This comprehensive chronology draws exclusively upon the historical events mentioned in the provided sources regarding Himachal Pradesh.
Chronology of Historical Events of Himachal Pradesh
Ancient and Classical Period (B.C.)
| Date/Year | Event | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 3000–2500 B.C. | Aryans from Central Asia came into contact with the Himachal areas after crossing Purushani (Ravi) and reached Arijikiya (Beas). The Aryan King Divodas defeated the Kirat’s King Sambhar in a forty-year war, which is mentioned in the Rigveda. | |
| 327 B.C. | The Macedonia and allied people under Alexander the Great invaded Punjab. By September 326 B.C., Alexander reached up to the right bank of the Hyphasis (Beas) river where he erected twelve huge Altars to mark the farthest point of his advance. |
Early Medieval Period (A.D. 500 – A.D. 1200)
| Date/Year | Event | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 500 A.D. | Kullu state was ruled by Raja Brahmpal. | |
| 550 A.D. | Maru Verman founded Chamba Dominion. | |
| 630 A.D. | Battle between Hindur and Bilaspur took place. | |
| 697 A.D. | Bir Chand Chandel founded Kehloor Dominion. | |
| 765 A.D. | Suket state was founded by Bir Sen. | |
| 765 A.D. | Keonthal state was founded by Giri Sen. | |
| 900 A.D. | Bilaspur state was founded by Bir Chand of Chanderi (Bundelkhand), with its capital at Naina Devi, which was later shifted to Bilaspur. | |
| 920 A.D. | Sahil Varman founded Chamba town. | |
| 1000 A.D. | Tomar Rajput Jethal founded Nurpur state with its capital at Pratistan (now called Pathankot). | |
| 1009 A.D. | Mehmood Ghaznavi plundered the Kangra fort during the fourth expedition. | |
| 1100 A.D. | Ajay Chand founded Hindur (Nalagarh Dominion), which is an offshoot of Bilaspur. | |
| 1139 A.D. | Raja Rasalu founded Sirmaur state. | |
| 1154 A.D. | Abhoj Deo founded Kunihar dominion with capital at Hatkoti. | |
| 1170 A.D. | Purab Chand founded Jaswan state with capital at Rajpura (near Amb, District Una). | |
| 1200 A.D. | Bahu Sen founded Mandi state, which was an offshoot of Suket State. | |
| 1200 A.D. | Brahaman Jaspal founded Kuthehar State. |
Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Era (A.D. 1337 – A.D. 1786)
| Date/Year | Event | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1337 A.D. | Kangra fort (also known as Nagarkot or Bhimkot) was captured by Mohhamad Bin Tuglak. | |
| 1365 A.D. | Feroz Shah Tuglak besieged the fortress Nagarkot for six months before Rai Rup Chand, the Ruler of Kangra, surrendered. Feroz Shah Tuglak plundered the Jawalamukhi Temple and took away around 300 volumes of Sanskrit books, which the famous writer Aazz-ud-din Khalid Khani translated into Persian verse under the title, Dalai-e-Firoz Shahi. | |
| 1379 A.D. | Sirmaur State came under the control of Feroz Shah Tuglak, who made it his tributary. | |
| 1398 A.D. | Timur-i-Lang invaded the lower Kangra hill states during the reign of Megh Chand (1390-1405 A.D.). | |
| 1405 A.D. | Hari Chand founded Guler state. | |
| 1450 A.D. | Sibram Chand founded Sibba state. | |
| 1514 A.D. | Guru Nanak Dev visited Himachal Pradesh. | |
| 1527 A.D. | Ajbar Sen founded Mandi town and commenced the Shivratri Fair in Mandi. | |
| 1550 A.D. | Datar Chand founded Datarpur state. | |
| 1620 A.D. | Akbar’s son Jehangir (Salim) captured the Kangra fort on November 16. | |
| 1621 A.D. | Jahangir erected a mosque inside the Kangra fort. | |
| 1621 A.D. | Karam Prakash founded Nahan town. | |
| 1654 A.D. | Deep Chand founded Bilaspur town. | |
| 1667 A.D. | Jai Chand founded Theog Dominion. | |
| 1685 A.D. | Guru Gobind Singh visited Mandi. | |
| 1686 A.D. | In the Battle of Bhangani, Guru Gobind Singh defeated Raja of Bilaspur Bhim Chand and his relative Raja Fateh Shah (Srinagar Gharwal). | |
| 1697 A.D. | Alam Chand founded Alampur Town. | |
| 1700 A.D. | Hamirpur Town was founded by Hamir Chand. | |
| 1712 A.D. | Sundernagar Town was founded by Garur Chand. | |
| 1748 A.D. | Sujanpur Town was founded by Abhay Chand. | |
| 1758 A.D. | Raja Ghamand Chand of Kangra was appointed as the deputy Governor of Jallandhar Doab and the hills between the Satluj and Ravi by Ahmad Shah Abdali during his last invasion. | |
| 1775 A.D. | Raja Sansar Chand-II, the grandson of Raja Ghamand Chand, succeeded the Kingdom of Kangra. | |
