Kangra Fort - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 11:36, 1 December 2022
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	{{coords\|32\|05\|17.1\|N\|76\|15\|28\|E\|display=title}}		{{coords\|32\|05\|17.1\|N\|76\|15\|28\|E\|display=title}}
	{{Infobox military installation		{{Infobox military installation
	\|name = Kangra Fort		\| name = Kangra Fort
	\|native_name =		\| native_name =
	\|partof = [[Himachal Pradesh]]		\| partof = [[Himachal Pradesh]]
	\|location = [[~~Dharamsala~~, Himachal Pradesh\|~~Dharamsala~~]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]]		\| location = [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh\|Kangra]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]]
	\|image = Kangra Fort ,Himachal Pradesh 06.jpg		\| image = Kangra Fort ,Himachal Pradesh 06.jpg
	\|caption = Kangra Fort		\| caption = Kangra Fort
	\|map_type =		\| map_type =
	\|map_size = 280		\| map_size = 280
	\|map_caption =		\| map_caption =
	\|type = [[Fort]]		\| type = [[Fort]]
	\|coordinates=		\| coordinates =
	\|code =		\| code =
	\|built =		\| built =
	\|builder = [[Rajput]] family of [[Kangra State]] (the [[Katoch dynasty]])		\| builder = [[Rajput]] family of [[Kangra State]] (the [[Katoch dynasty]])
	\|materials =		\| materials =
	\|height =		\| height =
	\|used =		\| used =
	\|demolished =		\| demolished =
	\|condition = [[Ruins]]		\| condition = [[Ruins]]
	\|open_to_public =		\| open_to_public =
	\|controlledby = [[Kangra State]]		\| controlledby = [[Kangra State]]
	\|garrison =		\| garrison =
	\|current_commander =		\| current_commander =
	\|commanders =		\| commanders =
	\|occupants =		\| occupants =
	\|battles =		\| battles =
	\|events =		\| events =
	}}		}}
	The '''Kangra Fort''' is located 20 kilometers from the town of [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh\|Dharamsala]] on the outskirts of the town of [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh\|Kangra]], [[India]].		The '''Kangra Fort''' is located 20 kilometers from the town of [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh\|Dharamsala]] on the outskirts of the town of [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh\|Kangra]], [[India]].

	==History==		==History==
	[[File:Jullunder Doab Kote Kangra..jpg\|thumb\|Kangra fort in 1847, by [[Charles Stewart Hardinge\|Charles Hardinge]]]]		[[File:Jullunder Doab Kote Kangra..jpg\|thumb\|Kangra fort in 1847, by [[Charles Stewart Hardinge\|Charles Hardinge]]]]

	The Kangra Fort was built by the royal [[Rajput]] family of [[Kangra State]] (the [[Katoch\|Katoch dynasty]]) in 4th century AD, which traces its origins to the ancient [[Trigarta Kingdom]], mentioned in the [[Mahabharata]] epic.

	Raja Dharam Chand submitted to the Mughal Ruler Akbar in 1556 and agreed to pay tribute, including, renouncing claims to the fort. But in 1620, Emperor Jahangir, killed that Katoch king, Raja Hari Chand and annexed the Kangra kingdom into the Mughal Empire.<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book \|last=Sen \|first=Sailendra \|title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History \|publisher=Primus Books \|year=2013 \|isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 \|pages=165–166}}</ref> Under the leadership of Nawab Ali Khan and aided by Raja Jagat Singh, the fort was captured in 1620 and under Mughal rule until 1783. In 1621, Jahangir visited it and ordered the slaughter of a bullock there.<ref>http://www.preservearticles.com/2012031026090/jahangirs-conquest-of-kangra-and-kistwar.html</ref> A mosque was also built within the fort of Kangra.<ref>{{cite episode \|title=Kangra \|number=7 \|series=Ekaant \|language= hi \|season=2 \|network=[[Epic (TV channel)\|EPIC]] \|date=2015 }}</ref>		Raja Dharam Chand submitted to the Mughal Ruler Akbar in 1556 and agreed to pay tribute, including, renouncing claims to the fort. But in 1620, Emperor Jahangir, killed that Katoch king, Raja Hari Chand and annexed the Kangra kingdom into the Mughal Empire.<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book \|last=Sen \|first=Sailendra \|title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History \|publisher=Primus Books \|year=2013 \|isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 \|pages=165–166}}</ref> Under the leadership of Nawab Ali Khan and aided by Raja Jagat Singh, the fort was captured in 1620 and under Mughal rule until 1783. In 1621, Jahangir visited it and ordered the slaughter of a bullock there.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.preservearticles.com/2012031026090/jahangirs-conquest-of-kangra-and-kistwar.html \| title=Jahangir's Conquest of Kangra and Kistwar \| date=10 March 2012 }}</ref> A mosque was also built within the fort of Kangra.<ref>{{cite episode \|title=Kangra \|number=7 \|series=Ekaant \|language= hi \|season=2 \|network=[[Epic (TV channel)\|EPIC]] \|date=2015 }}</ref>

