SBMA - Uttaranchal

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Uttaranchal At a glance
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Govt Depts.
Tourism
Transport
Public Works
Economics & Stats.
Policy
Finance
Tech Education
Rural Development
Planning
Irrigation

Organisations
Power Corporation
Jal Vidyut Nigam
Pey Jal Nigam
Disaster Management
Diversified Agriculture Support Project
Swajal
Watershed Mgnt. Directorate
IT Development Authority
GB Pant University of Agr & Tech

Early History of Garhwal

History here is recounted in the songs of Baadis, singing bards that wander the hills, and are a mix of history and legend. Local stories of fighting chieftains and warring tribes pervade. Until 1700, the weapons were bows and arrows, daggers and swords, sometimes even bamboo staves and stones. Leaders and rulers constantly changed. Rajas followed each other to the throne, but often the real masters, the Rohillas, the Gujjars, the Sikhs, and the Gorkhas, lurked behind the scenes levying heavy taxes.

Then the ambitious Gorkhas of Nepal invaded in 1803, taking Srinagar. In this hardy group, the British found stubborn opponents, but even the Gorkhas were not strong enough. They were pushed out of Garhwal in 1815.

In-spite of their military misfortunes, the Garhwalis were hardly poor fighters. It was their isolation and lack of up-to-date arms that put them at the mercy of invading armies. The valor of Garhwali soldiers became known to the world through the valiant efforts of people like Gabar Singh Negi in World War I.

The intrepid spirit of these people has always been here, and the dissent of Chander Singh Garhwali and many others during the freedom movement continue to be an inspiration for the hill people.

A unique and beautiful culture has also grown here through the difficulties and turbulence. In the mid seventeenth century, escaping the terrors of the Emperor Aurangzeb, his nephew fled to the hills and found refuge with the kings of Garhwal. He also brought with him courtiers and servants. They had in turn carried with them ideas and colors which were to blossom into the Garhwal school of painting. It takes themes from religious classics and is laced with the impressionistic styles of Molaram, the founder.

The Ancient Scriptures

Uttaranchal finds mention in the ancient Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manakhand and Himavat. The Kushanas, Kudinas, Kanishka, Samudra, Gupta, the Pauravas, Katuris, Palas, the Chandras and Pawaras and the British have ruled in turns.

In the early 9th Century Shri Shankaracharya was almost entirely responsible for the revival of Hinduism. At the time that he set out on his reformist mission, Uttarakhand was a land of mystic cults, naga worship, tantric rites and animistic faith. He established a series of dhams and maths, seats of Hindu religion, at elevated sites in the middle of the Himalayas. At Jyotirmath, now Joshimath, he set up an institution of Hindu learning and instruction, a tradition that remains till this day. At Badrinath, he installed the image of Lord Vishnu near the source of the Alaknanda River, and at Kedarnath he chose to enshrine Lord Shiva himself. He died in 820 A.D. at Kedarnath and his samadhi (memorial) behind the temple lures thousands of pilgrims till today.

The Devine Land

Words fail to describe the awesome charm and enchanting beauty of this magical land. Pictures do never tell the whole story. The splendor and the beauty of the land is to be seen and and felt. Blessed with magnificent glaciers, sparkling and joyful rivers, gigantic and ecstatic Himalayan peaks, natural biospheres, valleys full of flowers, skiing slopes and dense forests, this abode of Gods includes many shrines and places of pilgrimage. This is the land where Vedas and Shastras were composed and where the great Indian epic Mahabharatha was written. The land has always been the source of inspiration for nature lovers and seekers of peace and spirituality.



	Mountains History People & Culture Mountains Stories Uttaranchal At a glance Govt. Orders Utt. Email Directory Govt Depts. Tourism Transport Public Works Economics & Stats. Policy Finance Tech Education Rural Development Planning Irrigation Organisations Power Corporation Jal Vidyut Nigam Pey Jal Nigam Disaster Management Diversified Agriculture Support Project Swajal Watershed Mgnt. Directorate IT Development Authority GB Pant University of Agr & Tech		Early History of Garhwal History here is recounted in the songs of Baadis, singing bards that wander the hills, and are a mix of history and legend. Local stories of fighting chieftains and warring tribes pervade. Until 1700, the weapons were bows and arrows, daggers and swords, sometimes even bamboo staves and stones. Leaders and rulers constantly changed. Rajas followed each other to the throne, but often the real masters, the Rohillas, the Gujjars, the Sikhs, and the Gorkhas, lurked behind the scenes levying heavy taxes. Then the ambitious Gorkhas of Nepal invaded in 1803, taking Srinagar. In this hardy group, the British found stubborn opponents, but even the Gorkhas were not strong enough. They were pushed out of Garhwal in 1815.

			In-spite of their military misfortunes, the Garhwalis were hardly poor fighters. It was their isolation and lack of up-to-date arms that put them at the mercy of invading armies. The valor of Garhwali soldiers became known to the world through the valiant efforts of people like Gabar Singh Negi in World War I.

			The intrepid spirit of these people has always been here, and the dissent of Chander Singh Garhwali and many others during the freedom movement continue to be an inspiration for the hill people. A unique and beautiful culture has also grown here through the difficulties and turbulence. In the mid seventeenth century, escaping the terrors of the Emperor Aurangzeb, his nephew fled to the hills and found refuge with the kings of Garhwal. He also brought with him courtiers and servants. They had in turn carried with them ideas and colors which were to blossom into the Garhwal school of painting. It takes themes from religious classics and is laced with the impressionistic styles of Molaram, the founder.
			The Ancient Scriptures Uttaranchal finds mention in the ancient Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manakhand and Himavat. The Kushanas, Kudinas, Kanishka, Samudra, Gupta, the Pauravas, Katuris, Palas, the Chandras and Pawaras and the British have ruled in turns. In the early 9th Century Shri Shankaracharya was almost entirely responsible for the revival of Hinduism. At the time that he set out on his reformist mission, Uttarakhand was a land of mystic cults, naga worship, tantric rites and animistic faith. He established a series of dhams and maths, seats of Hindu religion, at elevated sites in the middle of the Himalayas. At Jyotirmath, now Joshimath, he set up an institution of Hindu learning and instruction, a tradition that remains till this day. At Badrinath, he installed the image of Lord Vishnu near the source of the Alaknanda River, and at Kedarnath he chose to enshrine Lord Shiva himself. He died in 820 A.D. at Kedarnath and his samadhi (memorial) behind the temple lures thousands of pilgrims till today. The Devine Land Words fail to describe the awesome charm and enchanting beauty of this magical land. Pictures do never tell the whole story. The splendor and the beauty of the land is to be seen and and felt. Blessed with magnificent glaciers, sparkling and joyful rivers, gigantic and ecstatic Himalayan peaks, natural biospheres, valleys full of flowers, skiing slopes and dense forests, this abode of Gods includes many shrines and places of pilgrimage. This is the land where Vedas and Shastras were composed and where the great Indian epic Mahabharatha was written. The land has always been the source of inspiration for nature lovers and seekers of peace and spirituality.