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{{short description|Former independent kingdom in present-day Uttarakhand, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox former country
| conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Kumaon
| common_name = Kumaon Rajya
| native_name =
| status = [[Sovereign state]]
| status_text = * [[Katyuri kings|Katyuri dynasty]] {{small|(7th–12th centuries)}}
* [[Chand kings|Chand dynasty]] {{small|(12th–18th centuries)}}
| government_type = [[Monarchy]]
| leader1 = Vasu Dev {{small|''(first)''}}
| leader2 =Mahendra Chand {{small|''(last)''}}
| year_leader1 = 600
| year_leader2 =1791
| title_leader = [[Maharaja]]
| event_start = Established
| year_start = 600
| event_end = [[Gurkha|Conquered by the Gorkhas]] and [[Kingdom of Nepal|merged with the Kingdom of Nepal]]
| date_end =
| year_end = 1791
| event1 =
| date_event1 =
| event2 =
| date_event2 =
| event3 =
| date_event3 =
| p1 = Kuninda Kingdom
| flag_p1 =
| s1 = Kingdom of Nepal
| flag_s1 = Flag of Nepal.svg
| image_flag = Flag of the Kumaon Kingdom.svg
| image_coat =
| coat_alt =
| symbol =
| image_map = File:NWIndia 1765 imperial gazeteer.JPG
| image_map_caption = Kumaon and its controlled territory in 1765 from the [[Imperial Gazetteer of India]]
| capital = * [[Baijnath, Uttarakhand|Baijnath]] {{small|(600–1200)}}
* [[Champawat]] {{small|(1200–1563)}}
* [[Almora]] {{small|(1563–1791)}}
| national_anthem =
| common_languages = [[Kumaoni language|Kumaoni]], [[Sanskrit]]
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| demonym = Kumaoni
| legislature =
| today = {{flagicon|India}} [[Kumaon division]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]
| area_km2 =
| area_rank =
| GDP_PPP =
| GDP_PPP_year =
| HDI =
| HDI_year =
}}

'''Kumaon Kingdom''' was an independent [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] kingdom in the eastern region of present-day [[Uttarakhand]] state of [[India]]. It was established around 7th century and remained an independent and sovereign kingdom until 1791.<ref name="Hāṇḍā2002" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Atkinson, Edwin T. (Edwin Thomas), 1840-1890.|title=Himalayan Gazetter.|date=1990|publisher=Cosmo|oclc=183008777}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
Kumaon is believed to have been derived from ''Kurmanchal'', meaning land of the [[Kurma]] [[Dashavatara|Avatar]] (the [[tortoise]] incarnation of Lord [[Vishnu]], the preserver according to Hinduism). The region of Kumaon is named after as such.<ref name="History">{{cite book |last1=Gokhale |first1=Namita |title=Mountains Echoes: Reminiscences of Kumaoni Women |date=2015 |publisher=Roli Books Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5194-180-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5bJlCgAAQBAJ&q=kurmanchal&pg=PT12 |access-date=31 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

During the time of the British control of the region, between 1815 and 1857 it was also known as ''Kemaon''.<ref>James Prinsep (Editor){{Google books|Y1oxAQAAMAAJ|Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Volume 6, Part 2 (1837)|page=653}}</ref><ref>John McClelland {{Google books|0gwKAAAAIAAJ|Some inquiries in the province of Kemaon: relative to geology, and other branches of Natural Science (1835)}}</ref><ref>John Forbes Royle {{Google books|RxBJAAAAcAAJ|Illustrations of the botany and other branches of the natural history of the Himalayan Mountains and of the flora of Cashmere (1839)|page=108}}</ref>

==History==

===Ancient===
Kumaon finds mention in the early Hindu scriptures as ''Manaskhand, according to'' [[Skanda Purana]] ''the region'' is believed to be the Birth place of Kurmavtar of Hindu god Vishnu.<ref>{{Cite book|last=KAFALTIA|first=HIMANSHU KAFALTIA, GUNJAN SHARMA|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GEOwDwAAQBAJ&q=manaskhand+kumaon&pg=PT22|title=A Comprehensive Study of UTTARAKHAND|date=18 September 2019|publisher=Notion Press|isbn=978-1-64650-605-7|language=en}}</ref>

Prehistoric dwellings and Stone Age implements have been discovered in [[Almora district|Almora]] and [[Nainital district|Nainital]] districts. Initially settled by [[Kol people|Kol]] tribals, the region witnessed successive waves of [[Kirat]]as, [[Khasas]] and [[Indo-Scythians]](sakas). [[Kuninda Kingdom|Kunindas]] were the first rulers of the region.