| 1783 A.D. | Kangra fort was vacated from Jiwan Khan, the son of the Muslim Governor Nawab Saif Ali Khan, ending Muslim Rule in the Hill States of Punjab. | |
| 1786 A.D. | Raja Sansar Chand-II of Kangra defeated Chamba Chief Raj Singh in the Battle of Nerti Shahpur. |
Gorkha and Sikh Conflicts, and British Annexation (A.D. 1805 – A.D. 1857)
| Date/Year | Event | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1805 A.D. | Gorkha Commander Amar Singh Thapa attacked the Kangra fort against Raja Sansar Chand-II; the first encounter took place at Mahal Morian (presently in Hamirpur District). | |
| 1809 A.D. (July 20) | Sansar Chand–II and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh signed the Treaty of Jawalamukhi. | |
| 1809 A.D. (August 24) | Raja Sansar Chand–II and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh’s forces under Mohkam Chand defeated Amar Singh Thapa and took possession of Kangra fort. Desa Singh Majithia was appointed as the Governor of Kangra Hills by Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. | |
| 1815 A.D. | The Anglo-Gorkha war occurred between the British Armed Forces (led by Major General Ochterlony) and Gorkhas (led by Amar Singh Thapa). | |
| 1815 A.D. (November 28) | Treaty of Sangauli was signed between the British and Amar Singh Thapa. | |
| 1820 A.D. | William Moorcraft became the first European to visit Kullu on his way to Laddakh. | |
| 1822 A.D. | Major Kennedy founded Shimla Town, establishing the first Pucca house known as Kennedy House. | |
| 1824 A.D. | Death of Raja Sansar Chand-II of Kangra. | |
| 1827 A.D. | Lord Amrherst became the first Governor-General of India to visit Shimla. | |
| 1832 A.D. | Barnes’ Court, a Tudor Style heritage building (now the official residence of the Governor of Himachal Pradesh), was built in Shimla. The historic Shimla Agreement between India and Pakistan was signed here in 1972. | |
| 1839 A.D. | Sikh Army under General Ventura was sent to Mandi. | |
| 1844 A.D. | United Service Club (US Club) was founded at Shimla. | |
| 1846 A.D. (February 10) | Sikhs were defeated by the British in the Battle of Sabraon. | |
| 1846 A.D. (May 9) | The First Anglo-Sikh war ended with the Treaty of Lahore. Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, and Lahaul-Spiti came under the direct control of the British. | |
| 1850 A.D. | Lord Dalhausie annexed Baghat State under the Doctrine of Lapse; it was the only State from Himachal Pradesh annexed this way. | |
| 1851 A.D. | Construction of the Hindustan – Tibet National Highway was started by Lord Dalhausie. | |
| 1852 A.D. | Shimla Municipal Committee was established. | |
| 1854 A.D. | Dalhausie Town was founded by Lord Dalhousie. | |
| 1857 A.D. | The Jutogh Rebellion took place under the leadership of Subedar Bhim Singh. | |
| 1857 A.D. | Erstwhile Rampur Bushahr, under Raja Samsher Singh, was the only hill state which opposed the British rule during the First War of Independence. |
British Crown Rule and Early Movements (A.D. 1858 – A.D. 1938)
| Date/Year | Event | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1858 A.D. (November 1) | Queen Victoria’s proclamation ended the rule of the East India Company, bringing India under the direct Rule of the British Crown. | |
| 1859 A.D. | Bishop Cotton School was opened in Shimla. | |
| 1871 A.D. | Lord Mayo visited Shimla. | |
| 1875 A.D. | Raja Shamsher Prakash founded Nahan Foundary Ltd.. | |
| 1876 A.D. | Hindur (Nalagarh) people revolted against the atrocities of Wazir Gulam Quadir Khan. | |
| 1877 A.D. | Bijai Sen built Victoria Bridge over River Beas in Mandi. | |
| 1883 A.D. | Jhugga Movement took place in Bilaspur. | |
| 1887 A.D. | Gaiety Theatre was opened in Shimla; the first play performed was the Comedy Play called “Time Will Tell”. | |
| 1895 A.D. | Bhatiyat people’s movement took place against the atrocities of Chamba rulers. | |
| 1903 A.D. (November 9) | The 96.54 km long Kalka – Shimla Narrow-gauge Railway track was inaugurated by Lord Curzon. | |
| 1905 A.D. (April 4) | Disastrous earthquake occurred in Kangra. | |
| 1906 A.D. | Dodra- Kwar (Shimla) Revolt took place. | |
| 1908 A.D. | Bhuri Singh Museum was founded at Chamba. | |