	As the Mughal empire began to crumble, a descendant of Raja Dharam Chand, [[Raja Sansar Chand]] Bahadur II began a series of conquests of Kangra with the support of Sikh leader, Jai Singh Kanhaiya of the [[Kanhaiya]] misl. However, after the death of Mughal governor Saif Ali Khan, the fort was surrendered in 1783 by his son to the Sikh leader, [[Jai Singh Kanhaiya]] of the [[Kanhaiya]] Misl in return for safe passage. This betrayal by Jai Singh Kanhaiya led to Raja Sansar Chand soliciting the services of Sikh misaldars [[Maha Singh]] of the [[Sukerchakia Misl]] (father of Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]]) and [[Jassa Singh Ramgarhia]] and besieged the fort. In 1786, [[Raja Sansar Chand]] gained Kangra fort by peaceful treaty with Jai Singh Kanhaiya in return for territorial concessions in the Punjab.		As the Mughal empire began to crumble, a descendant of Raja Dharam Chand, [[Raja Sansar Chand]] Bahadur II began a series of conquests of Kangra with the support of Sikh leader, Jai Singh Kanhaiya of the [[Kanhaiya]] misl. However, after the death of Mughal governor Saif Ali Khan, the fort was surrendered in 1783 by his son to the Sikh leader, [[Jai Singh Kanhaiya]] of the [[Kanhaiya]] Misl in return for safe passage. This betrayal by Jai Singh Kanhaiya led to Raja Sansar Chand soliciting the services of Sikh misaldars [[Maha Singh]] of the [[Sukerchakia Misl]] (father of Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]]) and [[Jassa Singh Ramgarhia]] and besieged the fort. In 1786, [[Raja Sansar Chand]] gained Kangra fort by peaceful treaty with Jai Singh Kanhaiya in return for territorial concessions in the Punjab.

	Sansar Chand quickly focused on expanding his kingdom and conquered the nearby kingdoms of [[Chamba State\|Chamba]], Mandi, Suket and Nahan. In 1805 he turned his attention to Bilaspur and the then Raja of Bilaspur called on the aid of the powerful [[Gurkha]] kingdom who had already acquired ~~Garwal~~, Sirmour and other small hill states of ~~Shmila~~. An army of 40,000 Gurkhas responded by crossing the Sutlej river and quickly captured fort after fort. In 1808, the Gorkhas struck a decisive blow and captured the fort of Pathiyar (Palampur). By 1809, Kangra itself was under direct threat from the Gurkhas and Sansar Chand had taken refuge in the Kangra fort. Sansar Chand then turned towards Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]] of Lahore for aid, leading to the [[~~Gurkha~~-Sikh]] war of 1809 in which the Gurkhas were defeated and forced back to the Ghaghara River. In return for his help, Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]] took possession of the ancient fort alongside 76 villages (the fort's ancient Jagir) on Aug 24, 1809 while leaving the rest of Kangra to Sansar Chand.		Sansar Chand quickly focused on expanding his kingdom and conquered the nearby kingdoms of [[Chamba State\|Chamba]], Mandi, Suket and Nahan. In 1805 he turned his attention to Bilaspur and the then Raja of Bilaspur called on the aid of the powerful [[Kingdom of Nepal\|Gurkha]] kingdom, who had already acquired [[Garhwal Kingdom\|Garhwal]], [[Sirmur State\|Sirmour]] and other small hill states of [[Shimla]]. An army of 40,000 [[Gurkha\|Gurkhas]] responded by crossing the Sutlej river and quickly captured fort after fort. In 1808, the Gorkhas struck a decisive blow and captured the fort of Pathiyar (Palampur).

