History of Kinnaur District states that the district was formerly a part of Mahasu District. It came into being as an independent district on 1st of May, 1960. Prior to the merger of the state on the eve of independence of the country, Kinnaur valley was a part of erstwhile Bushahr state which had its headquarters at Rampur.
Early History of Kinnaur District
In the absence of authentic historical record the early history of Kinnaur region is obscure and the reference of the Kinnaura or Kannaura and there land is by the large confined to legends and mythological accounts. Early history of Kinnaur District dates back to 6th century BC. India was divided in to sixteen mahajanapadas and several smaller ones. Among them, Gandhara, Kamboja, Kuru, Kosala, Malla, Vajji, Panchala, Sakya were either in the southern Himalayas ranges or had territories extended up to Himalayan ranges. Among the states that were flourishing in the six century BC. The kingdom of Magadh was the first to make a successful bid for supremacy under Bimbisara.
Its emperor belonging to Sunga, Nanda Dynasty and Maurya Empire carried their banners up to the inhabited parts of inner Himalayan region. Chandragupta Maurya brought about its political amalgamation under one scepter, negotiated an alliance with Parvataka (Himalayan King) before empire building. With the help of several frontier tribes such as Kiratas, Kambojas, Panasikas and Valhika, he built up the great Mauryan Empire. The empire of Ashoka extended up to natural boundaries of India and beyond that in the west. After the collapse of the Mauryan Empire the Kushana Empire established its reign within and beyond India in the northwest. Emperor Kanishka supremacy spread over Kashmir and the Central Asian regions of Kashgar, Yarkand and Khotan. His hold extended up to the territory of the Inner Himalayas and Kinnaur had 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 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 was included in it too. Early in the 7th century AD, Harsha came to power at Thaneshwar in A.D. 606. During the course of four decades he had established a most powerful empire in India. All the existing kingdoms of Kapisa, Kashmir, Kuluta, Satadru, 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.
Further, from the historical accounts it appears that the princes being adventurous owing to territorial greed first went to these high hills and established themselves on varying territories in accordance with their powers. Particularly the area between Sutlej River, its tributaries and Baspa up to Manasarovar was under the rule of Thakkers from very early times. They were known by the place they had occupied like that of Chini Thakur and Kamru Thakur, under the overall sovereignty of Mauryan and Gupta kings later on. It was the Thakur of Kamru who proved strongest of all the other chiefs of the area and annexed their territories by force sometime after the fall of the Kannauj Empire and laid the foundation of the state of Bushahr, to which the region of Kinnaur belonged till the dissolution of the state very recently.
Medieval History of Kinnaur District
Medieval history of Kinnaur District says that by the beginning of the fourteenth century the entire area of Kinnaur was divided in seven parts, locally called sat khund. There was further splitting up of and the area came to be covered with several small hegemonies, which were constantly warring against, or allying with, each other as conditions required. The neighbouring Bhots also found time to jump into the fray and did not desist from creating trouble. There are various forts like Labrang, Morang, and Kamru forts telling the story of that age. Further, in the medieval period, though some of the hill states such as Kangra, Chamba and Sirmaur were attacked and made tributary to the Mughal emperor at Delhi, Bushahr state could not be reached by any adventurer of that time.
The consolidation and addition of territories of the Bushahr state continued during the period also. Raja Chatar Singh, who brought the whole area of the erstwhile Bushahr state under his control, was considered as most virtuous ruler during his reign. However, nothing particular is known about his successor Kalyan Singh. The successor of Kalyan Singh according to genealogy was Raja Kehri Singh. He was the highest skilled warrior of the time. Kehri Singh`s successors were not of the same mettle. Besides mention in genealogy of Bushahr state, nothing is known about Vijay Singh and Udai Singh. It is said that one Raja Ram Singh made Rampur his capital in place of Sarahan and Kamru. During his reign a series of contests began with the Raja of Kullu and Bushahr had lost the territory of Seraj. It seems that the territories which were annexed by Raja Kehri Singh became free during the weak rule of Raja Rudra Singh. But his successor Ugar Singh took them over by force.
Modern History of Kinnaur District
According to modern history of Kinnaur District the erstwhile states of Bushahr faced the menace of Gurkha invasions. Immediate after the death of Raja Kehri Singh, The Gurkhas made massive attack on Bushahr. The minor ruler fled away to Namru leaving behind a rich treasury at Sarahan. The Gurkhas looted the treasury and completely destroyed the records of the state. Keeping Gurkhas of Nepal had extended their dominions greatly during the end of the eighteen century. Amar Singh Thapa, the Gurkha leader went up to Kangra valley. The tract between the Sutlej and Yamuna River came under British protection by the treaty of 1809 between Ranjit Singh and the British Government. Thus the British Government took positive step to expel the Gurkhas and after a long and desperate struggle and defeated Amar Singh Thapa in the year 1815.
From the historical accounts, it appears that during the princely days Kinnaur valley acted as a fortification to the Bushahr state. However with the lapse of paramount, the Kinnaur then known as Chini tehsil was merged to form a part of then Mahasu district. In fact, then Chini tehsil covered the entire Kinnaur valley beyond Wangtu which was created in 1891 by the then ruler Tika Raghunath Singh. Thus 1891 onwards Chinni tehsil continued to be in existence with its vast area beyond Wangtu till 1960. Since 1947 it was a tehsil of the then Mahasu district. By 1960 the importance of re-organising border area was realised and consequently in view of ethnic and cultural considerations the areas which were partly in Rampur tehsil were reorganised into a separate district forming the present Kinnaur District.
