It looks like you’ve compiled all the notes into one comprehensive document! Here is that information, cleaned up and presented in the teaching-style format we were working on.

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🏔️ The Land of Three Rivers: Understanding Trigarta, Jalandhara, and Kangra

Hello, class! Today, we’re diving into the history of the Kangra district. To understand its story, we first need to travel back in time to an ancient kingdom known as Trigarta.

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What’s in a Name?

The name Trigarta itself gives us the first major clue about its geography. It’s a Sanskrit word: “Tri” means three, and “Garta” can be understood as a channel or ‘trough’, referring to rivers. So, Trigarta was the “land of the three rivers”:

• The Satluj
• The Beas
• The Ravi

This kingdom had two main parts: a province in the plains with its headquarters at Jalandhara (modern Jullundur), and a province in the hills with its headquarters at Nagarkot, which we know today as Kangra. In fact, the names Trigarta and Jalandhara were often used interchangeably for the whole kingdom.

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The Legend Behind Jalandhara

So, where did the name Jalandhara come from? According to the ancient text, the ‘Padma Purana’ (first detailed by Sir A. Cunningham), it comes from a powerful monster, or ‘Danava’, named Jalandhara.

The legend says he was the son of the Ganges River and the Ocean. His wife’s name was Vrinda (or ‘Bindra’). Jalandhara was so powerful that he was eventually killed by Lord Shiva. His body was said to be so enormous that it formed the entire region!

• His mouth was at Jwalamukhi.
• His back formed the Jalandhara district.
• His feet were at Multan.

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A Capital of Many Names

The core identity of the region is: The Kangra district gets its name from Kangra town, which was known in ancient times as ‘Nagarkot’. This Nagarkot was the hill capital of the ancient territory of Trigarta (also called JALANDHARA).

As different people, empires, and travellers encountered this important place, they all gave it different names.

Names for the Capital (Nagarkot/Kangra):

• Bhimnagar: Used by Utbi (Mahmud of Gazni’s secretary) in the ‘Tarikh-i-Yamini’.
• Bhimkot: Used by the historian Farishta.
• Susarmapura: Mentioned in the Baijnath Eulogies, linking it to its mythical founder.

Names for the Kingdom (Trigarta/Jalandhara):

• KALINDARINE: The name used by the Greek geographer Ptolemy.
• ‘Bist-Jalandhara’: The name used in the Mughal text ‘Ain-i-Akbari’.
• Dhamala or Dhameri (Nurpur): The scholar Alberuni (A.D. 1017-31) referred to this as the capital of Jalandhara in his itinerary.
• Bahlikas or Valhikas: In some other ancient texts, Jalandhara was identified by these names.

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⛏️ Proof of Ancient Life: Archaeological Evidence

You might be thinking, “This is great, but how do we believe that people actually lived here so long ago? We need proof!”

That’s where archaeology comes in. Excavations absolutely confirm the “existence of human race in the earliest of human history” (the Stone Age) in this part of the Himalayas.

Key Discoveries (Tools):

• Dr. G.C. Mahapatra found 52 stone axes in the village RAHUR (on the bank of the Banganga river).
• Stone Age remnants were found at NADAUN on the Beas river.
• An almond-shaped stone axe (likely early or mid-stone age) was found at Nandrol, where the Banganga and Patalganga rivers meet.
• Other remnants were found at Kuparlahar, Dehra-Gopipur (Nakef Khad), Dhawala village, Jamol village (Thor Khad), and Panjasan village.

Ancient Coins:

• Audumbaras: 103 (out of 950 known) coins were found in Kangra (near Tripal and Jwalamukhi).
• Kushana: Four coins were found in Kanihara.
• Kunindas: Three coins were found in Jwalamukhi.
• A Tragic Loss: In 1853 A.D., a ship carrying a collection of Audumbara and Trigarta coins to London drowned near Sri Lanka, and the priceless collection was lost forever.

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📜 A Timeline of Kings and Key Events

Here is the chronological history of the rulers who shaped the kingdom.

