|
|
|
|
Chamba-The Great History
|
|
Chamba History
|
|
Numismatic history of Chamba is not only important to find its History but also to fill the dark periods of Brahampur and Champakpur Kingdom of Western Himalaya and its historical facts.
No attention was made prior to this attempt to correlate the History with numismatic evidence because of the reason that no attempt was made to collect ancient coins or gather any kind of information about them.
The Bhuri Singh Museum established in the year 1908 AD also remained indifferent towards numismatics till 1968 AD. However, thereafter, some efforts for the numismatic collection were started.
Many people of Chamba found hoard of coins (Maya) but consumed the same by selling it in the market and mostly the ancient coins being made up of silver and gold was utilized for ornaments.
The Silver was most popular metal and was found in abundance throughout the boundaries of Brahampur /Champakpur/ Champa Kingdom and Chamba State. In a folk song a line depicts that
“Batne ra gum mat kare Chanchlo Chambe Chaandi Bateree ho……”
|
|
The numismatic collection of Bhuri Singh Museum Chamba and Himachal State Museum Shimla is not very large. If effort to collect the ancient coin is made,
a number of ancient coins either lying in private collections or beneath the earth could be found. My efforts are based on Mr.
Parmeshwari lal Gupta’s work in his solitary book of numismatic history of Himachal Pradesh and the catalogue of coins in Himachal State Museum, Shimla and Bhuri Singh Museum Chamba.
But despite this great work , two of the Chamba found acquired by the Bhuri Singh Museum Chamba have remained unattributed, unclassified assorted coins till this date.
In numismatic History of Chamba Indo-Greek coins of 1st & 2nd Century BC finds a special mention being the largest hoards in Himachal Pradesh.
These coins have been discovered in good number of quantity at two places of Lachori and Sarol of Champakpur Kingdom and DistrictChamba of Himachal Pradesh.
|

Lord Elgin
|
|
|
The Muslims never invaded Chamba, though it had its occasional fights with the neighboring states in the hills having similar cultural background. Thus, the damage to Chamba from these invasions was seldom serious and never beyond the possibility of repair.
Even the powerful Mughals were kept at bay on account of difficulties involved in communications and long distances. Akbar tried to extend a loose control over the hill states including Chamba and attached fertile tracts of these states to the imperial territory south of Dhauladhar.
Aurangzeb once issued orders to the Raja of Chamba Chatter Singh (1664-1694AD) to pull down the beautiful temples of Chamba. But instead the raja in clear defiance to the Mughal ruler placed glided pinnacles on the temples. He was ordered to come down to Delhi to face the imperial wrath.
But Aurangzeb himself had to leave for the Deccan from where he could not disentangle till the end of his life. On the whole, the northern India experienced comparatively peaceful condition during the Mughal regime Raja Prithvi Singh (1641-1664 AD), a handsome and a gallant knight was favourite of Shahjahan and visited the imperial court many times.
He introduced the Mughal style of court life including Mughal-Rajput art and architecture in Chamba.
read more...
|
|
Last Updated : Novmber 27,2009
|
|
|
|
|
|

Chamba Velley
Chamba Chogan
Chamba

Chamba Dam
|
|
|