			By 1809, Kangra itself was under direct threat from the Gurkhas and Sansar Chand had taken refuge in the Kangra fort. Sansar Chand then turned towards Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]] of Lahore for aid, leading to the [[Nepal–Sikh War\|Nepal-Sikh]] war of 1809 in which the Gurkhas were defeated and forced back to the Ghaghara River. In return for his help, Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]] took possession of the ancient fort alongside 76 villages (the fort's ancient Jagir) on Aug 24, 1809 while leaving the rest of Kangra to Sansar Chand.

	The fort was finally taken by the British after the [[Anglo-Sikh]] war of 1846.		The fort was finally taken by the British after the [[First Anglo-Sikh War\|Anglo-Sikh]] war of 1846.

	A British garrison occupied the fort until it was heavily damaged in [[1905 Kangra earthquake\|an earthquake on 4 April 1905]].		A British garrison occupied the fort until it was heavily damaged in [[1905 Kangra earthquake\|an earthquake on 4 April 1905]].

	~~==Gallery==~~
	~~<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">~~
	~~File:Kangra Fort from Sansar Chandra Museum 02.JPG\|Kangra fort seen from Sansar Chand Museum~~
	~~File:View from wall of Kangra Fort.jpg\|View from wall of Kangra Fort~~
	~~Laxmi Narayan Temple, Kangra Fort.jpg\|[[Laxmi Narayan]] Temple, Kangra Fort~~
	~~Kangra Fort Jain statue.jpg\|Statue of Rishabhnatha inside the Ambika Mata Temple at top of Kangra Fort~~
	~~File:Kangra fort - Jain temple (2).jpg\|Jain temple inside fort~~
	~~File:Tourists approaching entrance gate to Kangra Fort.jpg\|thumb\|Tourists approaching entrance gate to Kangra Fort~~
	~~File:View from top of Kangra Fort overlooking Beas river.jpg\|thumb\|View from top of Kangra Fort overlooking [[Beas river]]~~
	~~File:Tourists exploring inside Kangra Fort.jpg\|Tourists exploring inside Kangra Fort~~
	~~File:Kangra Fort ,Himachal Pradesh 03.jpg\|Walls of the fort~~
	~~</gallery>~~

	==Layout==		==Layout==
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	The ''Darsani Darwaza'', which is now flanked by defaced statues of River Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna gave access to a courtyard, along the south side of which stood the stone shrines of [[Lakshmi Narayan\|Lakshmi-Narayana]] and [[Ambika (Jainism)\|Ambika Devi]] and a [[Jain]] temple with large idol of [[Rishabhanatha]].<ref>{{Citation\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l2oZiyOqReoC\|title=Forts and Palaces of the Western Himalaya\|first=Aśoka \|last=Jeratha\|publisher=Indus Publishing\|date=2000\|isbn=9788173871047\|page=31}}</ref>		The ''Darsani Darwaza'', which is now flanked by defaced statues of River Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna gave access to a courtyard, along the south side of which stood the stone shrines of [[Lakshmi Narayan\|Lakshmi-Narayana]] and [[Ambika (Jainism)\|Ambika Devi]] and a [[Jain]] temple with large idol of [[Rishabhanatha]].<ref>{{Citation\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l2oZiyOqReoC\|title=Forts and Palaces of the Western Himalaya\|first=Aśoka \|last=Jeratha\|publisher=Indus Publishing\|date=2000\|isbn=9788173871047\|page=31}}</ref>

	~~==Location==~~

	The fort is right next to Kangra town. {{coord\|32.1\|N\|76.27\|E\|}} The fort stands on a steep rock in Purana Kangra (translates to Old Kangra) dominating the surrounding valley, built strategically at the "Sangam" confluence (places where two rivers meet) of [[Banganga River (Himachal Pradesh)\|Banganga]] and [[Majhi River\|Majhi]] rivers. It is said that Kangra belongs to one who owns the fort.

	Also near to old Kangra is the famous Jayanti Mata temple on a hilltop. The temple was built by the General of the Gorkha Army, Bada Kaji [[Amar Singh Thapa]]. Also close to entrance is a small museum which exhibits the history of Kangra fort.

