The sub-continent of ours is replete with examples of people, places and events that have within them a surfeit of information waiting to be mined to be disseminated to the masses so as to enlighten all and sundry with an era bygone which still has the capacity to mesmerize them. The country of ours till independence was neatly administered between the princely states as well as the British monarchy with each having their separate areas of jurisdiction and control. It was but natural that the 562 odd princely states which were governed directly under the sovereign rule of the various Maharajas/ Rajas leave their distinct pattern of governance on their subjects as well as region. ‘Sarahan Bushahr’ was one such part of princely state of Rampur Bushahr falling under the erstwhile ‘’Shimla hill states’ that was the proverbial ‘Jewel in the crown’ of these hill states.
On 08th March this year it would be exactly 77 years when the small princely town of Sarahan Bushahr joined alongside 26 other Shimla hill states with the newly formed Indian state of Himachal Pradesh by way of an agreement. Rampur Bushahr was once the largest of principalities under the British administration despite being a princely state. A small township situated at 1005 meters above the MSL on the left bank of river Sutlej, it was very well connected with the Indian markets as well as the Tibetan and central Asian business hubs. Buzzing constantly with mercantile activities especially during the famous ‘Lavi fair’ in the months of November and December Rampur Bushahr was in the very sinews of businessmen spanning from Kashmir, Yarkand, Samarkand, as well as Khiva of central Asia. It was simply stupendous how these businessmen came to Rampur Bushahr to partake in their business activities crossing all the geographical impediments thrown their way.
I had the unique opportunity to see first-hand these activities in one of the Lavi fairs while coming down from Rupa valley way back in 1996 while still serving in the army, since Sarahan Bushahr used to fall enroute on the Hindustan –Tibet road / NH-5 and was not much of a problem to have a small stopover at this place. The sheer quantum of wares, people, sounds, etc weaves a unique tapestry of humanity that cannot be summed up in this mere article of mine, but has to be experienced first-hand.The erstwhile CM of HP Mr Vir Bhadrsingh was the 122 in the direct lineage of this princely state.
The entire genealogy of this princely state is also available at the famous ‘Kamru’ palace, and at the Sungra Maheswar temple. The latest recorded genealogical order says that the present day Rampur Bushahr was established by Raja Ram singh who chose the area next to the famous river Sutlej banks. Legend has it that Rampur Bushahr’s prehistoric name was ‘Darun’. Some historic records lay claim to the fact that this princely state derived its name from its Raja Ram singh who was the progenitor of this place, whereas some others lay claim that since Rampur had a surfeit of temples dedicated to Lord Ram, hence the name Rampur Bushahr. Whatever may the true story behind this place’s nomenclature, it is beyond doubt that before its merger with the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, Rampur Bushahr was the jewel in the crown of Shimla hill states.
Bushahr valley as such is bestowed with a raft of natural resources that has an abundance of forest wealth, rivers, and such like God’s endowments which has few parallels in India. Most of the dwellers of this former princely state even today are rural with urbanites restricted to the town of Rampur only. The flora and fauna of Rampur Bushahr will make best of naturalists go weak in their knees by witnessing the sheer variety of these present in the valley of Rampur. Rampur forest division is primarily sub-divided into 5 major zones viz…Sarahan, Rampur, Bahali, Nankhri and Arsu. In addition to the above Rampur does have a bird sanctuary as well as a bird conservation region which is situated in the ‘Darang’ valley of this erstwhile princely state.
The place boasts of even a ‘Monal breeding center’ wihich is the state bird of HP. But the sub division of Sarahan a small town famous for its Bhimakali temple dedicated to mother goddess Bhimakali is what is known as the proverbial ‘gateway to Kinnaur’ as also the presiding deity of the rulers of former Bushahr state. The temple is situated about 170 kms from Shimla and is considered as one of the Shaktipeeths in the Hindu mythology. Since the deity temple is just a stone’s throw away from the NH , any one passing through this NH is but tempted to pay his obeisance at this holy abode and only then proceed ahead to Kinnaur valley. Since I too was no exception to this unwritten rule I too happen to get to this temple while enroute to Ropa valley way back in 1996 and had the first-hand experience of this place.‘Sarahan Bushahr’ was considered as the summer capital of Bushahr rulers who used to pack their bags for spending their summer months in this place which boasts of a royal palace too. The winter capital of rulers of Bushahr used to be Rampur itself.
The readers of this article will be surprised of the fact that Sarahan used to be known as ‘Shonitpur’ in the Ved-Puranas of our Hindu religion. Not only this, the temple Of Bhimakali has a Kushan image statue too dating back to pre-historic times ( 1ST to 3rd century CE). This temple has a pure silver gate which leaves a visitor mesmerized with the architecture of this royal entity. Bhimakali temple is the perfect repository of Indo-Tibetan culture and centuries old relations between the two great civilizations, since it houses both the Hindu and Buddhist (vajrayana) statues in its precincts. It also throws light on the fact that there existed a very rich and vibrant trade atmosphere between India and Tibet. As for reaching Sarahan is concerned, it takes about 9 to 10 hours to hit this place via Chandigarh and about 6 to8 hours via Shimla.
As stated by me earlier in such articles previously also , a visitor has to make sure that he or she keeps the weather / climatic conditions under his constant gaze since at such places weather often plays truant throwing an already jam packed itinerary of a traveller to a resounding six. With 77th anniversary of amalgamation of these princely states into the larger union of India as well as the state of Himachal Pradesh coming on 08th March, it is but natural that some sort of media attention be showered upon them. Though the state of Himachal Pradesh does organize certain programmes, I am sure a small gesture in the form of this article of mine would be a befitting response to such an occasion.
(The writer is a retired army officer and a regular scribe of Rising Kashmir. He can be approached on his email at: [email protected])
