Nurpur, India

Nurpur
city
Nurpur Location in Distt. Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 32°18′N 75°54′E / 32.3°N 75.9°E / 32.3; 75.9Coordinates: 32°18′N 75°54′E / 32.3°N 75.9°E / 32.3; 75.9
Country	India
State	Himachal Pradesh
District	Kangra
Elevation	643 m (2,110 ft)
Population (2005)
• Total	9,066(17th)
Languages
• Official	Hindi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)

Nurpur is a city and a municipal council in Kangra district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It was formerly a Kingdom ruled by the Pathania clan of Tomara Rajputs, since the 11th century AD. The capital of the Kingdom was at Pathankot formerly known as Paithan, now in Punjab.

Geography

Nurpur is located at 32°18′N 75°54′E / 32.3°N 75.9°E / 32.3; 75.9.^[1] It has an average elevation of 643 metres (2109 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001, according to the India census,^[2] Nurpur had a population of 9045. Men constitute 52% of the population and women 48%. Nurpur has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 75%. In Nurpur, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

Nurpur was founded in the 11th century by Raja Jhet Pal, who was the younger brother of the ruler of Delhi. It reached its peak during the reign of Raja Basu, from 1580 to 1613, who built an impressive fort that can still be seen today.

Earlier Nurpur was known with the name of Dhameri. This was changed when it was visited by Queen Nur Jehan, the wife of the Mughal emperor Nuruddin Salim Jahangir, who ruled between 1569–1627. According to the local legend, the queen was so impressed by beauty and richness of town that she decided to stay there for the rest of her life. This decision made the local administration worry since the Mughal empire at that time were expanding across India and the local leaders of Dhameri did not want their peaceful town to be a central point for Mughal domination and influenced by external politics. So, to deal with this without offending the queen and suffering the wrath of the Mughal empire, they devised a simple but effective plan. They advised the queen that staying in their town for a long period of time could spoil her great beauty, and that there is also a fictitious local disease in town that might afflict her. This terrified the queen so much that she hurriedly left. So in 1622, the name of the town was changed to Nurpur in honor of the Mughal queen who fell in love with the beauty of the place. Before 1947, Nurpur was a princely state ruled by the Pathania clan of Rajputs. The Pathania Clan (or Tomar / Tanwar clan of Chandravanshi Rajputs) had ruled here for more than eight centuries.

Pathania Kingdom of Nurpur

The state was founded in the 11th century (1095?), by Raja Jhet (or Jit) Pal, younger brother of Raja Anangpal II, the Ruler of Delhi, who established himself at Pathankot and subsequently moved to the hills. It was originally known as Dhameri. Rulers and estate holders were

Raja JAS PAL, Raja of Nurpur 1313–1353, married and had issue, nine sons, each of whom was progenitor of a branch of the Pathania family.

Raja KAILAS PAL, Raja of Nurpur 1353–1397

Raja NAG PAL, Raja of Nurpur 1397–1438

Raja PRITHI PAL, Raja of Nurpur 1438–1473

Raja BHIL PAL, Raja of Nurpur 1473–1513

Raja BAKHT MAL, Raja of Nurpur 1513–1558, he fought for Sikandar Sur (son of Shershah Suri), against Emperor Akbar. He died 1558.

Raja PAHARI MAL, Raja of Nurpur 1558–1580

Raja BASU DEV, Raja of Nurpur 1580–1613, enjoyed a mansab of 1500 under Emperor Akbar, which was increased to 3500 by Emperor Jahangir, married and had issue. He died in the thana of Shahabad in 1613.

Raja SURAJ MAL, Raja of Nurpur 1613–1618, granted a mansab of 2000, he rebelled against Jehangir. He died 1618 in Chamba.

Raja JAGAT SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1618–1646, granted a mansab of 300, later increased to 1000 men and 500 horse, also received the title of Raja and 20,000Rs in cash as well a jewelled dagger, about 1626 this was further increased to 3000 men and 2000 horse, and again in 1641 to 5000 of each, in 1622 the state was renamed Nurpur, in honour of Nur Jahan, wife of the Mughal Emperor, Jahangir, ruled Chamba till 1641, in 1634 was appointed Thanadar of Lower Bangash, in 1638 was appointed Faudjar of Lower and Upper Bangash, married and had issue. He died at Peshawar in January 1646.

