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Kumaon
- The name of the sociocultural region of Kumaon is believed to have
been derived from "Kurmanchal", meaning Land of the Kurmavtar (the
tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
In the ancient period between 1300 to 1400 AD, after the disintegration
of Katyuri kingdom of Uttarakhand, eastern region of Uttarakhand (Kumaon
and Far-Western Region of Nepal which was a part of Uttarakhand then),
divided into eight different princely states i.e., Baijnath-Katyuri,
Dwarhat, Doti, Baramandal, Askot, Sira, Sora, Sui (Kali kumaon). Later
on, in 1581 AD after the defeat of Raika Hari Mall (maternal uncle
of Rudra chand) with the hand of Rudra Chand all these disintegrated
parts came under King Rudra chand and the whole region was as kumaon.
Katyuri Raj
The Katyuri dynasty was of a branch of Kunindas origin and was founded
by Vashudev Katyuri. Originally, from Joshimath, during their reign
they dominated lands of varying extent from the 'Katyur' (modern day
Baijnath) valley in Kumaon, between 7th and 11th centuries AD, and
established their capital, at Baijnath in Bageshwar district, which
was then known as Kartikeyapura and lies in the centre of 'Katyur'
valley. Brahmadev mandi in Kanchanpur District of Nepal was established
by Katyuris king Brahma deo. At their peak, the Katyuri kingdom extended
from Nepal in the east to Kabul, Afghanistan in the west, before fragmenting
into numerous principalities by 12th century. They were displaced
by the Chand Kings in 11th century AD. Architectural remains of the
Katyur dynasty's rule can be found in Baijnath and Dwarahat. The Rajbar
dynasty of Askot in Pithoragarh, was set up in the 1279 AD, by a branch
of the Katyuri Kings, headed by Abhay Pal Deo, who was the grandson
of Katyuri king, Brahm Deo . The dynasty ruled the region till, it
became part of the British Raj through the treaty of Sighauli in 1816.
Chand Raj
The Chand kingdom was established by Som Chand, who came here from
Kannuaj near Allahabad, sometime in the 10th century, and displaced
the Katyuri Kings 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 established its capital in Champawat
in Kali Kumaon, called so, due to its vicinity to river Kali. Many
temples built in this former capital city, during the 11th and 12th
century exist today, this include the Baleshwar and Nagnath temples.
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 many other Khas Rajput Clans of the region. However
they were able to establish their domain there. One of most powerful
ruler of 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 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 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, after Lord Golu, a general in his army,
who died valiantly at war. He also built famous Bhimeshwara Mahadev
Temple at Bhimtal. Towards the end of 17th century, Chand Rajas again
attacked 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, 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. 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 by Pradip Shah.
Raikas Of Doti
Niranjan Malldeo was the founder of Doti Kingdom around 13th century
after a fall of Katyuris Kingdom. He was the son of Last Katyuris
of united Katyuris kingdom. Kings of Doti were known as Raikas. Latter
on Raikas, after overthrow Khas Malla of Karnali Zone, were able to
form a strong Raikas Kingdom in Far Western Region and Kumaun which
was called Doti. So far, the historical evidence of following Raikas
have been discovered; Niranjan Malldev (Founder of Doti Kingdom),
Nagi Malla (1238 AD), Ripu Malla (1279 AD), Nirai Pal (1353 AD may
be of Askot and his historical evidence of 1354 A.D has been found
in Almoda), Nag Malla (1384 AD), Dhir Malla (1400 AD), Ripu Malla
(1410 AD), Anand Malla (1430 AD), Balinarayan Malla (not known), Sansar
Malla (1442 AD), Kalyan Malla (1443 AD), Suratan Malla (1478 AD),
Kriti Malla(1482 AD), Prithivi Malla (1488 AD), Medini Jay Malla (1512
AD), Ashok Malla (1517 AD), Raj Malla (1539 AD), Arjun Malla/Shahi
(not known but he was ruling Sira as Malla and Doti as Shahi), Bhupati
Malla/Shahi (1558 AD), Sagaram Shahi (1567 AD), Hari Malla/Shahi (1581
AD Last Raikas King of Sira and adjoining part of Nepal ), Rudra Shahi
(1630 AD), Vikram shahi (1642 AD), Mandhat shahi (1671 AD), Raghunath
shahi (1690 AD), Hari shahi (1720 AD), Krishna Shahi (1760 AD), Deep
shahi (1785 AD), Prithivi pati Shahi (1790 AD, 'he had fought against
Nepali ruler with British in 1814 AD').
