The Gahadvala or Gaharwar is a Hindu Rajput dynasty that ruled the kingdom of Kannauj for around a hundred years, beginning the late 11th century.[1][2]
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The Kannauj kingdom was established by Som Chand, who came here from Kannuaj near Allahabad, sometime in the 10th century [1], and displaced the Katyuri Kings (कत्यूरी नरेश), originally from Katyur valley near Joshimath, who had been ruling the area from the 7th century AD. He continued to call his state Kurmanchal and his people Kurm (second avtar of Lord Vishnu), and established its capital in Champawat. Kurmanchal gave rise to name Kumaon to this region.
Many temples built in this former capital city of Champawat, during the 11th and 12th century exist today, this include the Baleshwar and Nagnath temples. ’Bhimeshwara Mahadev Temple’, at Bhim Tal, built by Baz Bahadur.
The founder of the Kannauj Gahadvala dynasty was Chandradeva, who took control of Kannauj at the end of the 11th century (1090A.D.), filling the political vacuum that had been created after that city was sacked by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1018. Chandradeva soon expanded the kingdom to include Delhi, Ayodhya, and Varanasi (Benares). During the rule of his successor Govindachandra (1114–1154), the Gahadvala state reached the pinnacle of its power, occupying much of present-day Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Govindachandra moved his capital from Kannauj to Varanasi. His queen Kumaradevi was a devout Buddhist, and Govindachandra was a patron of both Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries.
During the prime of Rajput Raaj in India, the Gaharwar king Chandradeva successfully commanded Delhi and annexed it to his State of Kannauj.
Delhi was under Pratihara rule at that time and was under constant attack from Rastrakuta. Chandradev attacked both Rashtrakuta and Pratihara amid their battle with each other and defeated the unified enemies and took over the state of Delhi. After the dismemberment of the Pratihara empire, there were repeated incursions in this region that Chandradev fought off, which laid down the foundation of the renaissance era in Delhi.
The rule of the Gahadavala dynasty over the district is incontestably proved by the discovery at Kudarkot of a copper plate grant dated in the reign of Chandradeva. Chandradeva founded the Gahadavala dynasty at Kanyakubja after defeating a chief named Gopala. His jurisdiction extended almost over the whole of the present Uttar Pradesh including this district.
Chandradeva was succeeded by Madanpala. However, he ruled for a very short period. Madanpala was succeeded by hit son Govindachandra. Two copper plate grants of Govindachandra, dated respectively Samvat 1161, or A. D. 1104, and Samvat 1174 or 1117 A. D. have been found in Bisahi, two miles north-east of Tahsil Bidhuna of the district. Another copper plate grant of this king dated Samvat 1166 or A. D. 1109 has been found at Rahan in the district.
Govindachandra seems to have wielded substantial power in the State while he was only a "Yuvaraja" or Crown Prince. He defeated the invading bands of Muslims sometimes before 1109 A.D., for the Rahan plate records that he "again and again by the play of his matchless fighting" compelled the Hammira (i.e. Amir) to "lay aside his enmity". The Rahan plate further described Govindachandra as "terrific" in cleaving the frontal gloves of arrays of irresistible mighty large elephants from Gauda", which shows that Govindachandra must have made some encroachments in to Magadha. In short, Govindachandra made himself a considerable power and under him the glories of this region were revised.
Govindachandra was succeeded by his son Vijayachandra sometime in 1155 A. D. Like his father, Vijayachandra also successfully faced Muslim aggressions. By the very beginning of the reign of Vijayachandra, an unmistakable symptom of decline of the Gahadavala power manifested itself in the loss of Delhi. The full significance of this loss was realised when, about a generation later, the Muslims attacked Delhi region and occupied it, rendering the Gahadavala frontier practically defenceless. Vijayachandra was succeeded by his son Jaichandra in 1170 A. D. He may be described as the last great king of the Gahadavala dynasty, whose power and extensive jurisdiction struck even Muslim historians.
During the reign of Jaichandra, the Chauhans, who starting from their territories in Ajmer had annexed Delhi and were at this time bidding for supremacy in the North under the vigorous rule of Prathviraja III. Towards the south there were the Chandellas whose power at this time was at its height. Apart from this, there were repeated Muslim invasions in North-western India which had already threatened the unity of India. The most important event of this region was the celebration of the Swayamvara of his daughter Samyukta, who was however, carried away by force, in the midst of the ceremonies by Prithviraja. Samyukta's elopement with Prithviraj III, heir to the rival Chauhan Rajput kingdom to the west, is the subject of many romantic tales. Perhaps, this abduction was the cause which sowed the seed of enemity between these two northern monarrmes. Though there is no reliable evidence of conflict between these two kings, it is quite probable that they were positively hostile to each other; lack of sympathy between these two kings is shown by their mutual non-cooperation on the eve of the final conquest of India by the Muslims, led by Mohammad Gohori. Jaichand was destined to be the last Gahadvala king of Kannauj. The city was attacked by Muhammad of Ghor in 1194; Jaichandra drowned in the Ganges fighting the battle; his kingdom was conquered and sacked by Muhammad's armies.
