BARAMULA, Jammu and Kashmir

Main Attraction: Gandolas, Gulmarg

Gulmarg (46 Kms from Srinagar is an idyllic summer resort in the clouds, and the hot spot of winter frolics in the snow. Gulmarg is a breathtaking valley at the dizzy height of 2730 meters. And on to Khilanarg, flower-spangled paradise, with a beautiful view of snow-capped peaks and lakes. Lein Marg, pine forests and a succession of glades that take the breath away. And the shrine of the revered saint Baba Reshi.). Gulmarg Gandola a Cable Car is one of the most attraction of the tourists

Brief History

Baramula, in ancient times known as “Varamulla” is as old as the Valley of Kashmir. The history of the place starts from the time when the entire valley was a vast lake called “Satisaras”. The history of Kashmir thus originates with the history of Varamulla. In “Rajatarangini” the first chronicle of Kashmir “Varahamulla” finds its mention in a legend, which is like this.

Thousands of years ago Kashmir Valley was Satsaras, in these Saras lived a gang of cruel demons, the chief of them called, JALOBHAVE. The demons used to cause a lot of destruction and tease the people., living on mountain tops. After some time a ripe aged saint ‘KASHYAPA’ who was believed to be the great grandson of Brahma, visited this place, to save the people from misery he prayed to the Almighty, due to his prayers and penance, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv came to his help. When they reached this place they found that Indra, who was already in fight with these demons, had succeeded in killing them and was now in search of the chief Jalobhave, who along with some of his companions had taken refuge under the depths of water. 

Vishnu chased them and finally killed them, he afterwards cut the mountain, it giving way to the flow of water, thus the water of the lake was drained out and the valley came into existence. But in addition to this legend there are facts about the name of this place. One version is that since the river Jhelum flows down after getting a bend in its flow at this place, hence the name “Varamulla” “Var” in Kashmiri means a bend “Hull” means a place. But the popular view as to how the place came to be known as “Baramula” is that the waters of “Sati-Saras” lake were drained off by a volcanic eruption at twelve places in the close vicinity of Baramula. The place was thus assigned the name “Baramula” meaning 12, bores. Kashmiris still call this place Varamulla.

The city of Baramula founded by Raja Bhimsina in 2306 B.C. has a hoary past, it was the gateway of Kashmir. There was a watch station at “Drang” (Present, Drangbal village). The visitors were received at this station. The famous chinese visitor, Heiuntsang was also received here by Raja Darlubdurana, then king of Kashmir, in 631 A.D. This watch station existed upto the 19th century. Moorecraft an English historian visited this station in 1823 A.D.

A wooden bridge over river Jhelum, connected Baramula to the famous city of “Hashikopora” (present ushkara village). The city of Hashikopora was founded by King Haskha and was the headquarter of Buddhist monks as Haskha had constructed a vihar there, two more Vihars were constructed by Queen “Dakhana” and her brother prince “Jaloka”. The renowned landmark of the hoary past of Baramula, rather of Kashmir Valley is at Hashikopora. The baroque Terracotta School of Hashikopora has been described as one of the most striking and uniformly lovely chevisance of the whole Indian art since ancient days. In Kashan period the famous king “Kanishka” founded the city of “Kansipora” (present Kanispora village) just near the city of Baramula. It thus got extended from Drang to Kanispora. It is believed that Kanishka convened 4th Buddhist conference at Kanispora under the chairmanship of “Nag-Arjana”, though controversy still continues to range over the matter. During the Buddhist period Baramula was at the zenith of its glory and was the famous city of the valley. ‘Alburoni’ described Baramula as the prosperous trading centre of the valley.

Mughal emperors had a particular fascination for the city of Baramula. Being the gateway of the valley it was a haltage station for them during their visits to the valley. In 1508 A.D. emperor Akbar, who entered the valley via Pakhli, spent a few days at Baramula and according to “Tarikh Hassan” the city during Akbar’s stay had been decorated like a bridge. Jahangir also had a stay at Baramula during his visit to Kashmir in 1620 A.D. From the very beginning Baramula has enjoyed religious importance. The construction of Hindu Teertha and Buddhist Vihars made this city sacred to Hindus as well as Buddhists. 

In 15th century the place became important to Muslims also, as the famous Muslim saint Syed Janbaz Wali, who visited the valley alongwith his companions in 1421 A.D. choose Baramula as the centre of his mission and after his death he was burried here. His shrine attracts pilgrims from far and wide. In 1584 the sixth Sikh guru visited the city and gurdwara “Chatti Padshahi” was constructed in his memory. Baramula thus became an abode of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs living in fraternity and contributing to a rich composite culture. Baramula has appropriately been called the “ PANIPAT” of Kashmir. 

As the gateway to the valley and right up to 1947 the inhabitants of this place would frequently become the victims to internal and external invasions. The city was a regular battlefield for the kings of Kashmir. In 927 A.D. after the death of Raja Khema Gupta the battle between Rani Daida, the widow of Raja Khema Gupta and his vazir Pahalgan which took place at Baramula resulted in the destruction of the city. During the reign of King Harash Deva, the king and his cousins Oschal and Sosal fought a battle at Baramula, which was so disastrous that in addition to thousands of soldiers the Commander-in-chief of the royal army was also killed. 

When Oschal became the king of Kashmir, a battle between Ganga Chander, the Commander-in-chief of King Oschal and Sosal took place at Baramula in which the later was defeated. After King Salhana when Ganga Chander took the charge of administration, he defeated Sosal for the second time and this battle also took place at Baramula. All these battles proved disastrous for this city. In Sultan Zain-ul-Abdin’s reign Baramula became the battlefield for the Princes who fought among themselves. During the Pathan rule also many battles were fought at Baramula, battle between Khurum Khan, the Pathan Governor and his predecessor Lal Khan took place at Baramula and resulted in the defeat of Lal Khan. Another battle between Mir Hazar Khan and the royal army led by Ahmed Khan and Rahmatullah Khan was also fought at this place. 

In 1810 A.D. Atta Mohd. Khan the Pathan Governor, who revolted against the Durani King Shiza, defeated the royal army, by Akram Khan. This battle was so disastrous that it shattered the progress and economy of the people of Baramula. In 1714 A.D. Muzaffar Khan Bmba the Sardar of two Gujar Tribes, “Bambas” and “Khakhas” invaded the city to get the booty. As a result of the successive invasions of Bambas from 1714 A.D. to 1732 A.D. The people of Baramula suffered a lot. The tyranny of these looters gave birth to a wellknown Kashmiri Proverb “Beam Hai” meaning in Kashmir, the Bambas have come. Bambas being loters used to creat a lot of disturbances and havoc in this city, while the cruelty of Khokhas is remembered until now.

The mere utterance of word “Khokh” before a weeping child is the biggest weapon to frighten him. These invasions were brought to a halt by Moughal Governor Abu Barkat Khan, who turned Haibat Khan Bamba out of the valley, ultimately it was Maharaja Gulab Singh who brought an end to such disturbances, once for all. According to “Tarikh Hassan” he terrified Bambas and Khokhas, so much that they took refuge in holes like rates. It is thus that the inhabitants of Baramula heaved a sigh of relief. The tribal raid of 1947 proved much more fatal for Baramula City. As a result of this tribal raid the historical city, which had steadily grown into a famous trade Centre, lost all its glory and has since been reduced to a small border town.