| 1909 A.D. | Mandi Agitation took place against the atrocities of Raja Bhawani Sen and Wazir Padha Jeevanand. | |
| 1914 – 1915 A.D. | Mian Jawahar Singh, Rani Khairigarhi (Lalita Kumari), Badri, Sidhu, and Kharara were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment for organizing a branch of the Gaddar Party in Mandi. | |
| 1921 A.D. (May 11) | Mahatma Gandhi visited Shimla for the first time (for a series of interviews with Lord Reading) and stayed in the Shanti Kutir at Summer Hill Shimla. | |
| 1925 A.D. (August 21) | Lord Reading, the then Viceroy of India, inaugurated the Central Council Chamber, Shimla (presently the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Chamber). | |
| 1926 A.D. | Construction started for the 113 Km. long Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow gauge Railway line. | |
| 1927 A.D. | Political Conference of the Congress Party was organized at Tal in Sujanpur Tira. | |
| 1927 A.D. | Railcar service was introduced on the Kalka-Shimla Railway line. | |
| 1929 A.D. (April 1) | The Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway line was inaugurated for traffic. | |
| 1930 A.D. | Dandra movement against the mal administration of the Bilaspur ruler Raja Anand Chand took place. | |
| 1932 A.D. | Chamba People’s Defense League was formed with its headquarter at Lahore. | |
| 1933 A.D. | Mandi legislative Council was constituted. | |
| 1936 A.D. | Chamba Sevak Sangh was founded. | |
| 1938 A.D. | The Shimla Hill States Himalayan Riyasti Praja Mandal was formed at the Ludhiana session of All India States People conference. |
Independence Struggle and Formation of H.P. (A.D. 1939 – A.D. 1954)
| Date/Year | Event | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 A.D. | Sirmaur Praja Mandal was founded. | |
| 1939 A.D. (July 16) | Dhami Firing took place after police opened fire at the Dhami Praja Mandalists who were infuriated at the arrest of their leader Bhag Mal Sautha. | |
| 1942 A.D. | Pajhota Movement in Sirmaur state started under the leadership of Vaid Surat Ram to protest against their Raja’s assistance to the British War effort during the Second World War (Praja Mandalists raised the slogan “Bhai do na Pai”). | |
| 1944 A.D. | Sirmaur Riyasti Praja Mandal was founded. | |
| 1944 A.D. | Azad Hind Fauz patriot Major Durga Mal, who was from Dharmsala, was hanged at Red Fort, Delhi. | |
| 1945 A.D. | Victory Tunnel of Shimla was constructed by the British in memory of winning the Second World War. | |
| 1946 A.D. (June) | Lord Wavell convened the All Party Conference at Shimla (popularly known as Shimla conference). | |
| 1946 A.D. (March 8–10) | Himalayan Hill State Regional Council was formed by the integration of Praja Mandals of various princely states, with headquarter at Shimla, headed by Swami Poornanand, holding its first session (Mandi Conference). | |
| 1947 A.D. (August 17) | Theog became the first princely state of Himachal Pradesh to be merged with the Indian Union. | |
| 1948 A.D. (January 26) | Interim government headed by Shiva Nand Ramaul was set up in Himachal Pradesh. | |
| 1948 A.D. (January 26–28) | Solan Conference of the rulers of princely states was held under the Chairmanship of Raja Durga Chand of Baghat State, announcing the formation of Himachal Pradesh. | |
| 1948 A.D. (February 18) | Suket Satyagraha was launched under the leadership of Pt. Padam Dev from Tattapani against the ruler of Suket Dominion. | |
| 1948 A.D. (April 15) | Himachal Pradesh came into being as a Centrally Administered Chief Commissioner’s Province with 4 districts (Chamba, Mandi, Mahasu, and Sirmaur) by the integration of 26 Shimla hill states and 4 Punjab hill states. | |
| 1951 A.D. | Himachal Pradesh became a part “C” State. | |
| 1951 A.D. (November) | First General Election for the 36 member Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha were held. | |
| 1952 A.D. (March 1) | Third Chief Commissioner Bhagwan Sahai was replaced by the first Lt Governor Major General Himmat Singh. | |
| 1953 A.D. | H.P Compulsory Primary Education Act, 1953 was enacted. | |
| 1953 A.D. | Himachal Pradesh Abolition of Big Landed Estates and Land Reforms Act, 1953 was enacted. | |
| 1954 A.D. (July 1) | Part “C” State Bilaspur merged with Himachal Pradesh as the fifth District. | |