Some survivors, led by Jaichand's son or grandson Siyaji (Shiv ji), fled west to the Marwar desert region of Rajasthan, where they established themselves as rulers in the early 13th century, founding the Rathore clan which ruled the princely state of Jodhpur.
Another branch consisting of men, royal women and children escaped to Kumaon hills. His descendants 300 years later upsurped power in kumaon hills by defeating the ruling Katyuri dynasty. The Chand Kings mention Rathore as their kul.
Another grandson, Bijai Chand, fled to Kantit in the Mīrzāpur District and, overcoming the Bhar Rāja of that place, founded the family of the Gaharwār Rājas of Bijaipur-Kantit. All the other Gaharwārs trace their lineage to Benāres or Bijaipur.
Another group of warriors that had migrated southward from Kannauj came to occupy territory immediately west to Dahiya, Manda, and Vijaypur. This line came to be known as Bundela and gave name to the erstwhile Bundelkhand that comprises parts of both current Madhya Pradesh and Uttar-pradesh.
Gaharwar, Rathore and Bundela share common Gautra, namely Gautam and Gaharwar, and are considered the original bloodline for both Bundela and Rathore whereas the Gahlot are pronounced as Gaharwar. Gaharwars are the fiercest of the Rajput yet refined statesmen, philosophers, and patrons of arts and science. The Gaharwar era in India was brief, but its impact has lasted through the era of renaissance in India.
The size and scale of the ancient town can be gauged from the fact that existing ruins extend over the lands of five villages, occupying a semicircle fully 4 miles in diameter. While no historic Hindu structures remain intact, the "great mosque", constructed by Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur in 1406 out of the remains of demolished Hindu temples, is still known to Hindus as "Sita's Kitchen". Brahmins in Bengal and Assam trace their origin to a migration southwards from this city in the 9th and 10th centuries. [edit]Geography
Kannauj is located at 27.07°N 79.92°E[2]. It has an average elevation of 139 metres (456 feet)
Jaichand's descendants usurped power back in the region, albeit 3 centuries later. They were able to establish their domain in 1563 by overpowering local chiefs and the ruling Katyuri Kings. They had brief stints with the Rajput clans in Gangoli and Bankot then predominant there the Mankotis of Mankot, the Pathanis of Attigaon-Kamsyar, Kalakotis and few Khush Rajput Clans of the region. The Chand Kings mention rathore as their kul.
Their capitol was shifted to Almora by Raja Kalyan Chand in 1563, when he laid the foundation of a town named 'Alam Nagar', which was also called, 'Rajapur' [2][3], a name that is still used and has been found inscribed on a number of copper plates of the time [4].
Mughal historians mention that Chand ruler, Gyan Chand, visited Delhi Sultanate and received the regions of Bhabhar- Terai up to the Ganges as a grant from the Sultan. The lower hills remained under local chieftains; it was Kirti Chand (1488–1503), who first ruled the entire of Nainital district, along with the rest of Kumaon.
In 1581, the Chand King, Rudra Chand (1565–1597), son of Raja Kalyan Chand seized Sira defeating the Raika king Hari Malla and attacked the Garhwal Kingdom for the first time, though this attack was repulsed by the king, Dularam Sah [5], his subsequent attacks were also thwarted. Rudra Chandra was a contemporary of Akbar, and even paid him a visit in Lahore in 1587, as a mark of his obeisance. Akbarnama mentions him as "one of the great landlords of India", and further talks about his initial hesitation in approaching the court of Akbqr, it was Raja Todar Mal himself, who sent his son Kalyan Das to assure him to proceed to meet Akbar. Subsequently, the two met and agreed on a concord [6], and thus Ain-e-Akbari, written during period of Akbar, also mentions the Sarkar of Kumaon, containing 21 Mahals (a geographical unit of the times) and the revenue collected [7].
After the death of Rudra Chand in 1597, his son, Lakshmi Chand, also continued the attacks on Garhwal for many years, though he too was repulsed. He also constructed the ‘Bagnath temple’ at Bageshwar, Bagheshwar in 1602 [8].
One of most powerful rulers of the Chand dynasty was Baz Bahadur (1638–78) AD., who met Shahjahan in Delhi, and in 1655 joined forces with him to attack Garhwal, which was under rule of its king, Pirthi Sah, and subsequently captured the Terai region including Dehradun, which was hence separated from the Garhwal kingdom. Baz Bahadur extended his territory east to the karnali river.
In 1672, Baz Bahadur, started a poll tax, and its revenue was sent to Delhi as a tribute. Baz Bahadur also built the Golu Devata Temple, at Ghorakhal, near Bhimtal [1], after Lord Golu, a general in his army, died valiantly during battle [9]. He also built the famous Bhimeshwara Mahadev Temple at Bhimtal [10].
