Chronicles of Kullu State
A Unified Historical Record from Antiquity to 1840
Foundations & Primary Sources
Historical material for Kullu is considered scanty and unreliable. Authentic information is primarily derived from:
- Dr. Hirananda Shastri (ASI): Leading authority on authentic records.
- Vamshavali: The traditional Genealogical roll of the Rajas.
- Colonel A.P.F. Harcourt: Author of “Kooloo, Lahoul and Spiti”.
Kullu is recognized as one of the most ancient states in the Punjab Hill region, following only Kashmir and Kangra.
Mythological & Traditional Origins
The “Kulantapitha” Era
- Name Meaning: Local folklore identifies the valley as “Kulantapitha”, meaning “the end of the inhabitable world”.
- Significance: It was considered the utmost limit of human abode in that period.
- Documentation: The name is recorded in the “Kulantapitha Mahatmya” booklet, held by the priests of Manikaran, which claims to be part of the Brahmanda Purana.
- Sanskrit Identity: Known as “KULUTA” in the Vishnu Purana, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Markandya Purana, Brihat Samhita, and Rajtarangini.
Ancient Rule & Artifacts (1st – 2nd Century A.D.)
Pre-Raja Governance
- The state was founded no later than the 1st or 2nd century.
- Ranas & Thakurs: Rule was established by Ranas (warrior caste from the plains) and Thakurs (almost certainly Kanets).
The Coin of Raja Virayasa
- The Artifact: Represents the oldest historical record of Kullu.
- Discovery: First published by Sir A. Cunningham; correct reading established by Dr. A.V. Bergny.
- Inscription: Features a full Sanskrit legend in Brahmi and one word (rana) in Kharosthi characters.
Medieval Records & Travel (7th – 11th Century A.D.)
7th Century: Hiuen Tsang & Epigraphy
- Chinese Account: Pilgrim Hiuen Tsang (A.D. 630–644) described the country as ‘K’iu lu’ te’, situated 187 miles North of Jalandhra.
- Buddhist Heritage: Noted an Ashokan Stupa built to commemorate Buddha’s alleged visit.
- Nirmand Copper Plate: The oldest copper plate in Kullu, granted by Raja Samudra Sen in the 7th century A.D.
- Literary Mention: Appears in Bana’s Kadambari (7th C. A.D.).
11th Century: Neighboring Chronicles
- Chamba Deeds: Later references to Kullu are mentioned in copper deeds from the reigns of Soma-Varman and Asta-Varman.
- Historical Events: These 11th-century documents describe events that happened even earlier, during the reign of Sahila Varman of Chamba.
- Regional Mentions: Found in the Tibetan chronicle of Ladakh called the Gyalrabs or “Book of the Kings” and the Kashmir chronicle of Jonaraja.
The Later Dynasty & Modern Era (1500 – 1840 A.D.)
The ‘Singh’ Lineage
- Start: The later line, bearing the suffix ‘Singh’, began around A.D. 1500.
- Duration: Ruled for 340 years with an average reign of 20 years per Raja.
- End of Sovereignty: The state was overthrown by the Sikhs in 1840.