| 1954 A.D. | Department of Public Relation was created in Himachal Pradesh. |
Union Territory and Statehood Era (A.D. 1956 – A.D. 1972)
| Date/Year | Event | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 A.D. (November 1) | Himachal Pradesh became a Union Territory and Vidhan Sabha was abolished. | |
| 1957 A.D. (August 15) | Thakur Karam Singh was elected as Chairman of the 41 member Territorial Council. | |
| 1960 A.D. (May 1) | Chini Tehsil of Mahasu District, renamed as Kinnaur, became the sixth district of Himachal Pradesh. | |
| 1963 A.D. (July 1) | The Territorial Council was converted into the 41 member Legislative Assembly, and Popular Government in Himachal Pradesh was again installed. | |
| 1963 A.D. (December) | Single Line Administration was introduced in Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti districts. | |
| 1965 A.D. | Smt. Maheshi Devi received the National Award for Master Craftsman. | |
| 1966 A.D. (November 1) | With the reorganization of Punjab Hills areas, four more districts—Dhalausie, Kangra, Kullu & Bakloh of Gurdaspur Districts—were integrated into Himachal Pradesh. | |
| 1967 A.D. | Himachal Pradesh Judicial Commissioner’s Court was replaced with the Himachal Pradesh Bench of Delhi High Court. | |
| 1969 A.D. | Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) was established at Shimla (it was shifted to Dharmsala in 1983). | |
| 1970 A.D. (July 31) | The Bill for the grant of Statehood to Himachal Pradesh was introduced in the Parliament. | |
| 1970 A.D. (December 18) | The Statehood bill was passed by the Parliament of India. | |
| 1971 A.D. (January 25) | Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated Himachal Pradesh as the 18th state of the Union of India on the Girija Maidan (The Ridge) in Shimla. | |
| 1971 A.D. | Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission and Himachal Pradesh High Court were founded at Shimla. | |
| 1971 A.D. (April) | Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board was established. | |
| 1972 A.D. (July 2) | Prime Minister Ms. Indira Gandhi and President of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto signed the Shimla Agreement in the heritage building Barnes’ Court at Shimla. | |
| 1972 A.D. (September 1) | Hamirpur and Una districts were carved out of Kangra District; Shimla and Mahasu were reorganized to Shimla and Solan District. |
Post-Statehood Developments and Institutions (A.D. 1974 – A.D. 2000)
| Date/Year | Event | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 A.D. (January 1) | Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration was established at Fairlawns, Shimla. | |
| 1974 A.D. (March 25) | Himachal Pradesh Forest Corporation Ltd. was established. | |
| 1974 A.D. (October 2) | Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation (HRTC) was established. | |
| 1977 A.D. | The first Non-Congress Government, headed by Sh. Shanta Kumar of Janta Party, was formed in Himachal Pradesh. | |
| 1977 A.D. (April 30) | President Rule (under Article 356 of Constitution) was imposed for the first time in Himachal Pradesh. | |
| 1978 A.D. | Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Krishi Vishwavidyalya (CSKKV) Palampur (Agriculture University) was established. | |
| 1978 A.D. (March 3) | Ayurvedic Medical College was established at Paprola, District Kangra. | |
| 1978 A.D. | Shimla Municipal Corporation (the only Municipal Corporation in H.P.) was founded. | |
| 1978 A.D. | Solan District Industrial Centre was established. | |
| 1981 A.D. (May 2) | Dr. Y.S. Parmar, first Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, passed away. | |
| 1981 A.D. | Petterhoff (the former residence of the Viceroy of India & the High Court of Punjab) was gutted in fire. | |
| 1983 A.D. | The Office of Lokayukta was founded in Himachal Pradesh; T.V.R. Tatachari became first Lokayukta. The HPBOSE shifted to Dharmsala. | |
| 1985 A.D. | Snowdon Hospital was renamed as Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla. | |
| 1985 A.D. | Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry was founded at Nauni, District Solan. | |
| 1986 A.D. | Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal was established under the Chairmanship of Justice Hira Singh. | |
| 1989 A.D. | River Rafting was introduced in Himachal Pradesh. | |