	~~Adjoining the Fort is the Maharaja Sansar Chand Katoch Museum run by the Royal Family of Kangra. The Museum also provides audio guides for the fort and the museum and has a cafeteria.~~

	==References==		==References==
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	==Further reading==		==Further reading==

	{{commons category}}		{{commons category}}
	* Hutchinson, J. & J. PH Vogel (1933). ''History of the Panjab Hill States'', Vol. I. 1st edition: Govt. Printing, [[Lahore]], Punjab, Pakistan. 1933. Reprint 2000. Department of Language and Culture, Himachal Pradesh. Chapter IV Kangra State, pp. 98–198.		* Hutchinson, J. & J. PH Vogel (1933). ''History of the Panjab Hill States'', Vol. I. 1st edition: Govt. Printing, [[Lahore]], Punjab, Pakistan. 1933. Reprint 2000. Department of Language and Culture, Himachal Pradesh. Chapter IV Kangra State, pp. 98–198.

->UnpetitproleX: correction

2021-11-03T07:59:55Z

correction

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:29, 3 November 2021
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			{{Short description\|Fort in Himachal Padesh, India}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=February 2017}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=February 2017}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=February 2017}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=February 2017}}
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	\|partof = [[Himachal Pradesh]]		\|partof = [[Himachal Pradesh]]
	\|location = [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh\|Dharamsala]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]]		\|location = [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh\|Dharamsala]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]]
	\|image = Kangra Fort ~~from Sansar Chandra Museum 02~~.~~JPG~~		\|image = Kangra Fort ,Himachal Pradesh 06.jpg
	\|caption = Kangra Fort		\|caption = Kangra Fort
	\|map_type =		\|map_type =
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	==History==		==History==
			[[File:Jullunder Doab Kote Kangra..jpg\|thumb\|Kangra fort in 1847, by [[Charles Stewart Hardinge\|Charles Hardinge]]]]

	The Kangra Fort was built by the royal [[Rajput]] family of [[Kangra State]] (the [[Katoch\|Katoch dynasty]]) in 4th century AD, which traces its origins to the ancient [[Trigarta Kingdom]], mentioned in the [[Mahabharata]] epic.		The Kangra Fort was built by the royal [[Rajput]] family of [[Kangra State]] (the [[Katoch\|Katoch dynasty]]) in 4th century AD, which traces its origins to the ancient [[Trigarta Kingdom]], mentioned in the [[Mahabharata]] epic.

	Raja Dharam Chand submitted to the Mughal Ruler Akbar in 1556 and agreed to pay tribute, including, renouncing claims to the fort. But in 1620, Emperor Jahangir, killed that Katoch king, Raja Hari Chand and annexed the Kangra kingdom into the Mughal Empire.<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book \|last=Sen \|first=Sailendra \|title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History \|publisher=Primus Books \|year=2013 \|isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 \|pages=165–166}}</ref> Under the leadership of Nawab Ali Khan and aided by Raja Jagat Singh, the fort was captured in 1620 and under Mughal rule until 1783. In 1621, Jahangir visited it and ordered the slaughter of a bullock there.<ref>http://www.preservearticles.com/2012031026090/jahangirs-conquest-of-kangra-and-kistwar.html</ref> A mosque was also built within the fort of Kangra.<ref>{{cite episode \|title=Kangra \|number=7 \|series=Ekaant \|language= hi \|season=2 \|network=[[Epic (TV channel)\|EPIC]] \|date=2015 }}</ref>		Raja Dharam Chand submitted to the Mughal Ruler Akbar in 1556 and agreed to pay tribute, including, renouncing claims to the fort. But in 1620, Emperor Jahangir, killed that Katoch king, Raja Hari Chand and annexed the Kangra kingdom into the Mughal Empire.<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book \|last=Sen \|first=Sailendra \|title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History \|publisher=Primus Books \|year=2013 \|isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 \|pages=165–166}}</ref> Under the leadership of Nawab Ali Khan and aided by Raja Jagat Singh, the fort was captured in 1620 and under Mughal rule until 1783. In 1621, Jahangir visited it and ordered the slaughter of a bullock there.<ref>http://www.preservearticles.com/2012031026090/jahangirs-conquest-of-kangra-and-kistwar.html</ref> A mosque was also built within the fort of Kangra.<ref>{{cite episode \|title=Kangra \|number=7 \|series=Ekaant \|language= hi \|season=2 \|network=[[Epic (TV channel)\|EPIC]] \|date=2015 }}</ref>

