Brief History of District Kinnaur
The erstwhile Chini tehsilof former Mahasu district came into being as an independent district named as Kinnaur from 1st May 1960. Prior to merger of the state at the eve of independence, Kinnaur valley was a part of erstwhile Bushahr State which had it’s headquarter at Rampur. In the absence of authentic historical records the early history of the Kinnaur region is obscure and the reference of the Kinnaur or Kannaura and their land is by and large confined to legends and mythological accounts. S.C. Bajpai is of the opinion that it would be worthwhile to look at the region of Kinnaur along with general condition of Northern India, particularly of the hill region of Himalayas during the period from 6th century B.C. to A.D. 647.
According to him, in the beginning of the 6th century B.C. India was divided into sixteen great Janpadas and several smaller ones. Among them Gandhara, Kamboj, Kuru, Koshal, Mull, Vajji, Panchal, Sakya were either in the southernHimalayan ranges or had territories extended into Himalayan ranges. Among the states that were flourishing in the sixth century B.C. the Kingdom of Magadha was the first to make a successful bid for supremacy under Bimbisara. Its emperors belonging to Sunga, Nanda and Muryadynasties carried their banners up to the inhabited parts of inner Himalayan regions. Chandragupta Maurya brought about its political unification under one sceptre, negotiated and alliance with Parvataka (Himalayan king) before empire building. With the help of several frontier tribes such as the Kiratas, Kambojas, Panasikas and Valhika, he built up the great Maurya Empire.
The empire of Ashoka extended up to the natural boundaries of India and beyond that in the west. After the collapse of the Maurya Empire the Kushansas established an extensive empire with in and beyond India in the north–west. Emperor Kanishka’s hegemony spread over Kashmir andCentral Asia regions of Kashgar, Yarkand and Khotan. His hold extended up to the territory of the inner Himalayas and Kinnaur must have been the part of this empire. In the meantime northern India was divided into a number of small Kingdoms and autonomous tribal states. Under such a divided country the Gupta Empire grew. Samudragupta’s empire included the territories of Rohilkhand, Kumaon, Garhwal, Nepal and Assam. Its northern boundary was along the high Himalayas. Kinnaur must have been included in it too. Early in the seventh century, Harsha came to power at Thaneshwar in A.D. 606. During the course of next four decades he had established a most powerful empire in India. All the existing Kingdoms of Kapisa, Kashmir, Kuluta, Satadru, Mon-li-pa-lo (Ladakh) and Suwarnagotra(in the high Himalayas) were incorporated in his empire. After the death of Harsha in A.D. 647 the country was once again divided into old principalities of the sixth century B.C. (S.C. Bajpai. Kinnaur: A Restricted Land in the Himalaya, 1991). In the background of the historical conditions described in the precedingpara
There is nothing much to know about the history of district Kinnaur as it was a part of Mahasu district till May 1, 1960. Chini Tehsil of Mahasu district named as Kinnaur became the sixth district of state of Himachal Pradesh. Kinnaur is also called as ‘Khunu’ and ‘Kurpa’. In Leh Kinnaur is called as ‘Maon’.
Geography of District Kinnaur:
Headquarter: Recong Peo
Altitude: 2769 meters
Languages spoken: Kinnauri (Hamskad), Sangnaur, Jangiam, Shumecho etc.
The District Kinnaur is situated 77°45’ and 79°00’35” East Longitude and between 31°55’50” and 32°05’15” North Latitude.
The largest village of the district Kinnaur is ‘Bhaba’.
There are many prominent valleys in District Kinnaur
The Yula Valley, The Mulgaon Valley, The Satluj Valley, The Hangrang or Spiti Valley, The Ropa or Shyaso or Sunam Valley, The Baspa or Sangla Valley, The Tidong Valley, The Wangpoo or Bhaba Valley, The Gyathing or Nesang Valley, The Pejur or Lippa Valley, The Kashang Valley, Ribba Valley etc.
The historic village Kamru (Mone) is situated in Sangla Valley.
Tidong Valley is called as ‘a scene of savage grandeur’.
The River Satluj flows through the district Kinnaur.
The lakes in the district Kinnaur are Nako Lake and Sarong Lake.
Ribba Valley is famous for grapes.
