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Pathania is the name of a branch of the Tomara gotra of Chandravanshi Rajputs, who claim a mythological descent from Arjuna, the hero of the Mahabharata. They mostly live in and around Himachal Pradesh, in North India. They established the kingdom of Nurpur in Himachal Pradesh during the 11th century and ruled there until 1849.
Brief History
The Kingdom of Nurpur had its capital at Pathankot, now in Gurdaspur district of Punjab, India. The kingdom included Pathankot and a large tract on the plains of the Punjab; also the whole of the present Nurpur Tahsil of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, with the addition of Shahpurkandi, now in Gurdaspur , and also a small tract to the west of the Ravi, called Lakhanpur, now in Jammu & Kashmir State. The Kingdom was bounded on the north by Kangra and Chamba, on the south by the Punjab plains, and on the west by the Ravi river. The Capital was at pathankot, which was known as Paithan in the medieval times. All through their history the Pathania clan rebelled against the foreign invaders, both Muslims and the British. Although sometimes the Pathania Kings held the high office's of Generals known asMansabdar (Army Commander, reserved for Hindu and Muslim Princes of note) in the Mughal military and captured many a kingdom for the Mughal Emperor in Hindustan and beyond the Indus up till Uzbekistan, yet repeatedly they rebelled against the forces of the Mughal's and other foreign invaders.
List of rulers
◾Raja Jai Pal, About 1095 AD establishes Pathania branch of the Delhi Tomar Kings. His brother Raja Bhu Pal lived in Paithan, modern day Pathankot.
◾Raja Ghatr Pal
◾Raja Sukin Pal
◾Raja Jagrat Pal
◾Raja Ram Pal
◾Raja GoPal Pal
◾Raja Arjun Pal
◾Raja Varsha Pal
◾Raja Jatan Pal
◾Raja Vidurath Pal
◾Raja Jokan Pal, married a Tirharan Rani
◾Raja Kirat Pal, also called Rana Kirat
◾Raja Kahko Pal
◾Raja Jas Pal 1313/1353
◾Raja Kailas Pal 1353/1397
◾Raja Nag Pal 1397/1438
◾Raja Prithvi Pal 1438/1473
◾Raja Bhil Pal 1473/1513
◾Raja Bakht Mal 1513/1558 Fought along Sikandar Sur(son of Shershah Suri against Emperor Akbar)
◾Raja Pahari Mal 1558/1580
◾Raja Vasu Dev 1580/1613 Rebelled against Akbar time and again, Paithan taken away from him
◾Raja Suraj Mal 1613/1618 Rebelled against Jehangir
◾Raja Jagat Singh 1618/1646 Patronized by Jehangir, rebelled against Shah Jehan but restored, accompanied Dara Shikoh to Kandahar.
◾Raja Rup Singh 1646/1661 Taragarh taken from him, granted 1500 mansab
◾Raja Mandhata Singh 1661/1700
◾Raja Dayadhata 1700/1735
◾Raja Fateh Singh 1735/1770
◾Raja Prithvi Singh 1770/1805
◾Raja Bir Singh 1805/1846, born 1785, last ruling Chief of Nurpur, married a daughter of Raja Jit Singh of Chamba, and had issue. He died in Battle in, 1846 AD.
◾Raja Jaswant Sngh 1846/1898
◾Raja Gagan Singh 1898/1952, 6th Viceregal Darbari in Kangra District, an Honourary 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 1952
Some Forts of the Clan
Nurpur (Dhameri) Fort
Built in the 11th century. It was one of the primary strongholds of the Clan. It was also the main seat of the royal family.
Shahpurkandi Fort
This 16th century fort nestles at the foot of the Himalayas and overlooks the river Ravi. It was constructed by a Rajput chief, Jaspal Singh Pathania around 1505 A.D., who made it his capital to have control over the Kangra and the Nurpur regions. It was the refuge of Ram Singh Pathania who rebelled against the British during 1848. He was caught while offering prayer to the goddess Durga at a nearby place, Daula Dhar early in 1849.(Presently known as a Village of Dalla Near Dharkalan)
Kotla Fort
It is situated in the interior of Kangra. The fort of Kotla lies almost half way to Gaggal in Himachal pradesh from Pathankot. This fortress was originally built by the Guleria Rajputs. It was seized during the reign of Raja Suraj Mal Pathania, and a younger brother, Madho Singh, was made the Quiledar or the commander of the fort. For more information on Kotla, see Kotla, Himachal Pradesh.
Taragarh Fort
This fortress was constructed by Raja Jagat Singh Pathania where he used to spend the spring season. This fort was never seized or captured. However, Raja Jagat Singh Pathania was persuaded to stop the war against the Mughals. Shahjahan knew that Jagat Singh could not be browbeaten and he could use his help in times of war. Therefore he sent for a compromise on some mutually agreed terms.
Mau or Maukot Fort
It was nearest to the plains, almost half way to Nurpur from Pathankot, situated on a low hill of Shiwalik range running east to the Chakki river. It was an enclosure surrounded by dense forests, a Castle of great strength. It was a legend in its times, a saying was in vogue: Mau Ki Muhim Yaro Maut Ki Nishani Hai, 'The expedition to Mau, friends is a call to death'.
Isral Fort
This fort was exactly half way to Taragarh from Nurpur fort. It was founded by Raja Nag Pal, in honour of victory of Sukh Pal his brother. Raja Nag Pal was crowned in this fort about 1397 A.D. It was an ideal fort commanding the splendid view of the surroundings. It was rich in buildings like palaces, Diwankhana and stable for the horses of the royal family. Now nothing is left. But the site is still known as Diwankhana by the local people. The site is lying in dense forests south of Sulyali village.
There were some other forts situated in the territory of the Pathania Kingdom, but they were either destroyed by the massive earthquake which struck this region in April 1905 A.D., or were completed destroyed by the Mughal armies.
References
Twarikh Rajgan-E-Pathania-E-Nurpur, Zila Kangra" by Mian Rughnath Singh Pathania
- The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh V. 1 by Mark Brentnall, Indus Publishing, p. 352