Lineage Verification & Discrepancies
Historical counts of the Rajas differ between primary sources:
| Source | ‘Pal’ Line (Ancient) | ‘Singh’ Line (Later) | Total Rajas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kullu Vamshavali | 73 Names | 15 Names | 88 Names |
| Captain Harcourt | 85 Names | 15 Names | 100 Names |
Kullu State Genealogy
The ‘Pal’ Line of Rajas
The Vamshavali records 73 names of the ‘Pal’ line. Below is the list exactly as shown in the records:
(1) Bihangmani Pal
(2) Puch Pal
(3) Bahang Pal
(4) Durhin or Hin Pal
(5) Surag Pal
(6) Shakti Pal
(7) Mahindra Pal
(8) Om Pal
(9) Rajendra Pal
(10) Visad Pal
(11) Visud Pal
(12) Uttam Pal
(13) Dvij Pal
(14) Chakar Pal
(15) Karn Pal
(16) Suraj Pal
(17) Rakesh Pal
(18) Rudra Pal
(19) Hamir Pal
(20) Parsidh Pal
(21) Hari Chand Pal
(22) Subhat Pal
(23) Som Pal
(24) Sansar Pal
(25) Bagh Pal
(26) Vibhay Pal
(27) Brahm Pal
(28) Ganesh Pal
(29) Gambir Pal
(30) Bhumi Pal
(31) Sri Dateshwar Pal
(32) Amar Pal
(33) Sital Pal
(34) Sri Jareshwar Pal
(35) Prakash Pal
(36) Achamba Pal
(37) Tapneshwar Pal
(38) Param Pal
(39) Nagendra Pal
(40) Narad Pal
(41) Narottam Pal
(42) Sish Pal
(43) Bhup Pal
(44) Anirudh Pal
(45) Hast Pal-I
(46) Surat Pal
(47) Santokh Pal-I
(48) Tegh Pal
(49) Uchit Pal
(50) Sikandar Pal
(51) Saras Pal
(52) Sachdev Pal
(53) Sri Mahadev Pal
(54) Nirati Pal
(55) Bain Pal
(56) Hast Pal-II
(57) Sasi Pal
(58) Gambir Pal
(59) Nisudan Pal
(60) Narinder Pal
(61) Santokh Pal-II
(62) Nand Pal
(63) Dharti Pal
(64) Inder Pal
(65) Mahi Chakkar Pal
(66) Jayadhar Pal
(67) Keral Pal
(68) Hans Pal
(69) Agast Pal
(70) Madan Pal
(71) Urdhan Pal
(72) Madhu Pal
(73) Kailash Pal(1428)
The Later Line (Singh Dynasty)
This line began about A.D. 1500 and came to an end in 1840.
(74) Sidh Singh (1500 A.D.)
(75) Bahadur Singh (1532)
(76) Partap Singh (1559-1575)
(77) Partab Singh (1575-1608)
(78) Prithi Singh (1608-1635)
(79) Kalyan Singh (1635-1637)
(80) Jagat Singh (1637-1672)
(81) Bidhi Singh (1672-1688)
(82) Man Singh (1688-1719)
(83) Raj Singh (1719-1731)
(84) Jai Singh (1731-1742)
(85) Tedhi Singh (1742-1767)
(86) Pritam Singh (1767-1806)
(87) Bikram Singh (1806-1816)
(88) Ajit Singh (1816-1841)
(89) Raja Thakur Singh (1841-1852)
(90) Rai Gyan Singh (1852-1869)
(91) Rai Dalip Singh (1869-1892)
(92) Rai Megh Singh (1892- 1921)
(93) Raja Bhagwant Singh (1921-1948)
(94) Raja Mahender Singh
(95) Raja Maheshwar Singh
The Era of the Rajas
A Deep Dive into the Individual Sovereigns of Kullu
The Founding Lineage
Bihangmani Pal
Founder
- Origins: The founder is believed to have come from the plains, with the ancestral seat located at Prayag or Allahabad.
- Migration Path: The family migrated to the mountains of Almora before moving westward to conquer and settle in Mayapuri (Haridwar).
- Arrival in Kullu: He was accompanied from Mayapuri by his Rani, his son Pachch Pal, and the family priest Purohit Udai Ram.
- Military Campaigns: He attacked and overcame some of the petty chiefs in the Parbati Valley, though this success was temporary.
- Legacy: Spent time as a fugitive at Jagat Sukh, living in concealment in the house of Chapai Ram.
Pachch Pal
Consolidator
- Succession: On the death of Bihangmani, he was succeeded by his son Pachch Pal.
- The Struggle: Continued the contest against the Ranas and Thakurs in his effort to consolidate the kingdom.
- Key Victories: He overcame the Rana of Gajan and the Rana of Bevala.
- Family Sacrifice: His younger brother, Narinder Pal, is said to have been killed in the fighting.
Bahang Pal & Durhin Pal
The Silent Era
“Bahang Pal and Durhin or Hin Pal followed, but nothing is recorded about them”.
Dynastic Continuity & Expansion
Surag Pal
Patriarch of the Split
- Lineage: He stood as the next in succession, maintaining the Pal dynasty’s continuity.
