Indian Antiquary Vol 26

SR No.: 032518
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 237

SEPTEMBER, 1897.]
THE CASTLE OF LOHARA.
231
$ 13. Albérâni's personal acquaintance with the fortress Lauhůr' can only date from the unsuccessful expedition which Mahmud of Ghazna undertook against Kaśmir, The Muham. madan historians extracted by Elliott assign varying dates to this expedition, but agree in relating that Mahmûd's invasion was brought to a standstill at the siege of the fort of Lôh-Kot' which as Ferishta tells us," was remarkable on account of its height and strength.” “After a while when the snow began to fall, and the season became intensely cold, and the enemy received reinforcements from Kasmir, the Sultan was obliged to abandon his design and to return to Ghazni.” 17 The description here given agrees so well with what Albérůni says of
Lauhûr' (Lohara) and its position on the confines of Kaśmir, that we cannot hesitate to recognize in L6.-Kót the Loharakotta of the Chronicle. Considering the endless corruptions to which Indian proper names are exposed in the works of Muhaminadan authors, we may rest satisfied with the form in which the name of a little-known locality bas in this instance been preserved for us.
$14. In modern times it fell once more to the share of Lobarin to witness the failure of an invader. Ranjit Singh who in the summer of 1814 bad led in person a portion of the Sikh army into the Valley with the object of entering Kasmir by the Tosamaidan Pass, met here - with a reverse to which the natural difficulties of this mountain region had contributed quite as much as the resistance of his Pathin opponents. Similarly we may suppose that the ancient Loharakot a derived no small portion of its vaunted strength from the natural advantages of its situation.
The valley of Lohariu from the defile of Palêra upward offers a series of excellent defensive positions which would need but comparatively little fortification to be rendered almost impregnable for an enemy not possessed of guns. At several places cross ridges with precipitous cliffs descend into the Valley and reduce it to a gorge. Barriers are thus formed from which the route on either side of the river is completely commanded.
$ 15. In Lohria proper distinct traditions of an ancient Killa' or fortress cling to the isolated ridge which projects, in the direction from N. W. to S. E., towards the right bank of the Lohrin River just above the village of Gêgirand (shewn on the St vey map as Gajian'). At its S. E. extremity this ridge falls off abruptly with a rocky face. On the N. E. and S. W. sides its slopes descend with equal steepness to the beds of the streams which flow through the Tantr vand and Gêgivand villages. The top of this ridge lies about 300 feet above the level of the Valley and forms a narrow plateau about a quarter of a mile long. At the S. E. end of this plateau rises a small hillock. This was pointed out to me by old villagers as the site of a fort which is supposed to have stood there long before the time of the Muhammadan Rajâs of Průnts.
7 Comp. Elliott, History of India, il pp. 455, 460 sq. Firishta's account places the expedition in A. H. 406 (A. D. 1015); according to the Tabłkft-i-Akbari it took place in A. H. 412 (A. D. 1021). As Albëruri's residence in India as an involuntary follower of Mahmud's court falls after the capture of Khwr'izm, A.D. 1017, the later dute would be preferable.
The pious legend of the Lohorin people attributes the Mubaraja's defeat to the miraculous intervention of the Saint Saiyid Chanan' who lies burried near the village of Tantrivand in Lohrin proper. Mysterius noises and 'alarms' proceeding from his Ziarat are said to have thrown the Sikh army into confusion and to have brought about its precipitous flight.
In reality Ranjit Singh's rotront was dvo to far more natural causes. His troops had suffered already great losses by sicknest and desertion on the advance to the Tomaidan plateau. When the litter was reached by bis advanccguard, the Silbe found themselves without supplies and confronted by a strongly posted force of Azfm Khiu, the Afghan Governor of Kasmir. After a few days spent in inaction Ranjit Singh received news of the defeat which his general Ram DyAl, sent with a second column by the Pir Pantaal Pass, had suffered before Supiy4n.
Ranjit Singh then felt obligod to order a retreat. This developed into a complete deroute when the hillmen of the RAJA of Panch (Průnta) attacked the Sikhs from the mountains about Lohorin. On the 30th July 1914 Ranjit Singh himself had to flee to Mandi after the complete loss of his baggage and a great portion of his army. The boat account of this expedition I have been able to trace, is that given by Baron Hügel, Kaschmir und das Reich der Siekh, ii. Pp. 145 899.