Towards the end of the 17th century, Chand Rajas again attacked the Garhwal kingdom, and in 1688, Udyot Chand, erected several temples at Almora, including Tripur Sundari, Udyot Chandeshwer and Parbateshwer, to mark his victory over Garhwal and Doti, the Pabateshwar temple was renamed twice, becoming the present day Nanda Devi temple [11]. Later, Jagat Chand (1708–20), defeated the Raja of Garhwal and pushed him away from Srinagar, and his kingdom was given to a Brahmin [12]. However, a subsequent king of Garhwal, Pradip Shah (1717–72), regained control over Garhwal and retained Doon till 1757, when Rohilla leader, Najib-ul-Daula, established himself there, though he was ousted soon after by Pradip Shah.
The Chand kings also defeated the Rajwars of Askot, though the latter were allowed to hold their land on the payment of a tribute [13].
The hill station of Binsar, 30 km from Almora was the summer retreat of the Chand kings.[3]
In the coming years, Jagat Chand’s successor, Debi Chand (1720-6) took part in the wars of Rohillas of Rohilkhand, and was defeated by the British troops [1].
In 1744, Ali Mohammed Khan, the Rohilla leader, sent a force into the Chand territory and penetrated through Bhimtal and in to the Nainital district of Almora. The resistance of the Chand army, under its ruler, Kalyan Chand, was weak and ineffective, and Almora fell to the Rohillas who stayed here for seven short months, though they were ultimately driven out. Their departure was made possible by paying them a sum of three lakh rupees, and hastened by the harsh terrain of the region.
This peace did not last long; as after just three months, unhappy with his lieutenants, Ali Mohammed Khan attacked again, though this time, he was stopped right at the entrance to the hills, at Barakheri, and was defeated. He made no further attempts to conquer the Kumaon kingdom, nor did the Muslim rulers of Delhi, and this remains the first and the last attack by Muslim rulers on the region. Reconciliation subsequently came into effect; troops from the hills, under Dip Chand, fought side by side with the Rohillas at the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 [1].
In 1760, he renamed the old Parbateshwer temple to Dipchandeshwar temple [11]
During British rule, then divisional commissioner of Kumaon, George William Trail, got the statue of the Nanda Devi and relocated it to the ‘Udyot Chandeshwar’ temple, from the 'Malla Mahal' (Upper Court) of Chand kings, where present collectorate exists, and in time, the temple started being called the ‘Nanda Devi temple’. The 'Talla Mahal' (Lower Court) of Chand rulers, now houses the District Hospital [15].
Due to internal strife, in the ensuing thirty years the kings lost most of the land they had previously ruled in the plains, and retained only the Bhabhar region.
In 1779, a subsequent Garhwal king, Lalit Shah, also captured the Kumaon region from a usurper who was then ruling Kumaon. Lalit Shah made his son Parduman Shah, the king of the Kumaon territory, and after a few years, on the death of his brother in Srinagar, Parduman Shah even held the seat of a combined kingdom of Kumaon and Garhwal for a year, before choosing to go back to Srinagar, the familiar grounds of the Garhwal.
In early 1790, the Gurkhas invaded the Kumaon hills and Almora, under their powerful chief ‘Prithvi Narayan’; they advanced by crossing River Kali, through Gangoli; and the Chands, under the titular Chand Raja, were driven to the Bhabhar and finally expelled.
The Tarai and Kashipur were ceded to the British by the Nawab of Awadh in 1801, along with the rest of Rohilkhand.
The Nepalese rule last for a ruthless [16] twenty-four years, the end came because of their repeated intrusion into the British territories in the Tarai since early 1800. Which led Lord Moira, the Governor-General of India, to attack Almora in December 1814, which marked the beginning of the Anglo-Nepalese War [3]. After the war, the old Lal Mandi fort, near Almora (present cantonment), was renamed ‘Fort Moira’ [17].
Harak Deo Joshi, the minister of the last Chand Raja[18], took the side of the British, and with a force of 4,500 men marched from Kashipur in February, 1815. Champawat was first taken in March from the Pilibhit side through the Kali river, and within two months, a strong British army under Colonel Nichols, attacked and captured Almora, on April 26, 1815 [19]. A truce was called the same day, and with the ratification of the Treaty of Sugauli on 4 March 1816, Kumaon and Garhwal, thus became a British territory.
The first capital of Chand rulers, Champawat, in the stronghold popularly known as Kali Kumaon, now a district headquarter town, holds many remnants of the once powerful Chand reign, including a medieval fort, Baleshwar temple, Nagnath Temple, etc. Other temples of their reign are the Golu Devata Temple, at Ghorakhal, near Bhimtal, and Bhimeshwara Mahadev Temple at Bhimtal.
The late Prime Minister of India Maharaja Vishwanath Pratap Singh, belonged to this dynasty ruling from the State of Manda.
The dynasty today is represented by three bloodlines ruling following three states in Eastern Uttar Pradesh: