Loren: The Citadel that Shielded Kashmir

Historical Settlements of Jammu

Lalit Gupta

lalitguptajammu@gmail.com

Nestled in the foothills of the Pir Panjal range, about 35 kilometres north-east of Poonch, Loren is known today for its scenic beauty, cedar forests, alpine meadows, and trekking routes. Yet this quiet settlement once played a crucial role in the medieval history of Jammu and Kashmir.

Historical Background

Known in ancient times as Lohara or Lohara-Kote, Loren served as the capital of the Lohara kingdom until 1542. The kingdom, situated in the ancient region of Abhisara mentioned in the Mahabharata and the Puranas, is believed to have been founded in the ninth century by Nara, a powerful Khasha chief mentioned by Kalhana in the Rajatarangini. Through military and matrimonial alliances, the Lohara rulers later became closely connected with the royal house of Kashmir.

One of Lohara's celebrated rulers was Simharaja, whose mother was the granddaughter of the great Bhima Shahi of the renowned Shahi dynasty that ruled the Kabul Valley and large parts of Punjab. Simharaja married his daughter Didda to Kshemagupta, the king of Kashmir.

Kshemagupta proved to be a weak ruler, preoccupied with pleasures and court intrigues. Following his death in 950 CE, Didda emerged as one of the most remarkable rulers in Kashmir's history. Initially acting as regent for her son Abhimanyu and later for her grandsons from 958 to 981 CE, she eventually ruled Kashmir directly from 980/81 to 1003 CE.

Loharkot and Mahmud of Ghazni

Lohara gained lasting fame during the invasions of Mahmud of Ghazni in the early eleventh century. Positioned strategically on the routes leading from Punjab into Kashmir, the mighty fort of Loharkot guarded the Pir Panjal passes and became a formidable obstacle to the Ghaznavid armies.

The Persian historical memoir Kitab-i-Yamini records Mahmud's repeated but unsuccessful attempts to capture the fortress in 1015 and again in 1021 CE. Harsh winters, snowbound passes, and the strength of the fortifications forced him to retreat without conquering Kashmir. Muslim chroniclers described Loharkot as "impregnable on account of its strength and loftiness."

The fortunes of Lohara remained deeply intertwined with those of Kashmir. As a vassal state, it frequently served as a refuge for displaced Kashmiri kings, nobles, and claimants to the throne. While Hindu rule ended in Kashmir in 1339 CE, Lohara continued under Hindu rulers until around 1450 CE.

Decline of the Lohara Kingdom

The fortunes of Lohara changed during the reign of Zain-ul-Abidin (1420-1470 CE). His general, Haji Khan, conquered the Lohara kingdom, bringing the ancient Hindu dynasty to an end and shifting the centre of power to Poonch. Over time, Poonch evolved into an independent principality.

The final reference to Lohara appears in the continuation of the Rajatarangini by Prajyabhatta and Suka during the reign of Muhammad Shah of Kashmir around 1530 CE.

Mughal and Later Rule:

After the Mughal annexation of Kashmir in 1586, Lohara became an imperial domain. During the reign of Jahangir, the region was granted to the ancestors of the Muslim ruling family of Poonch. Tradition holds that the founder of this line was Man Singh, a scion of the Rathore family of Jodhpur. His son Sarje Singh converted to Islam and became Siraj-ud-din Khan. Settling in Kahuta, he married the daughter of a local official and later succeeded his father-in-law as Choudhary.

During Jahangir's journey to Kashmir, the emperor was reportedly impressed by the arrangements made by Siraj-ud-din Khan for the imperial camp. Learning of his Rathore lineage, Jahangir rewarded him with the rulership of Poonch. His descendants continued to govern the area during the Durrani rule (1752-1819).

Following the Sikh conquest of Kashmir in 1819, the hill tracts came under Sikh authority. In 1822, Poonch was granted as a jagir to Raja Dhiyan Singh, the younger brother of Gulab Singh and chief minister of the Sikh kingdom.

The English traveller Godfrey Thomas Vigne, who passed through Poonch on his way to Kashmir in the nineteenth century, met Raja Sher-Raz Khan, a descendant of the former Muslim rulers of Poonch.

The Dogra Rule

Raja Dhiyan Singh ruled Poonch until his assassination in 1843. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Raja Hira Singh, who was himself assassinated in 1844. Thereafter, Raja Jawahar Singh assumed power.

After the First Sikh War in 1846, the hill tracts, including Poonch, were transferred to Gulab Singh and incorporated into the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the treaty made no provision for Poonch's autonomy, leading to prolonged tensions between Raja Jawahar Singh and Maharaja Gulab Singh.

In 1859, after Gulab Singh's death, an arrangement was reached under which Raja Jawahar Singh abdicated in favour of his younger brother Raja Moti Singh, receiving an annual allowance of one lakh rupees and residence in Punjab beyond Ambala.

Raja Moti Singh ruled until 1897 and was succeeded by his son Raja Baldev Singh, who died in 1918. He was followed by Raja Sukhdev Singh, who died childless in 1927 after an illness contracted during a hunting expedition. His younger brother, Raja Jagat Dev Singh, then became ruler. The last ruler before the Partition of 1947 was Raja Shiv Rattan Dev Singh.