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The region of Himachal Pradesh was called 'Deva Bhoomi '
(the land of the
gods). From the early period of its history it was inhabited by tribes like the
Koilis, Halis, Dagis, Dhaugris, Dasa, Khasas, Kinnars and Kirats. The Aryan
influence in  this area of India dates to the period before the
Rigveda. Sankar Varma, the king of Kashmir exercised his influence over regions of Himachal
Pradesh in about 883 AD. This region witnessed the invasion of Mahmud of Ghazni in
1009AD, who during that period invaded
and looted the wealth from the temples in the North of India. In about 1043AD
the Rajputs ruled over this territory. Known for its vibrant and exquisite
natural scenery it received the royal patronage of the Mughal rulers who erected
several works of art as an appreciation of this land. In 1773 AD the Rajputs
under Sansar Chand possessed this region, till the attack by Maharaja Ranjit
Singh in 1804 which crushed the Rajput power here. The
Gurkhas who migrated from Nepal captured this area and devastated it. In about
the early 19th century the British exercised their influence and annexed the
areas of Shimla after the Gurkha War of 1815-16. It became a centrally administered
territory in 1948 with the integration of 31 hill states and received additional regions added to it in 1966.
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