Uttaranchal is an
amalgamation of the two
hilly divisions of former
Uttar Pradesh, Kumaon and
Garhwal, the regions that
are known according to Hindu
legends as Devbhoomi (land
of the gods). Both the
divisions, though they are
spelled in the same breath,
show sufficient diversity in
their history, culture and
ethnicity so much so that
they are often considered
separately.
The Garhwal Himalayas have
nurtured civilization from
the wee hours of history. It
appears to have been a
favorite locale for the
voluminous mythology of the
Puranic period. The
traditional name of Garhwal
was Uttarakhand and
excavations have revealed
that it formed part of the
Mauryan Empire. It also
finds mention in the
7th-century travelogue of
Huen Tsang. However, it is
with Adi Shankaracharya that
the name of Garhwal will
always be linked, for the
great 8th-century spiritual
reformer visited the remote,
snow-laden heights of
Garhwal, established a math
(Joshimath) and resorted
some of the most sacred
shrines, including Badrinath
and Kedarnath.
The
history of Garhwal as one
unified whole began in the
15th century, when king Ajai
Pal merged the 52 separate
principalities, each with
its own garh or fortress.
For 300 years, Garhwal
remained one kingdom, with
its capital at Srinagar (not
to be confused with the
capital of Kashmir). Then
Pauri and Dehradun were
perforce ceded to the Crown
as payment for British help,
rendered to the Garhwalis
during the Gurkha invasion,
in the early 19th century.
Humankind has been around in
Kumaon for a very long time.
Evidences of Stone Age
settlements have been found
in Kumaon, particularly the
rock shelter at Lakhu Udyar.
The paintings here date back
to the Mesolithic period.
The early medieval history
of Kumaon is the history of
the Katyuri dynasty. The
Katyuri kings ruled from the
seventh to the 11th century,
holding sway at the peak of
their powers over large
areas of Kumaon, Garhwal,
and western Nepal. The town
of Baijnath near Almora was
the capital of this dynasty
and a center of the arts.
Temple building flourished
under the Katyuris and the
main architectural
innovation introduced by
them was the replacement of
bricks with hewn stone.
On a hilltop facing east
(opposite Almora), is the
temple of Katarmal. This
900-year-old sun temple was
built during the declining
years of the Katyuri
dynasty. The intricately
carved doors and panels have
been removed to the National
Museum in Delhi as a
protective measure after the
10th-century idol of the
presiding deity was stolen.
After an interregnum of a
couple of centuries, the
Chands of Pithoragarh became
the dominant dynasty. The
magnificent temple complex
at Jageshwar, with its
cluster of a hundred and
sixty-four temples, was
built by the Chand rulers
over a space of two
centuries. Dedicated to Lord
Shiva, the evocative
carvings are complemented by
the beautiful cedar forest
around it. |