Mythical Origin:

• The origin of the Katoch royal family is “lost in the mist of the past,” but its great antiquity is supported by its many offshoots.
• The Vamshavali (genealogical roll) lists nearly 500 names.
• The mythical progenitor of the Katoch line is Bhuma Chand. Local legend states he was not human but sprang from the perspiration of the brow of the goddess at Kangra.

Epic Era (Mahabharata):

• King Susharma (the 234th king in the Vamshavali) is identified with the King Susharma from the Mahabharata.
• In the war, Susharma sided with the Kaurvas and attacked King Virata of Matsyadesa.
• The family’s original seat is said to have been MULTAN.
• After the war, Susharma and his followers retired to the Jalandhara district and built the fort of Kangra.

Panini (5th Century B.C.):

• The great grammarian Panini provides the first historical mention of Trigarta.
• He described it as an ‘Ayudhajivi Sangha’ (a martial republican tribe).
• He mentioned the ‘Trigarta-Shashtha’ (a confederation of six states): (1) Kaudopartha, (2) Dandaki, (3) Kraushitaki, (4) Jalamani, (5) Brahmagupta, and (6) Janaki. (These have not been identified).

Alexander the Great (326 B.C.):

• Transcripts from his campaign note that he was halted at Murthal by the Punjabis, led by Porus.

Coin Evidence (2nd Century B.C.):

• A coin from this period indicates Trigarta’s existence as an independent republic.
• It bears the legend ‘Trakata Janapadasa’ in Brahmi script and the same inscription in Kharoshthi script.

Farishta (1st Century A.D.):

• The historian Farishta provides the earliest historical reference (as opposed to literary/epic) to events said to have occurred in the first century of the Christian era.

Kashmir’s Influence (Rajtarangini):

• A.D. 470: The Rajtarangini states that Sreshtha Sena of Kashmir “bestowed the land of Trigarta.”
• A.D. 520: It states that Praversena II (of Kashmir) “conquered Trigarta.”

Hieun Tsang (A.D. 635 – 643):

• The famous Chinese pilgrim visited Jalandhara in March A.D. 635.
• He stayed in the Kangra valley for four months as the guest of Raja Utto (perhaps Adima).
• He stopped again in Jalandhara on his return journey in A.D. 643.
• He described the kingdom as 267 miles (East-West) by 213 miles (North-South).
• At the time of his visit, Trigarta was a subject of King Harsha Vardhana of Kannauj.

Rajtarangini (A.D. 683-903):

• After a long interval, Trigarta is mentioned again.
• Sankara Varman, the Raja of Kashmir, was on a conquest expedition to Gurujara (Gujarat).
• He was opposed by Prithvi Chandra, the Raja of Trigarta, who was possibly an ally of Gurujara.

Mahmud of Gazni (A.D. 1009):

• Mahmud succeeded his father in A.D. 997.
• In A.D. 1009, during his fourth expedition, he defeated a large army on the ‘Indus’ river (commanded by Anand Pal of Ohind and Lahore).
• He then advanced into Punjab and laid siege to Nagarkot, capturing the fort. This is the first recorded capture of the fort.

Here are the notes from the images you provided. You are right, this section of the timeline was missing. It details the period from Mahmud of Gazni’s conquest up to the Tughlaq dynasty.

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📜 A Timeline of Kings and Key Events (Continued)

Mahmud of Gazni’s Conquest (A.D. 1009)

• The Siege: As noted earlier, Mahmud of Gazni advanced into Punjab and laid siege to Nagarkot in A.D. 1009.
• Fort’s Name: The fort was then called Bhimnagar, a name derived from the mythical Katoch ancestor, or perhaps Bhim Sen, the hero of the Mahabharata.
• Motive for Attack: The fort was famous across Northern India for its strength and, crucially, was famed for the “fabulous wealth” believed to be stored within its walls.
• The Capture: After defeating Brahman Pal (the son of Anand Pal), Mahmud captured the fort, looted the entire wealth, and returned to Ghazni.
• The Loot (According to Farishta): The historian Farishta’s account claims the following was found in the “Bhim fort”:
  • 700,000 Dinars
  • 700 mans of gold and silver plates
  • 200 mans of pure gold in ingots
  • 2,000 mans of silver bullion
  • 20 mans of various jewels
• The Raja at the Time: The text states the Raja of Kangra during the invasion is said to have been Jagdish Chand.
• Ghaznavid Occupation: Mahmud left a garrison in the fort upon his departure, which held possession of Nagarkot until A.D. 1043.

