Daradas are the inhabitants of the country along the course of the Indus River above the Himalaya Mountains just before it descends to India. This locality was occupied by the Daradas in the days of Strabo and Ptolemy and at the date of the Vishnu Purana. They reside there still and are now called Durds.

The kingdom of the Daradas is identified to be the Gilgit region in Kashmir. Arjuna is said to have visited this country of Daradas during his northern military campaign to collect tribute for Yudhisthira's Rajasuya sacrifice. Many Daradas are also said to have attended the sacrifice and offered him lots of gifts. Daradas had also participated in the Kurukshetra war fought between the Kauravas and Pandavas.

The Vayu Purana, Brahmanda Purana and Vamana Purana mention the Daradas with the Kambojas, Chinas, Tusharas and the Bahlikas etc. The Bhuvankosha of the Puranas locates the Daradas, Kambojas, Barbaras, Bahlikas and Lampakas in the Uttarapatha division of ancient India.

As per the 'Drona Parva' of the Mahabharata, Krishna had conquered the Daradas along with Anga, Vanga, Magadha, Kasi, Vatsa, Garga and many others.

This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to content@indianetzone.com