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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. |