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Liberation and Recapture (A.D. 1043 – 1060)

• The First Liberation (A.D. 1043): In that year, the Raja of Delhi (from the Tomar line) gathered a large army and successfully marched against Hansi, Thanesar, and other places held by the Mohammedan garrison.
• He also laid siege to Nagarkot, which was liberated after a four-month siege.
• Ghaznavid Recapture (A.D. 1051-52): The freedom was short-lived. Abdul Rashid, a son of Mahmud, came to power and appointed Hashtagin Hajib as the Governor of Punjab. This governor successfully recaptured the fort of Nagarkot.
• Final Recovery by Kangra Rajas (c. A.D. 1060): The Kangra Rajas were finally successful in recovering the fort “only some time after about 1060 A.D.“.

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The Founding of Jaswan (c. A.D. 1170)

• A Period of Stability: For nearly 200 years after Mahmud’s invasion, the Mohammedans were unable to advance their frontier much beyond the Satluj. The Kangra state remained undivided under one head until about A.D. 1170.
• A New State is Born: The Raja of Kangra at this time was Padam Chand. His younger brother, Parab Chand, broke away and founded the state of Jaswan.

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Later Medieval References (13th-14th Century)

• Kashmir Connection (c. A.D. 1030-40): The Rajtarangini (the history of Kashmir) gives its last reference to the Katoch state, noting that Ananta Deva, the Raja of Kashmir, was married to two princesses of the Katoch family, the daughters of Indu Chandra.
• Baijnath Inscription (c. A.D. 1200-20):
  • The next major historical reference to the Rajas of Trigarta appears on two stone slabs in the Shiva temple at Baijnath.
  • The temple itself was originally named Vaidyanath, and the village where it stands was called Kiragrama.
  • The inscription names the local ruler (Rana) of Kiragrama as Lakshman Chandra.
  • It also names the contemporary sovereign ruler, the Raja of Trigarta, as Jaya Chandra (identified by historians Hatchinson and Vogel with Jaya Sinha Chandra).
• Prithvi Chand (c. A.D. 1330): After four or five more kings (who are mentioned in the Vamshavali), Prithvi Chand succeeded to the throne of Kangra around A.D. 1330.

Here are the notes from the provided text, starting with the Tughlaq dynasty’s interactions with Kangra.

Prithvi Chand & Mohammed Tughlaq (A.D. 1330 – 1351)

• Raja Prithvi Chand (c. A.D. 1330):
  • He succeeded to the throne around A.D. 1330.
  • The text notes that from his reign onwards, many coins of the Kangra Rajas are in existence.
• Mohammed Tughlaq’s Capture of Kangra (A.D. 1337):
  • During Prithvi Chand’s reign, the Kangra fort is said to have been captured by Mohammed Tughlaq (who ruled A.D. 1325-1351).
• Succession:
  • Mohammed Tughlaq died in A.D. 1351 and was succeeded by Firoz Shah Tughlaq.
  • Prithvi Chand was succeeded by Parab Chand around A.D. 1345.

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Rup Chand & Firoz Shah Tughlaq (A.D. 1360 onwards)

• Raja Rup Chand (c. A.D. 1360):
  • He likely succeeded Parab Chand around A.D. 1360.
  • His name is mentioned in the ‘Dharam Chand Natak’, a work written around A.D. 1562 by Manik Chand.
• Rup Chand’s Raiding Expedition:
  • In the early part of his reign, Rup Chand went on a raid into the plains, plundering the country “almost to the gates of Delhi.”
• Encounter with Sultan of Kashmir:
  • On his return journey from the raid, laden with booty, he encountered ‘Shahab-ud-din’ of Kashmir (who ruled A.D. 1363-86).
  • The Kashmir Sultan was on a similar adventure. Rup Chand laid his spoils at the Sultan’s feet and “swore loyalty to him.”
• Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s Siege of Nagarkot (c. A.D. 1365):
  • After these events, Firoz Shah Tughlaq marched his army from Delhi to Nagarkot (Kangra).
  • He besieged the fort for six months.
  • Following the siege, Firoz Shah “established his sovereignity over the fort.”
  • The text specifically notes that any account claiming Firoz Shah was unsuccessful in conquering the fort “seems to be erroneous.”