Gorkha Rule and its defeat
For some time the region was ruled by the Gorkhas. But People of Kumaon
fought them valiantly with their courage, wisdom and their ever indomitable
spirit. The people of Kumaon sued the British many times to help them
overthrow the Gorkha rule. According to folklore when a British official
was saved from the prison of the Tibetan Jongpong(Governor)of Taklakot
in Tibet by some Kumaonis he pursued their case with the Resident
at Delhi and convinced him to attack the Gorkhas in Kumaon. 4000 Kumaoni
braves under Harakh Dev Joshi a chieftain of the Chand King (who was
initially held responsible for the Gorkha invasion) joined the British.
The British had so far been severely routed by the Gorakhas at several
places (like the Battle of Jaithak and Malaun). But now the joint
forces of Kumaonis and British struck the Gorkhas. Battle of Syahidevi
resulted in a complete route of the Gorkhas at the hands of the British
assisted by the Kumaonis, the Gorkha Subba (Governor) fled and so
did their commanders, Almora was liberated The Gorkhas, who earlier
seemed invincible, were finally defeated and the way for the liberation
of Garhwal from the oppressive Gorkha rule was opened. The British
realised through this war the potential of military expertise of these
hillmen. Inspired by their bravery the British granted on the people
of Kumaon the title of martial race.They heavily recruited from them
and the result was the Kumaon Regiment (Earlier the Hyderabad Regiment
which consisted mostly of Kumaonis).
British Raj
Almora Bazaar, c1860 Later, the region was annexed by the British
in 1815, and was governed for seventy years on the non-regulation
system by three administrators, Mr. Traill, Mr J. H. Batten and Sir
Henry Ramsay. There were widespread opposition against British rule
in various parts of Kumaon. The Kumauni people especially Champawat
District rose in rebellion against the British during the Indian Rebellion
of 1857 under the leadership of Kalu Singh Mahara. In 1891 the division
was composed of the three districts of Kumaon, Garhwal and the Tarai;
but the two districts of Kumaon and the Tarai were subsequently redistributed
and renamed after their headquarters, Nainital and Almora. Gandhiji's
advent sounded a death knell for the British in Kumaon. People now
aware of the excesses of British Raj became defiant of it and played
an active part in the Indian Struggle for Independence. Gandhiji was
revered in these parts and on his call the struggle of Saalam Salia
Satyagraha led by Ram Singh Dhoni was started which shook the very
roots of British rule in Kumaon. Many people lost their lives in the
Saalam Satyagraha due to police brutality. Gandhiji named it the Bardoli
of Kumaon an allusion to the Bardoli Satyagrah Many Kumaonis also
joined the Azad Hind Fauj led by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Almora
Bazaar, c1860 Later, the region was annexed by the British in 1815,
and was governed for seventy years on the non-regulation system by
three administrators, Mr. Traill, Mr J. H. Batten and Sir Henry Ramsay.
There were widespread opposition against British rule in various parts
of Kumaon. The Kumauni people especially Champawat District rose in
rebellion against the British during the Indian Rebellion of 1857
under the leadership of Kalu Singh Mahara. In 1891 the division was
composed of the three districts of Kumaon, Garhwal and the Tarai;
but the two districts of Kumaon and the Tarai were subsequently redistributed
and renamed after their headquarters, Nainital and Almora. Gandhiji's
advent sounded a death knell for the British in Kumaon. People now
aware of the excesses of British Raj became defiant of it and played
an active part in the Indian Struggle for Independence. Gandhiji was
revered in these parts and on his call the struggle of Saalam Salia
Satyagraha led by Ram Singh Dhoni was started which shook the very
roots of British rule in Kumaon. Many people lost their lives in the
Saalam Satyagraha due to police brutality. Gandhiji named it the Bardoli
of Kumaon an allusion to the Bardoli Satyagrah Many Kumaonis also
joined the Azad Hind Fauj led by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
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HISTORY
OF KUMAON 
Bhimtal