| 1990 A.D. (August 15) | The Antodya Programme to help the “Poorest of the poor” was launched. | |
| 1991 A.D. (January 11) | The 14 km long Nangal – Una broad-gauge railway line was inaugurated by Railway Minster Janeshwar Mishra. | |
| 1991 A.D. (August 5) | Smt. Leela Seth became the first woman Chief Justice of High Court (H.P.) in India. | |
| 1992 A.D. | The first BJP Government (headed by Sh. Shanta Kumar) was dissolved under Article 356, and President Rule was imposed for the second time. | |
| 1993 A.D. | Dicky Dolma of District Kullu became the youngest girl in the World to scale Mt. Everest (8848 m). | |
| 1994 A.D. (April 23) | First Himachal Pradesh State Finance Commission was constituted. | |
| 1998 A.D. | Himachal Pradesh Subordinate Service Selection Board (HPSSSB) was established at Hamirpur; K.C. Malhotra was the first Chairman. | |
| 1999 A.D. | Cricketer Rajiv Nayyar made a World Record by staying at the batting crease for 16 hours and 57 minutes. | |
| 1999 A.D. (August 15) | Paramvir Chakra was awarded (posthumously) to Captain Vikram Batra and to Rifleman Sanjay Kumar for their courage and bravery in the Kargil War (code named Operation Vijay). | |
| 1999 – 2000 A.D. | National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (Rasthriya Krishi Bima Yojna) came into force in H.P. |
21st Century (A.D. 2002 – A.D. 2013)
| Date/Year | Event | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 A.D. (May 26) | Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid the foundation stone of Rohtang Tunnel, which is 8.9 km. long (Asia’s Highest & India’s Longest Traffic Tunnel). | |
| 2002 A.D. | Sumresh Jung of District Sirmaur won a Gold Medal in Shooting at the 17th Commonwealth Games in Manchester (U.K.). | |
| 2005 A.D. (December 26–29) | The Winter Session of the State Assembly was held outside the Shimla for the first time, meeting at Prayas Bhawan, Dharmsala. | |
| 2006 A.D. (December 18) | H.P. Power Corporation was established. | |
| 2007 A.D. | Ayurvedic Medical College Paprola was renamed as Rajiv Gandhi Ayurvedic Medical College. | |
| 2007 A.D. (December 18) | Union Minister P. Chidambaram launched the “Common Man’s Insurance Scheme” (Aam Aadmi Bima Yojna), at Shimla. | |
| 2008 A.D. (February 5) | Himachal Pradesh Government launched the e-governance Plan called ‘HIMSWAN’. | |
| 2008 A.D. (July) | UNESCO granted the inscription of the 96.54 km long Kalka – Shimla railway as a World Heritage site. | |
| 2008 A.D. (August) | Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal was abolished by the Govt. of Himachal Pradesh. | |
| 2008 A.D. (November 23) | Chief Minister Professor Prem Kumar Dhumal launched “Atal Bijali Bachat Yojna” at Prini, District Kullu. | |
| 2009 A.D. (July 10) | Chief Minister Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal launched the first Private Radio Station (91.9 BIG FM) of Himachal Pradesh at Shimla. | |
| 2009 A.D. (September 20) | Himachal Pradesh was awarded the construction of the first three kilometers of the Bhanupali – Bilaspur – Beri Broad – gauge Railway line. | |
| 2010 A.D. (June 28) | Rohtang Tunnel’s work commenced (8.8 km long). | |
| 2010 A.D. (August 28) | Chief Minister Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal laid the foundation stone of the First Textile Park in Thathal village (Amb Sub-Division of Una District). | |
| 2010 A.D. | Subedar- Major Vijay Kumar won 3 Gold & One Silver medal at the 19th Commonwealth Games in Delhi. | |
| 2010 A.D. (December 25) | Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal launched Atal Swasthya Sewa Yojna, a 24 hours free ambulance service with a toll free number 108. | |
| 2011 A.D. (January 06) | Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approved 3 percent reservation to sports persons for winning Gold, Silver or Bronze Medal in All India and National Level School Games. | |
| 2011 A.D. | Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission was set up in Himachal Pradesh. | |
| 2012 A.D. (December 25) | Sh. Virbhadra Singh was sworn – in as Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister for a Record sixth term. | |
| 2013 A.D. (August 04) | Chief Minister Sh. Virbhadra Singh launched “Rajiv Gandhi Ann Yojna” under the National Food Security Act, 2013. |