruins and a graveyard of later ages, similar to Kholian Bala and this leads to trace connection or similarity among both the locations on Grand Trunk Road to Kashmir. Being a nearest place, village has been under influence of Taxilian empires more than Kashmir and Swat states. Although the village has been part of Gandhara civilization but there are no traces of any importance found in the tract connecting it with Buddhism or Gandhara civilization but it does not mean that the village or location has been much away fron shadows of Buddhism once a great religion of the region which lasted its supermacy up to the end of 5th century A.D. It is said that it was the time of Hunas invasion to Northern India after which the region became under influence of Hinduism. In the fourth decade of seventh century A.D Chines pilgrim Hiuen Tsang crossed village on his way to King Harsha's court in Srinagar. People inhabiting in the region are called learned by Hiuen Tsang. It was the time of Hindu supermacy in the region also described by Kalhana in Rajatarangini, according to his chronicles this lasts up to his time in mid of twelfth century A.D. It is remarkable that the region including village has been intact by Mehmood of Ghazni during his invasions to India but as per latter cronicles the region is not spared by Taimoor's army from central Asia. It is considered that Taimoor on his way back to Central Asia settled his tribesmen in Hazara specially in Pakhli (Mansehra) tract of Hazara. There is a tribe claiming to be of Turk origin in Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra districts which is a dying race in hazara throughout and not a single family of such a tribe inhabits here in Kholian Bala. This is the time of pre-Muhgal era the history turns to modern ages. In the very first beginning of this era anarcy spread in Hazara and Moughals lost their rule and Afghans rose with swords in their hands. When lower(Chach Hazara)and upper Hazara (Pakhli) as well as Kashmir became under their sway the Abdalis used to collect every kind of wealth on their way to Qandhar and Kabul.