By: Bhishma Kukreti
Territory of Katyuri Kingdom of 1000-1090 History
Periods
There
are fewer records available for knowing the total are of Katyuri kingdom (Jay
Singh Dev to Katar Mal Dev 1000-1090).
The Katyuri
kingdom was divided into district, the district was divided into Mandals (as
tehseel or Mandal of today’s’ time); Madal was divided into Thakurai; Thakurai
was divided into Gadh, Kot or Thokdaris. The in charge of Kot or Gadh were
called Gadhpatti or Kotpati .
Due
to constant attacks of Mahmud Ghazni on north India, many army men were
entering into Uttarakhand hills for shelters. The ambitious local persons were
taking help of these emigrant armed men and establishing Thakurai.
The
different regions of Katyuri kingdom were based on geographical, linguistic,
cultural, social and religious exclusivities. There were
exclusivities of each region from life style; dresses, even animals
domestication and animals point of views too.
Initially,
the regional heads were either Katyuri or Khasas. The regional chieftains wee
very important as they were capable to change the king too.
The
following main regions or Mandals (as today’s Tehseel) were there –
Tankan Mandal
The north
territory of Garhwal or Kedarbhumi was called Tankan Region. The
region is/was attached to Tibetan boundary. Each village of Neeti and Mana
region used to be Gadh of Tankan region. Other Gadh were Kartikeypur, Tapovan,
Parsari, Painkhanda, Khanda and Dashauli.
Durmarg Mandal or Region
Durmarg
region was Mandakini valley. There was peace in the region. Therefore, many
temples were built in the region/Mandal. Main Gadhs were Nagpur and Kandara.
Badahat Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom
(1000-1090AD)
The Badahat
Mandal was extended from Yamuna- Bhagirathi and Bhagirathi- Bhilangana valleys.
The Gadhs of
North-West Badahat:- Gadhtang, Jor, Biralta, Silgadh, Mungra, Sankari, Badkot,
Todarkwara, Rami Gadhs. There were infighting of these Gdhs with Gadhs of
Kinnaur and Sirmaur of Himachal Pradesh.
The Gadhs of West
Badahat- Udaypur, Kirtingar, Bangar, Chilla,Pratapnagar,, Bhardar,
Bhilang Gadh.
Uppugadh was under
Badahat region. Ramola Garh was in Mukheem.
Rath-Chanth Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom
(1000-1090AD)
Present
Badhan, Chandpur, Chaund, Top, Ranigarh, Lohaba, Dhauna, Vangarh, Kanda, Gujdu,
and Savli were main Gadh. Dewalgarh was also under Rath Region.
Mal, Salan Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)
The south
of present Garhwal was called Salan or Mal Mandal.
Mahab Garh, Bagh,
Ajmeer, Shri Guru, Mavakot, Gatkot, Bhairon garh, Ghughti, Badalpur, Laldhang,
Chandi, Santur, Kola, Sher, Nanor, Nala Virbhadra, Mordhwaj, Kunjani, Ratan,
Kuili, Bharpur, etc regions were under Salan or mal region.
Lakha Mandal of Katyuri Kingdom
(1000-1090AD)
Sirmaur
and Doon valley was under this region. Salmur, Kota, Sirmaur were main Gadh.
Katyur Danpur Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)
The region
is in present Kumaun and main Gadh were Danpur, Harkot, Dhurkot, Kapkot,
Karvipur,. Khasa were chieftains.
Pali
Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)
The head quarter
was Dwarhat. Dwarhat, Asurgadhi, Juniyagadhi, Dauralkot, Naithana, Manila were
main Gadh of Pali Mandal.
Bara Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom
(1000-1090AD)
The bara
Mandal was extended to the bank of Sual River. Vishaud, Khagmara, Faldakot,
Dhaniyakot, Syunara, Tikhaun, Pankot, Raila, Parkot, Talla Kot, Malla Kot,
Majkot, Budhlakot, were main Kot or forts. The Khasia chieftains were cruel.
Kota Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)
Shitalhat,
Batikhahi, Mahrudi, Parkot, Dhikuli, Lakhanpur, Kashipur, Govishan, Lohakot,
were main Gadh of this Bhabhar region. The region was always disturbed by
attacks from plains of kings or regional chieftains.
Kali Kumaon Mandal or region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)
Domkot,
Champawat, Kautol, Sui, Chamul, Chandi, Chhat, Baun, Son, Koyal, Kaida, Malua,
were main Gadhs of this region.
Gangoli Mandal or region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)
Manikot,
Gangolihat, Vankot, Jamankot, were main Gadh of this Mandal.
Saur
Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom Period (1000-1090AD)
Ucha,
Bhat, Bailar, udaypur, Dungara, Sahaj, Babhuva, Devdhar and Duni were main Gadh
of Saur Mandal.
Seera
Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom Period (1000-1090AD)
Didihat,
Seerakot, were main Gadh. The fort of Seerakot was unwinnable.
Askot Mandal
or region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)
Askot had eighty forts
or Gadh. It was also called Khaskot or Muskot.
Bhot Mandal or region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090 AD)
The Bhot
mandal was divided into East Bhot region and west Bhot region.
Juhar or Jubar was in
west Bhot region.
Darma, Vyans and
Chaundas Gadh were under this region.
The rules of Katyuri
kings were nominal on the chieftains of Bhot.
Kalipar or Doti Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)
The Doti
(today’s Nepal) had main Gadhs as Itri, Devra, Gadhi Charail, Dandel, Tilari,
Baitadi, Matiyala, Karala, Rajkot, Silgadhi, Talkot, Ramkot, Dillikot, Dulukot,
Dailekhkot,. There are descriptions of Jurail, Dipail, Bajrail, Ajmir in
folklores.
Subjects of Katyuri Kingdom of Indian, Himalayan
Medieval Period (before 1090)
The people were
Khasa in Katyuri kingdom. Dr Katoch states that Katyuris were Khasa too.
Shelters
for Artists
Katyuri
kings used to respect art and artists. The temples of this period are proof
that Katyuri respected and encouraged art and artists.
Arrival of External Brahmins and Rajput
In
past Brahmins and Rajputs used to settle in Uttrakhand from various parts of
India but in scanty numbers. In eleventh century
onwards, Rajputs and Brahmins arrived in mass. These external people
exploited the local mass.
Courtey Bhishma Kukreti - (The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is
aimed for general readers)