Here is the continuation of your notes, picking up right after the siege of Kangra by Firoz Shah Tughlaq.

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📜 A Timeline of Kings and Key Events (Continued)

Aftermath of the Siege: Rup Chand & Firoz Shah (c. A.D. 1365)

After Raja Rup Chand submitted to Firoz Shah Tughlaq, the Sultan’s story at Kangra continues.

• The Jwalamukhi Temple: Firoz Shah visited the famous Jwalamukhi temple.
• Conflicting Accounts:
  • Some historians state that Firoz broke the idols, mixed the fragments with cow’s flesh, put them in bags, and tied them around the necks of Brahmins, parading them through his camp.
  • However, the Tarikh-i-Ferozshahi (the official history of his reign) makes no mention of these events.
• The Library of 1300 Books: The Sultan did find a library containing 1300 books in the temple. Out of his “deep love for learning,” he took possession of them and had some translated.
  • A famous writer of the period, Izzudin Khalid Khani, translated one of these books into Persian verse and named it ‘Dalail-i-Firozshahi’ (after the Sultan).
• Raja Rup Chand died around A.D. 1375 and was succeeded by his son, Sangara Chand.

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Sangara Chand (A.D. 1375) & the Tughlaq Drama

• There is no specific record of Sangara Chand’s reign.
• His story is intertwined with the Tughlaq civil war in Delhi.
• A Royal Refugee (A.D. 1387): Feroz Tughlaq’s eldest son, Nasir-ud-din, was driven from power in Delhi by his cousins. He fled for safety to the mountains of Sirmaur and was pursued, forcing him to retreat to the infamously impregnable Nagarkot (Kangra) fort.
• He remained at Nagarkot until A.D. 1389. In August 1390, he was recalled to Delhi and took the throne under the name Mohammed Tughlaq.
• Raja Sangara Chand died around A.D. 1390 and was succeeded by his son, Megh Chand.

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Megh Chand (A.D. 1390) & the Invasion of Timur

• Raja Megh Chand was on the ‘Gaddi’ (throne) during one of the most brutal raids in Indian history: the invasion of Timur-i-Lang (Tamerlane) in A.D. 1398.
• Timur’s Memoirs (Malfuzat-i-Timuri): Timur himself wrote that on his return journey from Delhi in A.D. 1399, he “had heard of Nagarkot and wished to capture it”.
• Did he attack Kangra?
  • The text suggests he did not penetrate that far into the interior of the hills.
  • He did pass through Pathankot and Nurpur (which was then called Dhameri), and these areas “must have suffered at his hands”.
  • Although Timur captured seven other hill forts, there is no mention anywhere that Nagarkot was one of them.

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Hari Chand I (A.D. 1405) & The Founding of Guler

This is one of the most important events in the history of the Kangra princely states.

• A few years after Timur’s invasion, Hari Chand I succeeded to the throne of Kangra.
• The Fateful Hunt: One day, the Raja went on a hunting expedition near HARSAR (the area of modern-day Guler).
  • He somehow got separated from his party and fell into a dry well.
  • His attendants searched for him for days, but in vain.
• The “Funeral”: Believing he had been killed by a wild beast, the officials returned to the capital (Nagarkot). The Raja’s funeral rites were performed, and his Ranis even committed Sati.
• The Rescue: But Hari Chand was alive! Twenty-one days later, a passing merchant heard him and rescued him from the well.
• A New Kingdom is Born:
  • When Hari Chand learned what had happened—that he was presumed dead and his younger brother, Karam Chand, was now the Raja of Kangra—he decided not to return and fight for the throne.
  • Instead, he founded a new, independent state. He selected a site near the junction of the Banganga, Kurali, and Neugal rivers and built the fort and town of Haripur.
  • This new state came to be known as Guler.
• Legacy of Guler: Because it was founded by the elder brother, the state of Guler was given precedence over Kangra on all ceremonial occasions from that point forward. The merchant who saved him was rewarded with a remission of all trade duties for life.