===Katyuri dynasty===
{{Main|Katyuri kings}}
Around 700CE. Katyuri dynasty established by Vasu Dev in the region They called their state ''[[Kumaon division|Kurmanchal]]'', the land of Kurma, the second avatar of Vishnu, from which the present name is derived. Their capital was [[Baijnath, Uttarakhand|Kartikeyapura]] (morden day-Baijnath)<ref name="Hāṇḍā2002" /><ref name="kumaon">{{Cite web |url=http://kumaoni.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=27 |title=History of Kumaon |access-date=22 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313105457/http://kumaoni.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=27 |archive-date=13 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the Gomati Valley came to be known as the Katyur Valley after the ruling dynasty.<ref name="Hāṇḍā2002">{{cite book|author=Omacanda Hāṇḍā|title=History of Uttaranchal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_Ct9gzvkDQC&pg=PA72|access-date=22 July 2012|year=2002|publisher=Indus Publishing|isbn=978-81-7387-134-4|pages=72–}}</ref>
during their reign they dominated lands of varying extent from the Katyur Valley (modern-day Baijnath) in Kumaon, between 7th and 11th centuries C.E., and established their capital at Baijnath in [[Bageshwar district]]; which was then known as ''Kartikeyapura'' and lies in the centre of Katyur Valley. ''Brahmadev Mandi'' (a trading and business center in a flat area of the then Katyuri dynasty) in the [[Kanchanpur District]] of Nepal was established by Katyuri king Brahma Dev. Brahmadev Mandi still exists by this name.

At its peak, the Katyuri dynasty of Kumaon extended from [[Nepal]] in the east to [[Kabul]], [[Afghanistan]] in the west, before fragmenting into numerous principalities by the 12th century.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kohli|first=M. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y5CXbqpzmhIC&q=himalayan+gazetteer+katyuri&pg=PA93|title=Incredible Himalayas: Environment, Culture, Tourism, and Adventure|date=2005|publisher=Indus Publishing|isbn=978-81-7387-179-5|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Atkinson|first=Edwin Thomas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sofuoAEACAAJ&q=himalayan+gazetteer+katyuri|title=Himalayan Gazetteer: Volumes 1 To 3|date=24 April 2014|publisher=Natraj Publishers|isbn=978-81-8158-234-8|language=en}}</ref> It is believed that from king Dhan Dev and Vir Dev the downfall of this powerful dynasty began. Vir Dev used to collect heavy taxes and forced his people to work as his slaves, King Vir Dev teased his subjects by his tyranny to the extent that he forcibly married his own maternal aunt Tila (Tilottama Devi). It is said that the Kumaoni folk song '''Mami Tile Dharo Bola''<nowiki/>' became popular from that very day.<ref name="Hāṇḍā2002" />

===Chand dynasty===
{{Main|Chand kings}}
[[File:Fort_and_the_capital_city_of_Kali_Kumaon,_Champawat,_1815.jpg|alt=|center|thumb|270x270px|Fort of chand kings in Champawat the capital of Kumaon Kingdom]]
Sometime in the 10th century, the Chand dynasty was established by Som Chand, by displacing the Katyuri kings. He continued to call his state [[Kumaon division|Kurmanchal]], and established its capital in [[Champawat]] in Kali Kumaon. The [[Baleshwar Temple|Baleshwar]] and Nagnath temples were built in this city during the 11th and 12th centuries.<ref>[http://dpuckjoe.wetpaint.com/page/HISTORY+OF+KUMAON History Of Kumaon - Brahmins From Kumaon Hills]</ref> During this period, learning and new forms of painting (the [[Pahari painting|pahari]] school of art) developed.<ref>Pande, B. D. (1993). History of Kumaon: English version of "Kumaon ka itihas". Almora, U.P., India: Shyam Prakashan: Shree Almora Book Depot</ref>

