Early History & Ancient Influences:
- Kushanas (North India, Central Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, East Iran):
- United vast region under single state formation.
- Coins and inscriptions found at Kanihara (Kangra).
- A stupa connected with King Kanishka (Kanika Chaitya) found in Zanskar.
- Ladakh belonged to Kanishka’s empire; Lahaul likely part of Kushan empire.
- Gupta Period (Position of Lahaul):
- Probably an outland.
- Samudragupta’s empire extended only up to the Beas Valley.
- Harshavardhana of Thanesar (A.D. 606-664):
- Lahaul connected with his empire through Brahmpura and Kullu.
- First historical mention of Lahaul found during this period.
- Chamba (Founded A.D. 550, Capital Brahampura/Bharmaur):
- Conquered Lahaul in A.D. 600 but soon lost it (perhaps only a portion) to Kullu.
- Sen Kings (Spiti):
- Early rulers of Spiti.
- Samudra Sen: One of the earliest known rulers.
- Rajendra Sen: Kullu became tributary to Spiti for a short period.
- Chet Sen: Spiti’s fortunes declined.
- Kashmir Influence (Till 11th Century A.D.):
- Inscriptions found near Tinan show Kashmir’s lasting mark.
- Ladakh Rule over Lahaul (Began 11th Century A.D.):
- Likely started when Lha-chen dNgos-grub (pronounced ‘Zos-grub’) from Ladakh promised tribute in iron and yak cows to Kullu.
- Lahaul was believed to be a province of Kullu, with its master, the Raja of Kullu, providing the tribute.
- The main valleys (junction of Chandra and Bhaga rivers) and areas along Kugti Pass and Lahaul were under Ladakh.
- Control of Kullu did not extend beyond Lot (Lod) or Kirting.
- Evidence of Chamba reign in lower parts of Manchad (‘Re-phag’/Trilokinath).
- Image of Marikula Devi at Markul-Udaipur set up during reign of Chamba king Partap Singh Varman (A.D. 1569-1570) by Thakur Himapal.
Later Rulers and Conflicts:
- Bahadur Singh of Kullu (A.D. 1553 onwards):
- Temple of ‘Hidimba’ erected for him by master of Manali temple.
- Rule over Lahaul appears unbroken until conquered by Sikhs.
- Kalian Singh (Successor of Prithvi Singh):
- Reigned for a short period of two years; likely did not control Lahaul.
- Jagat Singh (A.D. 1637-1672):
- Had Lahaul under his sway.
- Won additional territory at the expense of Chamba.
- bDe-legs-rnam-rgyal (A.D. 1640-1675) of Ladakh:
- Ladakh invaded by ‘QALMAQS’ (Mongols) in A.D. 1681 and lasted for 3 years due to conflict between ‘Dug-pa’ (Red-hat) and ‘Gelugpa’ (Yellow-hat) religious sects in Tibet.
- Ladakh sided with ‘Dugpas’; ‘Gelugpas’ invited Mongols.
- Mongols (Sog-po) also invaded Lahaul as its Lamas followed ‘Dugpa sect’.
- Mongol army stayed in Lahaul for 2 years, stormed Keylong fort, and was annihilated by a glacier near ‘Tinan’.
- Ladakhis called Mughals for aid (Fidai Khan from Kashmir). Mughals defeated Qalmaqs.
- bDe-legs-rnam-rgyal paid heavily for Mughal aid.
- Bidhi Singh (Kullu):
- Helped Mughals.
- Rewarded with annexation of portion of Upper Lahaul (area of ‘Dartse’) to his state.
- Thirot became the dividing boundary between Kullu and Chamba territories from his time until the end of Kullu rule in Lahaul.
- Treaty between Ladakh and Kullu (Utpala’s time) likely snapped when Upper Lahaul was annexed by Kullu.
- Man Singh (A.D. 1688-1719) of Kullu:
- Fixed boundaries with Ladakh at Lingti around 1700.
- Entered a trade agreement with kings of Ladakh.
- Invaded Spiti, extracted tribute, and established loose authority.
- Jos of Lahaul (Kelang, Tinan) redrafted chronicles, tracing origin to Rajput/Chhatri race to raise standing with Kullu Rajas.
- Jos of Barbog lost Jagir rights, probably due to loyalty to Ladakh.
- Built Gondhla Fort (possibly Rani-ki-kothi).
- Married daughter of Gondhal Thakur.