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The Line of Succession (15th Century)

• Karam Chand (A.D. 1415): The younger brother who remained Raja of Kangra. His reign was not eventful, but it occurred during a time of turmoil and foreign aggression in North India.
• Sansar Chand I (A.D. 1430): He was the son of Karam Chand and succeeded him.
• Later Rajas: The next rulers were Devanga Chand (A.D. 1450) and Narender Chand (A.D. 1465). Nothing noteworthy is recorded about their reigns.
• Suvira Chand (A.D. 1480):
  • Narender Chand died childless, but one of his Ranis was pregnant.
  • Fearing a conspiracy against her child, the Rani escaped to her parents’ house.
  • On the way, her son Suvira was born in a Kumhar’s (potter’s) hut.
  • Later, with the help of his maternal grandfather, Suvira was able to establish his authority over Kangra.
  • The potter in whose house the future king was born was rewarded with a ‘jagir’ (land grant).

Here is the continuation of the notes, picking up from where we left off, around A.D. 1480.

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📜 A Timeline of Kings and Key Events (Continued)

Prayag Chand (A.D. 1490) & the Lodhi Era

• Raja Prayag Chand succeeded Suvira Chand.
• He was followed by Ram Chand (also around A.D. 1490).
• During this time, the Lodhi dynasty was ruling in Delhi.
• This was just before the Mughals, under Babur, attacked Delhi.

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Dharam Chand (A.D. 1528) & the Suri Dynasty

• Raja Dharam Chand came to the throne around A.D. 1528.
• Initially, the Kangra fort had immunity from attacks.
• Sher Shah Suri’s Rise: After the Mughal King Humayun was expelled from Delhi, Sher Shah Suri took control in A.D. 1540. He ordered his general, Khawas Khan, to capture Nagarkot.
• Suri Occupation: After his conquest, another Suri general, Hamid Khan Kakar, was put in charge of Nagarkot.
• Sikandar Shah Suri (A.D. 1556): The region later came under the rule of Sikandar Shah Sur, Sher Shah’s nephew. When Humayun returned and advanced, Sikandar Shah (then only 14) was installed as emperor. The hills and Raja Dharam Chand submitted to him.
• The Siege of Mankot (A.D. 1557): The resurgent Mughals under Akbar advanced against Sikandar Shah.
  • Sikandar Shah took refuge in the strong fortress of Mankot (on the Mau hills, between Pathankot and Nurpur).
  • After an eight-month siege, Sikandar Shah finally surrendered. He was allowed to retire to Bengal, where he died two years later.
• With the firm establishment of Mughal authority, the events in Kangra become much more precise and detailed.
• Dharam Chand was succeeded by his son, Manikya Chand, around A.D. 1563.

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Jai Chand (A.D. 1570) & Akbar’s Suspicion

• Raja Manikya Chand died in A.D. 1570 and was followed by his son, Jai Chand.
• Soon after coming to power, Jai Chand incurred Akbar’s suspicion for unknown reasons.
• An order was issued for his arrest, and Raja Ram Chand of Guler (the senior branch of the family) was sent to capture him.
• Bidhi Chand’s Revolt (A.D. 1572):
  • Jai Chand’s son, Bidhi Chand, was a minor at the time.
  • Thinking his father had been put to death by Akbar, Bidhi Chand “came to power and broke into revolt against Akbar“.
  • Akbar sent Khan Jahan Hussain Quli Khan, the Viceroy of Punjab, to subdue the territory.
  • Raja Birbal was also dispatched to join the Mughal army at Lahore and set out for Nagarkot.

