Pauri Garhwal History

Pauri Garhwal's history reflects human civilisation's evolution in the Garhwal Himalayas, paralleling developments in the Indian subcontinent. The Katyuri dynasty was the first to rule a unified Uttarakhand, leaving a legacy of inscriptions and temples.

After the Katyuris’ decline, the region fragmented into over sixty-four principalities. Chandpurgarh, ruled by Kanakpal’s descendants, emerged as a major power.

Under Ajaypal in the late 15th century, these principalities were unified into the Garhwal Kingdom, with its capital eventually moved to Srinagar. Ajaypal and his successors ruled for nearly 300 years, facing invasions from other communities both local and foreign. The Gorkha invasion in 1803 brought devastation, with Garhwal falling under their rule by 1804.

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The British defeated the Gorkhas in 1815, taking control of the eastern half of Garhwal (‘British Garhwal’) while restoring the western region to King Sudershan Shah, who established his capital at Tehri.

Pauri became the headquarters of a separate district in 1840, marking a new administrative era. Pauri Garhwal’s history is a testament to resilience and transformation across centuries.