===Conflicts and battles===
Towards the end of the 17th century, the Kumaon kings attacked [[Garhwal Kingdom]]. In 1688, Udyot Chand, erected several temples at Almora, including Tripur Sundari, Udyot Chandeshwar and Parbateshwar, to mark his victory over Garhwal and [[Doti]]. The Parbateshwar temple was renamed twice, to become the present Nanda Devi Temple. Gyan Chand, the King of Kumaon ascended the throne in 1698. In 1699 he invaded Garhwal, which was under the King [[Fateh Shah]] . He crossed [[Ramganga River]] and plundered Sabli, Khatli, and Sainchar. In 1701, Fateh Shah entered in Chaukot (now Syalde region with 3 part, Talla Chaukot (lower), Malla Chaukot (Upper) and Bichla Chaukot (middle)) and Gewar Valley (region of [[Chaukhutia]], Masi, and [[Dwarahat]]) as reply. The Kumaonis defeated the Garhwalis in the Battle of Duduli (near Melchauri in Garhwal). In 1707, the Kumaoni forces annexed Juniyagarh in Bichla Chaukot (Syalde), and razed the old fort at Chandpur Garhi, the capital of Garhwal Kingdom.

During the reign of Baz Bahadur Chand the Kumaoni forces invaded [[Tibet]] and captured hindu pilgrim [[Lake Manasarovar|Kailash Manasarovar]] along with several forts.<ref name="Chand">{{Cite book|last=Hāṇḍā|first=Omacanda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_Ct9gzvkDQC&q=baz+bahadur+chand+tibet&pg=PA82|title=History of Uttaranchal|date=2002|publisher=Indus Publishing|isbn=978-81-7387-134-4|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sen|first=Siba Pada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bXUeAAAAMAAJ&q=kailash+mansarovar+baz+bahadur|title=The Sino-Indian Border Question: A Historical Review|date=1971|publisher=Institute of Historical Studies|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Man Mohan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tZwRAQAAIAAJ&q=kailash+mansarovar+baz+bahadur|title=Yātrā: Pilgrimages in the Himalayas|date=2005|publisher=Trishul Publications|isbn=978-81-85384-92-4|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Vaishṇav|first=Yamunādatta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=54e1AAAAIAAJ&q=kailash+mansarovar+baz+bahadur|title=Himalayan Districts of Uttar Pradesh: Land and People|date=1983|publisher=Sri Almora Book Depot|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=5 September 2018|first1=Vikram |last1= Bhalla |title=FACT CHECK: Did Aurangzeb defeat China and snatch Kailash Mansarovar from them as a gift to Hindus? - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/times-fact-check/news/fact-check-did-aurangzeb-defeat-china-and-snatch-kailash-mansarovar-from-them-as-a-gift-to-hindus/articleshow/65685957.cms|access-date=18 September 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=India)|first=Institute of Historical Studies (Calcutta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a8Q9AQAAIAAJ&q=kailash+mansarovar+baz+bahadur|title=Collection of Papers Presented at Annual Conference of the Institute|date=1971|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Man Mohan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LQYuAAAAMAAJ&q=kailash+mansarovar+baz+bahadur|title=The Mystery of Rupkund|date=1986|publisher=Vanity Books|language=en}}</ref> He also built the [[Golu Devata|Golu Devta Temple]], at [[Ghorakhal]], near [[Bhimtal]],<ref name="Chand" /> after Lord Golu, a general in his army, who died valiantly in battle,<ref>{{cite web|title=Chitai Temple |url=http://210.212.78.56/almora/English/indexvisitor.html |access-date=3 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413011854/http://210.212.78.56/almora/English/indexvisitor.html |archive-date=13 April 2009 }}</ref> Few years Later, Jagat Chand (1708–20), invaded Garhwal, defeated the ruling King of Garhwal and expelled him from [[Srinagar, Uttarakhand|Srinagar]], then capital of Garhwal Kingdom. After ruling for few years he bestowed the Kingdom on a [[Brahmin]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hunter, William Wilson, 1840-1900.|title=The imperial gazetteer of India ...|date=1885–1887|publisher=Trübner|oclc=24165771}}</ref>

===Nepalese invasion and its defeat===
In the latter half of the 18th century, the power of Kumaon was on decline, as the prince Mahendra Chand was unable to properly administer the country and conflicts with other neighbouring kingdoms, natural calamities, intrigues and dissensions further weakened the Kingdom.

Seeing this opportunity, in 1791 the [[Gurkha|Gorkhas]] invaded Kumaon. [[Gorkha Kingdom|Gorkha Army]] led by the Gorkha commanders [[Bahadur Shah of Nepal|Bahadur shah]], Kazi Jagjit Pande, [[Amar Singh Thapa]] and Sur Singh Thapa set to attack Kumaon from Doti, One regiment went from Kali Kumaon to [[Pithoragarh|Sor]], another set out to capture Visung. When the news of the sudden invasion reached [[Almora]], Mahendra Chand summoned his troops and taking a contingent with him moved towards [[Gangolihat|Gangoli]]. contingent advanced towards [[Champawat district|Kali Kumaon]].

Amar Singh Thapa with his troops attacked the Kumaoni contingent but got defeated and escaped, however few hours later he came back with huge army and better preparation, surrounded Kumaon from all the direction of west, Mahendra Chand hearing the defeat of his uncle lal singh became nervous and fled, thus Gorkhas finding their path clear reached and captured Almora and Kumaon was annexed to the [[Kingdom of Nepal]].<ref name="Hāṇḍā2002" />

The Gorkhas rule over Kumaon lasted for 24 years and has been termed as "Cruel and Oppressive" in a number of texts. The only architectural advancements during the period was a road connecting [[Sharda River|Kali River]] to [[Srinagar, Uttarakhand|Srinagar]] via [[Almora]].

===Kumaon Province===
[[File:NorthWesternProvincesIndia1857.jpg|alt=|thumb|250x250px|Kumaon as a part of [[North-Western Provinces]] in British India, 1857]]
The Gorkhas were defeated by the [[East India Company]] in [[Anglo-Nepalese War]] and were forced to cede Kumaon to the British as part of the [[Treaty of Sugauli]] in 1816. The Kumaon region was joined with the eastern half of the Garhwal region and was governed as a chief-commissionership, also known as the Kumaon Province, on the non-regulation system.<ref>Robert Montgomery Martin, ''History of the Possessions of the Honourable East India Company,'' Volume 1, pg. 107</ref> In seventy years it was governed by three successive administrators: Mr. Traill, Mr J. H. Batten and Sir Henry Ramsay. The British set up a small administrative unit to govern the region, known as Patwari Halka.<ref>[http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTemp12PLM8C.aspx?MnId=QezfHTV88Qc=&ParentID=DULbco0Ru9o= Brief History of the Kumaon Regiment from the official site of the Indian Army]</ref>

==Culture==
{{Main|Kumaoni people}}

===Language===
The Kumaoni language is one of the [[Central Pahari languages]]. For a number of reasons, Kumaoni usage is shrinking rapidly. UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger designates Kumaoni as a language in the ''unsafe'' category which requires consistent conservation efforts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unesco.org/culture/languages-atlas/en/atlasmap/language-id-1565.html |title=UNESCO Interactive Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |access-date=3 September 2010}}</ref>

== Rulers ==
{{main|Katyuri kings}}
{{main|Chand kings}}

==See also==
*[[Kumaoni language]]
*[[Kumaoni people]]
*[[List of Hindu empires and dynasties]]
*[[List of Rajput dynasties]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Kumaon}}
{{Historical regions of North India}}

{{Uttarakhand}}

[[Category:Kumaon division]]
[[Category:History of Uttarakhand]]

Kumaon Kingdom - Revision history

>Atlashumongo at 19:32, 5 July 2021