	As the Mughal empire began to crumble, a descendant of Raja Dharam Chand, [[Raja Sansar Chand]] Bahadur II began a series of conquests of Kangra with the support of Sikh leader, Jai Singh Kanhaiya of the [[Kanhaiya]] misl. However, after the death of Mughal governor Saif Ali Khan, the fort was surrendered in 1783 by his son to the Sikh leader, [[Jai Singh Kanhaiya]] of the [[Kanhaiya]] Misl in return for safe passage. This betrayal by Jai Singh Kanhaiya led to Raja Sansar Chand soliciting the services of Sikh misaldars [[Maha Singh]] of the [[Sukerchakia Misl]] (father of Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]]) and [[Jassa Singh Ramgarhia]] and besieged the fort. In 1786, [[Raja Sansar Chand]] gained Kangra fort by peaceful treaty with Jai Singh Kanhaiya in return for territorial concessions in the Punjab.		As the Mughal empire began to crumble, a descendant of Raja Dharam Chand, [[Raja Sansar Chand]] Bahadur II began a series of conquests of Kangra with the support of Sikh leader, Jai Singh Kanhaiya of the [[Kanhaiya]] misl. However, after the death of Mughal governor Saif Ali Khan, the fort was surrendered in 1783 by his son to the Sikh leader, [[Jai Singh Kanhaiya]] of the [[Kanhaiya]] Misl in return for safe passage. This betrayal by Jai Singh Kanhaiya led to Raja Sansar Chand soliciting the services of Sikh misaldars [[Maha Singh]] of the [[Sukerchakia Misl]] (father of Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]]) and [[Jassa Singh Ramgarhia]] and besieged the fort. In 1786, [[Raja Sansar Chand]] gained Kangra fort by peaceful treaty with Jai Singh Kanhaiya in return for territorial concessions in the Punjab.
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	==Gallery==		==Gallery==
	<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">		<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
	File:View from wall of Kangra Fort.jpg~~\|thumb~~\|View from wall of Kangra Fort		File:Kangra Fort from Sansar Chandra Museum 02.JPG\|Kangra fort seen from Sansar Chand Museum
			File:View from wall of Kangra Fort.jpg\|View from wall of Kangra Fort
	Laxmi Narayan Temple, Kangra Fort.jpg\|[[Laxmi Narayan]] Temple, Kangra Fort		Laxmi Narayan Temple, Kangra Fort.jpg\|[[Laxmi Narayan]] Temple, Kangra Fort
	Kangra Fort Jain statue.jpg\|Statue of Rishabhnatha inside the Ambika Mata Temple at top of Kangra Fort		Kangra Fort Jain statue.jpg\|Statue of Rishabhnatha inside the Ambika Mata Temple at top of Kangra Fort
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	File:Tourists approaching entrance gate to Kangra Fort.jpg\|thumb\|Tourists approaching entrance gate to Kangra Fort		File:Tourists approaching entrance gate to Kangra Fort.jpg\|thumb\|Tourists approaching entrance gate to Kangra Fort
	File:View from top of Kangra Fort overlooking Beas river.jpg\|thumb\|View from top of Kangra Fort overlooking [[Beas river]]		File:View from top of Kangra Fort overlooking Beas river.jpg\|thumb\|View from top of Kangra Fort overlooking [[Beas river]]
	File:Tourists exploring inside Kangra Fort.jpg~~\|thumb~~\|Tourists exploring inside Kangra Fort		File:Tourists exploring inside Kangra Fort.jpg\|Tourists exploring inside Kangra Fort
			File:Kangra Fort ,Himachal Pradesh 03.jpg\|Walls of the fort
	</gallery>		</gallery>

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	==Location==		==Location==
	~~[[File:View from top of Kangra Fort overlooking river.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|View from top of Kangra Fort overlooking river.]]~~
	The fort is right next to Kangra town. {{coord\|32.1\|N\|76.27\|E\|}} The fort stands on a steep rock in Purana Kangra (translates to Old Kangra) dominating the surrounding valley, built strategically at the "Sangam" confluence (places where two rivers meet) of [[Banganga River (Himachal Pradesh)\|Banganga]] and [[Majhi River\|Majhi]] rivers. It is said that Kangra belongs to one who owns the fort.		The fort is right next to Kangra town. {{coord\|32.1\|N\|76.27\|E\|}} The fort stands on a steep rock in Purana Kangra (translates to Old Kangra) dominating the surrounding valley, built strategically at the "Sangam" confluence (places where two rivers meet) of [[Banganga River (Himachal Pradesh)\|Banganga]] and [[Majhi River\|Majhi]] rivers. It is said that Kangra belongs to one who owns the fort.