- Udai Singh (A.D. 1690-1720) of Chamba:
- Renamed Margzil as Udaipur around 1695.
- Raised Udaipur to status of district centre in part of Lahaul.
- Tedhi Singh (1742-1767) of Kullu:
- Phuntsog, a goldsmith from Shansha (Lahaul), manufactured a golden parasol for ‘Ragnaji’.
- Goldsmith refused estate, showing satisfaction in humble profession.
- Pritam Singh (A.D. 1767-1806) of Kullu:
- Lahaul contingent assisted in war with Mandi at Bajaura under banner of Gepang Lha. Mandi defeated.
- Bikram Singh (A.D. 1806-1816) of Kullu:
- Name mentioned in inscription at Gemur Monastery.
- Jo Dharma Singh of Khangsar was holding land and property in Fooling, likely remuneration from Ladakh kings.
- Sikh Rule (from 1820, actual possession 1840):
- Kullu invaded and captured unopposed in 1840.
- Jit Singh (Raja of Kullu) deposed and imprisoned.
- Lahaul came under direct control of Sikhs.
- Cunningham found Lahaul under Sikhs in 1839.
- House tax collected by Sikh government.
- Rates of toll adjusted by Zorawar Singh (Governor of Ladakh). Raised duty on each carriage sheep from 0.5 anna to 4 annas (considered oppressive).
- Zorawar Singh invaded Ladakh, Zanskar, and Spiti (1834-35), but not Lahaul as it was already under Sikhs.
- Chose invasion route through Kishtwar instead of Kashmir as Kashmir was also Sikh possession.
British Era:
- Zorawar Singh’s attack on Tibet (1841):
- Attacked Tibet with 6,000 men.
- Killed on December 14, 1841, by Tibetans.
- Tibetan invasion of Ladakh (1842):
- Gulab Singh’s forces defeated Tibetans decisively on December 21, 1842.
- Tibetan General ‘Sukhang’ taken prisoner.
- Treaty of Amritsar (March 16, 1846):
- Between British Government and Maharaja Gulab Singh.
- Hilly and mountainous country East of Indus and West of Ravi (including Chamba) made over to Maharaja.
- Spiti taken by the British.
- Revenue Settlement of Spiti:
- Made by ‘Vans Agnews’ on September 27, 1847.
- British Annexation of Lahaul and Kullu (A.D. 1846):
- Lahaul made part of Kullu subdivision under Assistant Commissioner.
- Assistant Commissioner worked under Deputy Commissioner of Kangra District (Headquarters: Dharamshala).
- Lahaul divided into 13 (later 14) ‘Kothis’.
- Highest office: ‘Negi’ (also called ‘Wazir’), responsible for revenue collection.
- Negi’s headquarters: Keylong.
- Negi had criminal and civil powers, honorary magistrate, subordinate magistrate of second class.
- Negi responsible for ‘begar’ (forced labor), procuring supplies for travelers, and baggage carriage.
- Negis of Lahaul:
- Baliram of Phurah (Manchad): First Negi appointed by British, previously a judge during Sikh rule.
- Thakur Tara Chand of Khangsar: Appointed after Baliram declined.
- Post remained hereditary until 1941.
- British Administration in Spiti (Autumn 1849):
- Major Hay (Assistant Commissioner of Kullu) took charge.
- Nono: Hereditary ‘Wazir’ of Spiti, entrusted with administration, granted a Jagir.
- Tam-Zin-nam-Gyal: Nono’s son, became ‘Wazir’ on July 22, 1864.
- Nono formally vested with honorary magisterial powers in 1873.
- Wazir Amar Chand of Lahaul (World War I, 1914-1919):
- Helped British in recruitment.
- Took command as ‘Jamwdar’ in 6th Labour Corps.
- Given title ‘Rai Bahadur’ in 1917 for valuable services.
- Died in 1921.
- Wazir Abhai Chand: Amar Chand’s son, inherited the Wazir post.
- Khushal Chand: Abhai Chand’s son.
- Naib Tehsildar: Appointed in 1941, ending hereditary Negi post.
Foreigner Traveller Account:
- Andrew Wilson (European Traveller, 1873 A.D.):
- Called Lahaul “a valley of glaciers.”
- Hieun Tsang (A.D. 635):
- Visited Kullu and noticed Lahaul as ‘La-hua-La’.
- Jesuit Father, Azevedo:
- Traveled from Ladakh to Kullu and Punjab.
- Cunningham (1839):
- Visited Lahaul and found it already under the Sikhs.