About Kumaon Kingdom
The Kumaon kingdom, which is now situated in the Uttarakhand region of the northern part of India, is known for its temples and pilgrimage places.
Different mythological stories and historical evidence say or tell about the enriching history of the region. According to mythology, Kumaon is derived from Kurmanchal, the land (anchal) of the Kurma avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Archaeological evidence in the form of insciptions at the Lakhu Udyar rock shelter tells about the early settlement in the region. It belongs to the Mesolithic age, or middle stone age, which is when humans started moving from hunting to agriculture. Warmer climates expedite the receding of glaciers, which give rise to the origin of rivers. All these changes helped humans settle in one place and start practicing agriculture.
Many waves of human settlement visited the region for food and shelter. The first one to arrive was Kol, who came from the southern side after being ousted by the Dravidians. The next are the Kunnindas, who arrived in the region in the 5th century BC from north India. They were mentioned in the Mahabharata and Puranas and were practitioners of Shaiviasm.
The Kalsi Rock Edict shows the presence of Bhuddism during Ashoka times.
Medieval Period of Kumaon Kingdom
Credit: Aeroshanks2016
During the medieval period, from 500 BCE to 600 CE 600 the region came under the rule of the Katyuri kings. It was an offshoot of Kunindas and was founded by Vashudev Katyuri. The rule of the Katyuri king covers a large area of Garhwal, Kumaon, and Nepal. They established the capital, Kartikeyapura, which is now known as Baijnath Valley in Bageshwar district.
Credit: Pramod Rawal
A great number of temples have been built across the region, among which the Surya temples of Katarmal and Jageshwar Dham are quite popular among visitors. Surya Temple of Katarmal is a 900-year-old temple situated on a hilltop facing east (opposite Almora).
In the end, under the rule of Katyuri the kingdom was dispersed into Baijnath Katyuri, Dwarahat, and Doti (in Nepal), and Baramandal, Askot, Sira, Sora, and Sui (Kali Kumaon).
Chand Dynasty of Kumaon Kingdom
The next kingdom that came to rule Kumaon was the Chand dynasty from the 13th to the 18th centuries. The dynasty was established much in the 10th century by Som Chand in Kannauj, near Allahabad. As they moved they displaced the Katyuri king and established the capital at Kali Kumaon in Chamapwat. During the rule, the famous Bageshwar temple was built. A new school of painting known as the pahari school of art was also developed under their rule.
The most powerful ruler of the Chand dynasty is considered Baz Bahadur, who ruled from 1638–78 AD. He made a strategic move to forge a partnership with Shahjahan. He attacked Garhwal in 1655, which was under Pirthvi Shah and the Mughals. He won territories around the terrain region, including Dehradun, and expanded her rule in the east up to the Karnali River.
He started collecting tax as poll revenue and sent it as a tribute to Delhi. He built several temples, like Golu Devata Temple and Bhimeshwara Mahadev Temple. Golu Devta Temple is dedicated to his general in the army, who fought bravely.
Towards the end of the 17th century, the Chand Rajas again attacked the Garhwal kingdom. In 1688, Udyot Chand erected several temples at Almora, including Tripura Sundari, Udyot Chandeshwer, and Parbateshwer, to mark his victory over Garhwal and Doti. The Pabateshwar temple was renamed twice to become the present Nanda Devi temple. Later, Jagat Chand (1708–20) defeated the Raja of Garhwal and pushed him away from Srinagar, and his kingdom was given to a Brahmin.
At the end of the 17th century, the Garhwal kingdom was again attacked by the Chand Rajas. As their rule flourished, several temples were built at Almora in 1688 by Udyot Chand to mark their victory over Garhwal. The famous include Tripura Sundari, Udyot Chandeshwer, and Parbateshwer, who were later renamed the present Nanda Devi temple.
Gorkha
Gorkha attacked Kumaon kingdom in 1791 and moved westward. ruled the region for the next 25 years until they wiped out the British in 1815 in the Treaty of Sugauli. Col. Gardner and Capt. Heresay led the British Army contingents, which defeated the Gorkhas in a two-pronged attack.
British Rule
However, the Kumaon people opposed the rule of Britishers in various parts of Kumaon. In 1857, as a result, a rebellion was raised under the leadership of Kalu Singh Mahara in Chamapwat district. In 1891, the British regoranized the administration and made a division consisting of Kumaon, Garhwal, and the Tarai. Two districts were carved out, redistributed, and renamed after their headquarters, Nainital and Almora.