Kangra

Kangra’s history stretches from ancient epic times to the modern hill district of Himachal Pradesh. In early sources it appears as part of the Trigarta kingdom, mentioned in the Mahabharata, ruled by King Susharma Chandra who fought on the Kaurava side. Later traditions identify the rulers of Trigarta with the Katoch Rajput dynasty, considered one of the oldest royal houses in the region. Over centuries they controlled a prosperous state around today’s Kangra, Jalandhar and surrounding hills.

The Kangra Fort (Nagarkot) became their main seat, guarding rich temples and trade routes; its wealth drew repeated invasions, including Mahmud of Ghazni’s famous raid in 1009 CE and later assaults under the Delhi Sultanate and Mughals. Nearby, the Bajreshwari (Vajreshwari) Devi Temple, a major Shakti Peeth, grew into a powerful pilgrimage site reputed for its treasures, but it too suffered cycles of plunder and rebuilding.

In the 18th–19th centuries, Kangra passed through Sikh and then British control, with the Katoch rulers reduced to smaller estates. European travellers and officials recorded the valley for its beauty and strategic location. A devastating earthquake in 1905 destroyed much of old Kangra town, fort structures and temples, after which the area was rebuilt under colonial administration. After Independence, Kangra became part of Himachal Pradesh and is now a large district whose identity still centres on its ancient fort, Shakti temples and the legacy of the Katoch kings in the green Dhauladhar foothills.