	Also near to old Kangra is the famous Jayanti Mata temple on a hilltop. The ~~Temple~~ was built by the General of the Gorkha Army, Bada Kaji [[Amar Singh Thapa]]. Also close to entrance is a small museum which exhibits the history of Kangra fort.		Also near to old Kangra is the famous Jayanti Mata temple on a hilltop. The temple was built by the General of the Gorkha Army, Bada Kaji [[Amar Singh Thapa]]. Also close to entrance is a small museum which exhibits the history of Kangra fort.

	Adjoining the Fort is the Maharaja Sansar Chand Katoch Museum run by the Royal Family of Kangra. The Museum also provides audio guides for the fort and the museum and has a cafeteria.		Adjoining the Fort is the Maharaja Sansar Chand Katoch Museum run by the Royal Family of Kangra. The Museum also provides audio guides for the fort and the museum and has a cafeteria.

2409:4055:291:24FA:0:0:2396:50A5: /* History */

2021-08-12T18:18:26Z

History

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{coords|32|05|17.1|N|76|15|28|E|display=title}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name = Kangra Fort
|native_name =
|partof = [[Himachal Pradesh]]
|location = [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh|Dharamsala]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]]
|image = Kangra Fort from Sansar Chandra Museum 02.JPG
|caption = Kangra Fort
|map_type =
|map_size = 280
|map_caption =
|type = [[Fort]]
|coordinates=
|code =
|built =
|builder = [[Rajput]] family of [[Kangra State]] (the [[Katoch dynasty]])
|materials =
|height =
|used =
|demolished =
|condition = [[Ruins]]
|open_to_public =
|controlledby = [[Kangra State]]
|garrison =
|current_commander =
|commanders =
|occupants =
|battles =
|events =
}}
The '''Kangra Fort''' is located 20 kilometers from the town of [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh|Dharamsala]] on the outskirts of the town of [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh|Kangra]], [[India]].

==History==

The Kangra Fort was built by the royal [[Rajput]] family of [[Kangra State]] (the [[Katoch|Katoch dynasty]]) in 4th century AD, which traces its origins to the ancient [[Trigarta Kingdom]], mentioned in the [[Mahabharata]] epic.

Raja Dharam Chand submitted to the Mughal Ruler Akbar in 1556 and agreed to pay tribute, including, renouncing claims to the fort. But in 1620, Emperor Jahangir, killed that Katoch king, Raja Hari Chand and annexed the Kangra kingdom into the Mughal Empire.<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=165–166}}</ref> Under the leadership of Nawab Ali Khan and aided by Raja Jagat Singh, the fort was captured in 1620 and under Mughal rule until 1783. In 1621, Jahangir visited it and ordered the slaughter of a bullock there.<ref>http://www.preservearticles.com/2012031026090/jahangirs-conquest-of-kangra-and-kistwar.html</ref> A mosque was also built within the fort of Kangra.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Kangra |number=7 |series=Ekaant |language= hi |season=2 |network=[[Epic (TV channel)|EPIC]] |date=2015 }}</ref>

As the Mughal empire began to crumble, a descendant of Raja Dharam Chand, [[Raja Sansar Chand]] Bahadur II began a series of conquests of Kangra with the support of Sikh leader, Jai Singh Kanhaiya of the [[Kanhaiya]] misl. However, after the death of Mughal governor Saif Ali Khan, the fort was surrendered in 1783 by his son to the Sikh leader, [[Jai Singh Kanhaiya]] of the [[Kanhaiya]] Misl in return for safe passage. This betrayal by Jai Singh Kanhaiya led to Raja Sansar Chand soliciting the services of Sikh misaldars [[Maha Singh]] of the [[Sukerchakia Misl]] (father of Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]]) and [[Jassa Singh Ramgarhia]] and besieged the fort. In 1786, [[Raja Sansar Chand]] gained Kangra fort by peaceful treaty with Jai Singh Kanhaiya in return for territorial concessions in the Punjab.