Raja RAJRUP SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1646–1661, Faudjar of the Koh-i-Daman of Kangra, mansab advanced to 1500 men and 1000 horse on his accession, also granted the title of Raja, later increased to 2000 each in 1647, and 2500 each in 1649, increased to 3000 in 1652, and later 3500, appointed Thanadar of Ghazni in 1661, married and had issue. He died 1661.

Raja MANDHATA SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1661–1700, married and had issue.

Raja DAYADHATA, Raja of Nurpur 1700–1735, born 1681, married and had issue. He died 1735.

Raja FATEH SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1735–1770, married and had issue. He died 1770.

Raja PRITHVI SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1770–1805, born 1740, married (amongst others), Rani Darsanu, daughter of Raja Sampat Pal of Bhadrawah, and had issue. He died 1805.

Raja BHIR SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1805–1846, born 1785, last ruling Chief of Nurpur, he endeavoured to resist Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore, but being compelled to take refuge in Chamba, was given up by the Raja of Chamba, and imprisoned in the fortress of Gobindgarh, subsequently he was ransomed by his brother-in-law, Sardar Charat Singh, for 85,000Rs. and in 1846, he raised the standard of revolt, besieged Nurpur, and died in battle before its walls; married (a), a daughter of Raja Jit Singh of Chamba, married (b), a daughter of Raja Sansar Chand II of Kangra, married (c), a daughter of Raja Bikram Sen II of Suket, and had issue. He died 1846.

Raja JASWANT SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1846–1898, born 1836, he received a large grant from the British Government in compensation for the loss of his state, married and had issue. He died 1898.

Raja GAGAN SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1898–1952, born 1882, 6th Viceregal Darbari in Kangra District, an honorary magistrate in Kangra District; the hereditary title of Raja was conferred 15 March 1909 by the Viceroy, married and had issue. He died 1952.

Raja DEVENDRA SINGH, Raja of Nurpur 1952–, born 1901, died after 1960.

Wazir Ram Singh Pathania – freedom fighter

Wazir Ram Singh Pathania was such a great personality, a handful of their colleagues on the strength of iron in his soul and the whole British Empire VI was reminded of the milk. Freedom fighter Ram Singh PathaniaSham Singh's father, King Veer Singh of Nurpur state (1789–1846) was the minister. Ten-year-old son, Prince Raja Bir Singh, Jaswant Singh, the heir to the throne of Nurpur, leaving himself has passed away. But the British declared the state to unite under his rule. Wazir Ram Singh was mighty from childhood. Coloniser of the initiative against the nefarious about his heroic colleagues August 14, 1848 the fort was attacked the night of Shahpur Kandi. British army fled, frightened by the attack and several were killed.

The next day, August 15 Wazir Ram Singh conquered the fort to his right. Wazir Ram Singh Pathania's announcement was cheered as kings of the hill about five hundred of the brave warrior Tue Singh Manhas and Jasrota leadership came under the flag of the brave Wazir Ram Singh Pathania. Recalled that his mother was Induri Devi Manhas Rajput. Given the serious situation in Jalandhar and Kangra DC DC Henry Lawrence warns Shahpur Kandi with military team arrived in force and attacked the fort. The war continued for some days, but at the end of Ram Singh Pathania, the lack of food had to evacuate the fort. Overnight he went out with his mates went into the forests of the Mau coat and continued guerrilla war. English army followed him a lot but got tricked to Gujarat. With troops and ammunition from army he increased his strength and Shahpur Kandi Fort, he again took possession. British forces got away from him. British forces have also participated in the Kangra fort. King of Jaswan Umed Singh, the Raja Jagat Singh and Una Duttapur altar of the Sikh Sant Singh also declared its independence. King Pramod Chand of Kangra fort of Sujanpur their crown with a 21 gun salute again wore the British army on the hill kings Sam Price's army, defeated the penalties follow a policy of discrimination. Pramod Chand and other kings captive king to Wazir Ram Singh Pathania Almoda was sent to jail but he did not lose hope and their positions north of Pathankot - 2772 ft above sea level, located on the west side Dlle imposed on the edge. British forces were collected at a place called Kumni ray pell.British army due to a new detachment of the enemy soldiers were thrown badly. Wazir Ram Singh Pathania took the blink of an eye. John Peel and his bodyguards were killed. Stone at the grave of John Peel on the cutting edge of Dlle article still refers to the historicity of the event. Wazir Ram Singh Pathania finally was arrested by fraud at the time when the first worship - were busy in the text. To capture as many enemy soldiers before he returned to worship brought hell. He was arrested and taken to the fort of Kangra and the deep distress. Safe-conduct, given the lure of big estates and wealth. But he did not budge. Stupid life sentence for armed revolution, telling them to crack the case was sent to Kalapani. Rangoon jail going through the torture of this great son of the motherland November 11, 1849 at the age of just 24 years, sacrificed his life to protect the homeland.