- Family: He had two sons, Shakti and Janak, born of different Ranis.
- Legacy: His reign set the stage for a significant legal and traditional precedent regarding birthright and the status of the Elder Rani.
Shakti Pal
Succession Dispute
- The Dispute: Shakti and Janak contested the succession as they were born at about the same time.
- The Arbiter: The brothers consulted the purohit (priest) to decide whose right it was to reign.
- The Verdict: The priest decided in favor of Shakti Pal, ruling that he was the son of the elder Rani.
Shakti Pal ➔ Mahindra Pal ➔ Om Pal ➔ Rajendra Pal
Rajendra Pal
Expansionist
- Opportunity: Surat Chand, the Rana of Gajan in Kothi Barsai (situated between Jagatsukh and Naggar), died without a male heir.
- Interim Ruler: He left only a daughter, Rup Sundari, who initially succeeded her father.
- Initial Attempt: Rajendra Pal first tried to capture Kothi Barsai by force, but was unsuccessful.
- Diplomatic Success: Through “good offices,” a marriage proposal was put forward to Rup Sundari.
- Annexation: She accepted without much hesitation, and Gajan territory came into the Raja’s hands.
The Shift to Naggar & Martial Consolidation
Visal Pal
Conqueror of Naggar
- Succession: Succeeded his father, Rajendra Pal.
- Conflict: Waged war against Karam Chand, the Rana who held Naggar.
- Outcome: The Rana was killed in battle.
- Subjugation: The Rana’s son succeeded him, but the Raja extracted tribute from him.
Visud Pal
Capital Reformer
- Residence Shift: While preceding Rajas resided at ‘Nast’ (Jagat Sukh), Visudh Pal established his capital at ‘Naggar’.
- Lineage: He followed Visad Pal in the order of succession.
The Recorded & Unrecorded
Intermediary Rajas
“The next Rajas were Uttam Pal; Dvij Pal; Chakar Pal; Karan and Suraj Pal about whom chronicle contains no record”.
- Suraj Pal’s Legacy: Said to have had no heir, but possessed many illegitimate sons.
- Succession Ambiguity: He was succeeded by Rakesh Pal, though their exact relationship remains unknown.
Rudra Pal
Defender of the Throne
- Accession: Succeeded his brother Rakesh Pal, who died without issue.
- Internal Dispute: Initially, his own brothers disputed the succession.
- Unification: Facing the challenge of Ranas threatening the throne, the brothers recognized Rudra Pal as Raja.
- Military Victory: The Ranas were defeated in battle, and the survivors were compelled to pay tribute.
Visal Pal ➔ Visud Pal ➔ [Intermediaries] ➔ Suraj Pal ➔ Rakesh Pal ➔ Rudra Pal
The Invasion of Spiti & Liberation of Lahaul
Rudra Pal & Hamir Pal
Period of Subjugation
- The Invasion: A new danger arose following an invasion of Kullu by the Raja of Spiti, named Rajendra Sen.
- Subjugation: The country was subdued, and Rudra Pal was made to pay tribute to Spiti.
- Continuing Tribute: Hamir Pal, successor to Rudra Pal, continued the payments.
- Financial Burden: The tribute money amounted to six anna in the rupee of yearly revenue.
Parsidh Pal
The Great Liberator
- Defiance: Upon Hamir Pal’s death, Parsidh Pal declined to continue the payment of tribute.
- Military Campaign: He moved with an army to oppose Chet Sen, the Spiti chief.
- Battle Site: The decisive battle took place in the area near the Rohtang Pass.
- The Victory: Parsidh Pal liberated his country from Spiti and also freed Lahaul from Chamba.
Sansar Pal
End of the Hindu Dynasty
- Lineage: Parsidh Pal was followed by Harichand Pal, Subhat Pal, Som Pal and Sansar Pal.
- The Final Epoch: During Sansar Pal’s reign (600-650 A.D.), the final overthrow of the Pre-Buddhist Hindu dynasty in Spiti occurred.
- Tibetan Rule: Following this extinction, the country passed under Tibetan rule.
Rudra Pal ➔ Hamir Pal ➔ Parsidh Pal ➔ Harichand Pal ➔ Subhat Pal ➔ Som Pal ➔ Sansar Pal
Succession Disputes Following Successions
Bhag Pal vs Vibhay Pal
The Fratricidal War
- Succession: Bhag Pal succeeded Pal.
- Brother’s Challenge: His claim was contested by his brother, Vibhay Pal.
- Battle Outcome: A war broke out and Vibhay Pal was killed in battle.
- Succession: Bhag Pal then succeeded him.
Brahm Pal
The End of Legitimate Lineage
- Succession: Followed Raja Bhag Pal.
- The Issue: He left no legitimate son.
Ganesh Pal
The Controversial Succession
- External Intervention: The Rajas of Kangra, Bangahal, Chamba, and Bushahr collectively agreed to install a successor.
- Candidate: They chose Ganesh Pal, who was the illegitimate son of Raja Brahm Pal.
- Ladakh Connection: Reference is made to Ladakh in the context of these events.
“The authenticity of this action [the intervention of the four Rajas] seems to be unreliable”.
Sansar Pal ➔ Bhag Pal ➔ Brahm Pal (No Heir) ➔ Ganesh Pal (Illegitimate)
The Chamba Invasion & The Fall of Kullu
Gambir Pal & Bhumi Pal
Internal Gaddi Contest
- Succession: Gambir Pal succeeded Ganesh Pal.
- The Heirs: Gambir had two sons, Bhumi Pal and Sukhu Pal.
- Conflict: A contest took place for the gaddi.
- Victory: Bhumi Pal emerged victorious, though the chronicle contains little else about his reign.
Sri Dateshwar Pal
The 31st Raja
- Ancestry: Succeeded his father, Bhumi Pal and became 31st Raja of Kullu.
- The Invasion: Meru-Varaman of Chamba (Brahmpura) invaded the Kullu state (C.A.D. 680-700).
- Defeat: In the ensuing battle, Sri Dateshwar Pal was defeated and killed.
- Global Context: At this time, Gobardhan was the Raja of Delhi.
Amar Pal & Sital Pal
Exile and Chamba Rule
- Heroic Defense: Upon his father’s (Dateshwar Pal’s) death, Amar Pal took command of the Kullu forces.
- Last Stand: Amar Pal and his two sons unsuccessfully opposed the Chamba advance; Amar Pal and one son were slain.
- Exile: The second son, Sital Pal, fled to Bushahr state to seek help.
- The Interregnum: Sital Pal and five of his descendants never reigned, as Kullu remained under the rule of Chamba.
Gambir Pal ➔ Bhumi Pal ➔ Sri Dateshwar Pal (31st) ➔ Amar Pal ➔ Sital Pal (Exiled)
The Liberation of the State
Sri Jareshwar Pal
The Restorer
- Lineage: Recognized as the sixth descendant from Sital Pal.
- Achievement: Successfully liberated Kullu from Chamba.
- Strategic Alliance: Liberation was achieved with the assistance of the Bushahr ruler.
- Chronology: This event took place some time around A.D. 780-800.
- Geopolitical Context: The restoration occurred when Chamba was invaded by Kiras or Tibetans and the Raja of Chamba was killed.
The Period of Obscurity
Successive Rajas
Silent Reigns
- Line of Succession: Sri Jareshwar was followed by Prakash Pal, Achamba Pal, Tapaneshwar Pal, Param Pal, and Nagendra Pal.
- Historical Record: Of these rulers, nothing special is on record.
“These rajas had either very small period of reign or were greatly under the influence of their officials that is why nothing is recorded about them”.
Sital Pal (Exile) ➔ … ➔ Sri Jareshwar Pal ➔ Prakash Pal ➔ Achamba Pal ➔ Tapaneshwar Pal ➔ Param Pal ➔ Nagendra Pal
Era of Continued Warfare
Narad Pal
The Stratagist
- The Great War: His reign was marked by another war with Chamba, which continued for twelve years.
- Diplomatic Conclusion: After the long conflict, peace was concluded between the two states.
- The Hidden Intent: The Kullu people were insincere regarding the truce and were actively looking for an opportunity to destroy the invaders.
- The Trap: A social gathering was arranged, ostensibly to cement the peace, to which the Chamba people were invited.
- The Massacre: According to local tradition, a great part of the Chamba army was deceitfully drowned in the River Beas near village Kothi.
- Aftermath: The remainder of the Chamba force fled back to their country.
“The Chamba force was traditionally called ‘the Gaddi Army’.”
The Suket Hegemony
Bhup Pal
43rd in Succession
- Lineage: He followed Narottam Pal and Shish Pal in succession.
- The Conflict: He was a contemporary of Bir Sen, the founder of Suket.
- Defeat: Bir Sen led an army into Saraj, defeated Bhup Pal, and took him prisoner.
- Release: The state of Kullu was released only on the condition of paying tribute and performing feudal services.
“There is reference in both Kullu and Suket chronicles regarding this defeat.”
Anirudh Pal
Vassal of Suket
- Continued Subjugation: As the successor to Bhup Pal, he continued the practice of paying tribute to the Suket state.
Hast Pal I
The Fallen Ally
- The Opportunity: During his reign, Raja Bikram Sen of Suket went on a pilgrimage to Haridwar for two years.
- The Betrayal: The King’s younger brother, Tribikram Sen, was left in charge but proved unfaithful to his elder brother.
- The Pact: To secure the assistance of the Kullu chief in his design, Tribikram restored the state to Hast Pal on the condition of support upon Bikram Sen’s return.
- The Return: Upon returning and hearing of the betrayal, Raja Bikram Sen sought the aid of the Rana of Keonthal, his own kinsman.
- The Battle of Jiuri: A pitched battle took place at Jiuri on the bank of the Satluj.
- The Fatal Outcome: Both Hast Pal of Kullu and Tribikram Sen of Suket were killed in the conflict.
- Conquest: Following the victory, Bikram Sen advanced into Kullu and took full possession of the country.
Surat Pal (Hasir Pal)
Era of Resistance
- Reduced Status: After Hast Pal’s death, his descendants—Dhani Ram, Gopal Das, and Lachmi Das—were reduced to mere Jagirdars.
- Independence: In the third generation from Bikram Sen, Surat Pal seized the opportunity to free Kullu when Lakshaman Sen (a minor) took the Suket throne.
- Re-Subjugation: Fourteen years later, the Suketi Raja again subdued Kullu.
“This invasion of Kullu by Lakshman Sen is mentioned in Suket records but is not confirmed by the Kullu chronicle.”
Narottam Pal ➔ Shish Pal ➔ Bhup Pal ➔ Anirudh Pal ➔ Hast Pal I ➔ (Dhani Ram, Gopal Das, Lachmi Das as Jagirdars) ➔ Surat Pal
Expansion and Foreign Subjugation
Tegh Pal
The Supposed Conqueror
- Succession: Son of and successor to Santokh Pal I.
- Baltistan Campaign: Supposedly conquered Baltistan.
- Military Feat: Killed the chief named Mohammed Khan.
- Result: Made the chief’s son a tributary.
“The authenticity of these statements regarding the Baltistan conquest is considered doubtful.”
Uchit Pal
Invader of Tibet
- Foreign Invasion: He successfully invaded Tibet.
- Succession: He was the successor to Tegh Pal.
The Capture of Uchit Pal’s Son
Subjugation to Ladakh
- The Betrayal: Upon Uchit Pal’s death, the Rajas of ‘Lahasa’ captured his son.
- Context: The capture occurred while the son was performing his father’s funeral ceremonies.
- Imprisonment: He was jailed in Mohangarh, located in Kothi Chaparsa near Bubu Pass.
- Timeline: This took place during the reign of Lha Chen Utpala, approximately C.A.D. 1125-50.
- Tribute Oaths: The King of Kullu bound himself by oath to pay tribute in ‘dzos’ and ‘iron’ to the King of Ladakh.
- Duration: This tribute remained in force until the reign of Sengge Namgyal (A.D. 1590-1620) and even later.
