Garhwal Himalaya: A Study in Historical Perspective

The present study is an innovative endeavour to reconstruct the political and administrative history of Garhwal during the period 1358 to 1947. Raja Ajay Pal and his scions ruled Garhwal from 1358 to 1804. In 1804, it was occupied by the Gurkhas who ruled this terrain up to 1815, when they were defeated and driven away by the British forces. After the British occupation of Garhwal, it was divided into two parts: ‘British Garhwal’ and ‘Tehri Garhwal State’. Not much has been written about this area and these works throw a sporadic light on the political and administrative history. No attempt so far has been made to present a scientific account of this area. This book, therefore, seeks to examine the history and administrative policies of the rulers of Garhwal during 1358 to 1804, on the basis of primary sources. From 1815, the objective of the study has been to examine the interaction between administrative policies and their political repercussions in the form of political dissent.