Sansar Chand quickly focused on expanding his kingdom and conquered the nearby kingdoms of [[Chamba State|Chamba]], Mandi, Suket and Nahan. In 1805 he turned his attention to Bilaspur and the then Raja of Bilaspur called on the aid of the powerful [[Gurkha]] kingdom who had already acquired Garwal, Sirmour and other small hill states of Shmila. An army of 40,000 Gurkhas responded by crossing the Sutlej river and quickly captured fort after fort. In 1808, the Gorkhas struck a decisive blow and captured the fort of Pathiyar (Palampur). By 1809, Kangra itself was under direct threat from the Gurkhas and Sansar Chand had taken refuge in the Kangra fort. Sansar Chand then turned towards Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]] of Lahore for aid, leading to the [[Gurkha-Sikh]] war of 1809 in which the Gurkhas were defeated and forced back to the Ghaghara River. In return for his help, Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]] took possession of the ancient fort alongside 76 villages (the fort's ancient Jagir) on Aug 24, 1809 while leaving the rest of Kangra to Sansar Chand.

The fort was finally taken by the British after the [[Anglo-Sikh]] war of 1846.

A British garrison occupied the fort until it was heavily damaged in [[1905 Kangra earthquake|an earthquake on 4 April 1905]].

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:View from wall of Kangra Fort.jpg|thumb|View from wall of Kangra Fort
Laxmi Narayan Temple, Kangra Fort.jpg|[[Laxmi Narayan]] Temple, Kangra Fort
Kangra Fort Jain statue.jpg|Statue of Rishabhnatha inside the Ambika Mata Temple at top of Kangra Fort
File:Kangra fort - Jain temple (2).jpg|Jain temple inside fort
File:Tourists approaching entrance gate to Kangra Fort.jpg|thumb|Tourists approaching entrance gate to Kangra Fort
File:View from top of Kangra Fort overlooking Beas river.jpg|thumb|View from top of Kangra Fort overlooking [[Beas river]]
File:Tourists exploring inside Kangra Fort.jpg|thumb|Tourists exploring inside Kangra Fort
</gallery>

==Layout==
The entrance to the fort is through a small courtyard enclosed between two gates which were built during the Sikh period, as appears from an inscription over the entrance. From here a long and narrow passage leads up to the top of the fort, through the ''Ahani'' and ''Amiri Darwaza'' (gate), both attributed to Nawab Saif Ali Khan, the first Mughal Governor of Kangra. About 500 feet from the outer gate the passage turns round at a very sharp angle and passes through the ''Jehangiri Darwaza''.

The ''Darsani Darwaza'', which is now flanked by defaced statues of River Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna gave access to a courtyard, along the south side of which stood the stone shrines of [[Lakshmi Narayan|Lakshmi-Narayana]] and [[Ambika (Jainism)|Ambika Devi]] and a [[Jain]] temple with large idol of [[Rishabhanatha]].<ref>{{Citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l2oZiyOqReoC|title=Forts and Palaces of the Western Himalaya|first=Aśoka |last=Jeratha|publisher=Indus Publishing|date=2000|isbn=9788173871047|page=31}}</ref>

==Location==
[[File:View from top of Kangra Fort overlooking river.jpg|thumb|200px|View from top of Kangra Fort overlooking river.]]
The fort is right next to Kangra town. {{coord|32.1|N|76.27|E|}} The fort stands on a steep rock in Purana Kangra (translates to Old Kangra) dominating the surrounding valley, built strategically at the "Sangam" confluence (places where two rivers meet) of [[Banganga River (Himachal Pradesh)|Banganga]] and [[Majhi River|Majhi]] rivers. It is said that Kangra belongs to one who owns the fort.

Also near to old Kangra is the famous Jayanti Mata temple on a hilltop. The Temple was built by the General of the Gorkha Army, Bada Kaji [[Amar Singh Thapa]]. Also close to entrance is a small museum which exhibits the history of Kangra fort.

Adjoining the Fort is the Maharaja Sansar Chand Katoch Museum run by the Royal Family of Kangra. The Museum also provides audio guides for the fort and the museum and has a cafeteria.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==

{{commons category}}
* Hutchinson, J. & J. PH Vogel (1933). ''History of the Panjab Hill States'', Vol. I. 1st edition: Govt. Printing, [[Lahore]], Punjab, Pakistan. 1933. Reprint 2000. Department of Language and Culture, Himachal Pradesh. Chapter IV Kangra State, pp. 98–198.
* Royal Family of Kangra and the Durbar-e-Amm museum society. ''Kangra''. Date unknown. Purchased in 2010 in Kangra.
{{Forts in India}}

[[Category:Forts in Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Kangra, Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rajput architecture]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kangra district]]
[[Category:Jain temples in India]]