Santokh Pal I ➔ Tegh Pal ➔ Uchit Pal ➔ Captured Successor (Period of Ladakhi Tribute)
Alliances and Territorial Struggles
Sikandar Pal
The Diplomat
- Diplomatic Mission: Traveled to Delhi to complain against Chinese aggression.
- Imperial Support: The Raja of Delhi arrived in person with an army that passed through Kullu.
- Northern Conquests: The combined force conquered ‘Gya Mur Orr’, Baltistan, and Tibet as far as ‘Mantilac’ (Lake Mansarover).
- Restoration: Sikandar Pal was restored to his dominions.
- Imperial Tribute: The conquered Rajas of Gya Mur Orr, Baltistan, and Tibet were made to pay tribute to Delhi through the Kullu Raja.
“The lake Mansarover, in olden days, was called Mantilic.”
The Period of Silence
Successive Rulers
- Lineage: Followed by Saras Pal, Sachdev Pal, Sri Mahadev Pal, and Nirati Pal.
- Historical Record: Of these four rulers, there are no specific details available.
- Next in Line: The succession then passed to Bain Pal.
Hast Pal II & Sasi Pal
Subjugation to Bushahr
- Invasion: During the reign of Hast Pal II, the Raja of Bushahr invaded Kullu.
- Tribute: After exacting tribute, the Bushahr ruler left the country.
- Persistence: This payment of tribute continued throughout the reign of the next ruler, Sasi Pal.
Gambir Chand (Pal)
The Liberator
- Lineage: Son of Raja Sasi Pal.
- Achievement: Succeeded in freeing his country from the control of Bushahr.
Sikandar Pal ➔ Saras Pal ➔ Sachdev Pal ➔ Sri Mahadev Pal ➔ Nirati Pal ➔ Bain Pal ➔ Hast Pal II ➔ Sasi Pal ➔ Gambir Chand (Pal)
Era of Territorial Struggles & Foreign Dominance
Narinder Pal
Subject of Bangahal
- Succession: Followed Nisudan Pal.
- Capture: During this period, Kullu was captured by Bangahal.
- Duration: The state remained subject to that state for ten years.
Nand Pal & Dharti Pal
Tributaries of Kangra
- Succession: Nand Pal succeeded Santokh Pal II.
- Subjugation: In his time, Kullu became tributary to Kangra.
- Persistence: This continued so till the reign of Dharti Pal.
- Restoration: Inder Pal, however, recovered his independence and threw off allegiance to Kangra.
Keral Pal
Renewed Suket Invasion
- Succession Chain: Followed Mahi Chakar Pal and Jayadhar Pal.
- Conflict: In Keral Pal’s reign, Kullu was again invaded by the Raja of Suket.
Regional Contemporaries
Rana Bhosal
Petty Chief of the Beas
- Territory: The possessor of the land between the Siunsa Nala and Bajaura, on the right bank of the Beas.
- Marriage: He was married to the princess of Suket.
- Residency: Resided at the fortified palace of ‘Garh Dhek’.
- Capital & Defense: His capital was ‘Sangor’, opposite to Naggar, and his chief defence was the huge dressed stone fort of ‘Baragarh’.
- Family: His wife was named Rupni, his son ‘Tikka Ghungru’ and his daughter Dei Ghudari.
- Reputation: The Rana was notorious for his stupidity.
- Administration: The Rana had a wazir, named ‘Tita Mehta’.
The Late Pal Period
Urdhan Pal
72nd Raja of Pal Dynasty
- Succession: Ruled after Keral Pal, following the reigns of Hans Pal, Agast Pal, and Madan Pal.
- Architectural Legacy: Built the ‘temple of Sandhya Devi’ at Jagatsukh.
- Reign Period: He was the 72nd Raja of Pal dynasty and ruled between 1418 to 1428 A.D..
Nisudan Pal ➔ Narinder Pal ➔ Santokh Pal II ➔ Nand Pal ➔ Dharti Pal ➔ Inder Pal ➔ Mahi Chakar Pal ➔ Jayadhar Pal ➔ Keral Pal ➔ Hans Pal ➔ Agast Pal ➔ Madan Pal ➔ Urdhan Pal (72nd)