Song of praise of Ram singh Pathania courage

Killa Pathania Khoob Ladhayya, Balley Pathania Khoob Ladhayya, Dalley diya Dhara Dafali Jo Bajdi, Kumni Bajjay Tamur...

Economy

Nurpur is known for its orchards, which grow crops of Mangoes, oranges, Leechi and Amla. Nurpur is also noted for poultry farming. Nurpur also produces silk and pashmina shawls.

Places of interest

The Brij Raj Swami temple inside the Nurpur fort is a 16th-century historical temple of Lord Krishna and home to a much revered deity of the local population and attracts tourists. It is the only temple in the world, where Lord Krishna and Meera idols are worshipped. It is said the statue of Lord Krishna was worshipped by Meera, and when Raja of Nurpur went to Chittorgarh he got this statue as a return gift from the Maharana of Chittorgarh. Along with this, Raja also brought a Moulsary (a fruit-bearing plant) sampling and it was dried on way back and it was put to life through Puja and chanting of mantras. This plant has now grown into a huge tree. It flowers, but does not bear any fruit unlike such plants in Rajasthan.visitors can see the whole story of nurpur fort in the form of paintings inside the temple. The Nagni Maata temple, located about 6 km from Nurpur town on Pathankot/Kullu highway, is also very famous. It is unique because water comes from below the temple where the idol of Naagni Maata is placed. People who get snake bite, come to Naagni Maata and simply drinking water and applying the Mitti, get cured completely. The amount of water which flows there is quite sufficient, and there are number of water mills installed for grinding grain.

The Nurpur fort is the main attraction of this small town. Originally built before the 10th century, it was the main seat of the Pathania Kings. It was destroyed partially by the British and the great earthquake which hit this region in April 1905 AD. Most of the fortress is in ruins, but it is still worth visiting. the theru wali mata temple is also a good place to see, which is situated on the top of a small hill and about 250 m from the Pathankot / kullu highway

The Mata Nagani Temple, located about 6 km from Nurpur town on Pathankot / Kullu highway, is also very famous. It is unique because water comes from below the temple where the idol of Nagni Maata is placed. People who get snake bite, come to Naagni Maata and simply drinking water and applying the Mitti, get cured completely. The amount of water which flows there is quite sufficient, and there are number of water mills installed for grinding grain. Also Nurpur is famous for its silk and silk mills .there are various showroom of silk in Nurpur {himachal silk emp.,buttico} where different qualities of silk can be seen

Snow-covered mountains can be seen from this place which is the Dhauladhar Range. Dharamsala a famous hill station now also famous for hosting IPL Matches is located at an hour drive from here. Dalhousie another hill-station is around 3 hours drive from here.

Weather and best time to visit

NURPUR has warm climate for almost all the year round so it is welcoming to the tourists all through the year. Summer season is very hot and temperatures can go up rapidly in the peak season of the summer. The monsoon seasoncomes for the limited period the rainfall occurring during this time make the temperature of the Pathankot relatively lower and when the winter season comes, it is very cold more than other regions of the state. The best period to visit Pathankot and all these places is during October and November. The summer season falls from the months of March till June. The temperature during the summers raises up to 43 °C and the minimum temperature during summers is around 21 °C. The hottest month is the month of May. The monsoons arrive in by the end of July and remains till September. The temperature drops down to a certain limit with the arrival of rains. The humidity level is increased during the monsoons. The tourists visit the place during October and November when the weather becomes pleasant. During the months of December, January and February, the winter season falls. The temperature drops down to 1 °C when the winters are at its peak. The maximum temperature during winters is 26 °C.

How to reach

Air : Nearest Airport is at Gaggal (in Kangra) - 45 km away. Also Jammu Airport (129 km away) and Amritsar Airport (134 km away) is there.

Rail : Nearest Railhead is at Pathankot- 24 km away, which is connected by all the major cities.Also Nurpur has its{kangra valley} railway station named as Nurpur ROAD

Road : Nurpur is well connected by roads from all sides. Once you reach Pathankot. Nurpur is not far away.

References

↑ "Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Nurpur". Fallingrain.com. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.

Page edit by

Vishal Pathania