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The First Great Mughal Siege of Kangra (A.D. 1572)

• The Siege Begins: Khan Jahan laid siege to the Kangra fort. The fort, under the possession of Bidhi Chand, refused to surrender.
• Desecration of the Temple: The siege was fierce. According to the Tabaqat-i-Akbari, a shocking event occurred:
  • A number of Rajputs and Brahmins were killed in the temple of Mahamai (Jwalamukhi).
  • Nearly 200 black cows, held sacred by the Hindus, were killed by “some savage Turks”.
  • The attackers “took off their boots and filled them with the blood and cast it upon the temple”.
• The Siege is Lifted: Just as the garrison was about to surrender (offering five mans of gold in tribute), a new rebellion broke out in the Punjab, forcing the Mughals to abandon the siege.
• Akbar’s Policy Shift: After this expedition, Akbar sent his famous finance minister, Todar Mal, to Kangra.
  • Todar Mal’s mission was to “create an imperial demesne” by taking the most fertile lands from the hill states.
  • From then until A.D. 1583, Nagarkot is not mentioned again in Mughal histories.
• Akbar’s Visit (A.D. 1583): Akbar visited the region near Hoshiarpur but, according to local tradition, was told that “Kangra was famous for four things”:
  1. The manufacturing of new noses
  2. The treatment of eye diseases
  3. Basmati rice
  4. The strong fortHe did not attempt to see the fort.

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Bidhi Chand (A.D. 1585) & The Hill Rajas’ Rebellion

• Raja Jai Chand died around A.D. 1585 and was succeeded by his son, Bidhi Chand.
• Rebellion (A.D. 1588): Bidhi Chand formed a secret confederation with other hill states (including Jammu and Kangra). They all “broke into rebellion” against Akbar.
• Akbar sent his foster brother, Zain Khan Koka, with a large force to bring them into submission.
• The hill chiefs were eventually defeated and had to submit. Bidhi Chand had to leave his son, Trilok Chand, as a hostage at the Mughal court to ensure his good behavior.
• Second Rebellion (A.D. 1594-95): There was another rebellion by the hill chiefs, led by the Raja of Jasrota. Bidhi Chand was not involved.
• A force under ‘Mirza Rustam Qandhari’ and ‘Shaikh Farid’ was sent to suppress this rising. Shaikh Farid was given the title of ‘Murtaza Khan’ for his services at the siege of Kangra fort in A.D. 1615.
• Raja Bidhi Chand died around A.D. 1605.

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Trilok Chand (A.D. 1605) & Jahangir

• Trilok Chand succeeded his father. In the same year, Jahangir ascended the throne in Delhi.
• A Royal Friendship: The two had known each other for years. Trilok Chand had been a hostage at the Mughal court, and he and the young Prince Salim (Jahangir) were boys together.
• The Parrot Story: A famous story illustrates their childhood bond.
  • Trilok Chand had a parrot that the young Jahangir wanted, but the “young Rajput prince would not part with it”.
  • On this account, Jahangir is said to have “cherished a grudge” against Trilok Chand and marched against Kangra upon becoming Emperor.
• Raja Trilok Chand was either killed or died around A.D. 1612.

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Hari Chand II (A.D. 1612) & The Final Conquest of Kangra

• This brings us to the reign of Hari Chand II.
• Jahangir’s First Attempt (A.D. 1615): Jahangir was determined to capture the fort that had eluded his father, Akbar.
  • He sent Murtaza Khan (Shaikh Farid) and Raja Suraj Mal (son of Raja Basu of Nurpur) to capture Kangra with a massive force.
  • Betrayal: This attempt failed due to internal conflict. Murtaza Khan became suspicious of Suraj Mal and reported him to Jahangir.
  • Murtaza Khan was recalled but died on the way at Pathankot.
• Jahangir’s Second Attempt & Suraj Mal’s Rebellion:
  • After Murtaza Khan’s death, Raja Man (a Rajput chief) was given command of the siege.
  • Meanwhile, Suraj Mal of Nurpur, now openly in rebellion, attacked Raja Man and took possession of his part of the province (i.e., the Parganah for which Raja Man was made Governor).
  • Suraj Mal then had to be pursued into the hills, which gave the Kangra fort a temporary break from the siege.
• Jahangir’s Final, Successful Siege:
  • Jahangir sent Shahjahan (then Prince ‘Zakhun’) to finally end the rebellion.
  • He was joined by ‘Shah Quli Khan Mohammed Taqi’.
  • Suraj Mal, however, was “insincere” and began to quarrel with Shah Quli Khan, delaying the siege.
  • Finally, Shah Quli Khan was recalled, and Suraj Mal, now having a free hand, continued his pretext… (this is where the text cuts off).

after Jahangir :