Eras

Prehistoric

Ancient

Medieval

Modern

People

From History

Cultural Icons

Women In history

Explorers

Writers

Rulers

Freedom fighters

Quirky History

Places

Regions

Cities

Geology and Natural History

Monuments

Religious Places

Forts

Palaces

Caves

Heritage Sites

Archaeological Sites

Living Culture

Handcrafted For You

Food History

Festivals

Arts of India

Weaves of India

Literature 

Folklore and Mythology

Art History

Sculptures

Jewels

Paintings

Coins

Artefacts

Heritage Matters

State of our Monuments

Conservation

Revival 

Indoor Planter Made of Wicker From Kashmir - Medium

Indoor Planter Made of Wicker From Kashmir - Small

Multi-purpose Wicker Basket From Kashmir

Papier Mache Handcrafted Doves From Kashmir (Set of 3)

Indoor Planters Made With Wicker From The Willow Tree | Small | Sustainable And Eco Friendly | Handmade In India

The Kashmir Collection

Kashmir Collection

Blue Sparkle Handmade Mud Art Wall Hanging

Rust Coloured Handwoven Cushion Cover

Mustard & Black Handwoven Tribe Inspired Table Runner

Marble Coaster Set with Red Inlay| Set of 2/6 | Handcrafted In India

Wall Hanging Handmade in Mud | Lippan Art Home Decor | Desert Oasis

Hand Embroidered Mirror & Thread-Work Table Runners - Lambani Table Runners in Scarlet

Black & White Handwoven Cotton Table Runner

Red & Black Handwoven Mirror & Thread-Work Table Runner

Lime Green Handcrafted Mirror Work Wall Decor

Handcrafted Home Decor For You

LHI Story Image

How did a 5,000 sq. km. lake transform into the Kashmir we know today? A look at Kashmir’s prehistoric past...

Kashmir’s First Settlers 

The story of Kashmir and its early settlers is truly amazing!

Kashmir’s First Settlers

All eyes are on Kashmir, with the central government revoking the special status it enjoyed since independence. Let us put this decision in context and look at the ironies that litter the region’s political history, which has come full circle

Kashmir & How We Got Here

A look at the ironies that litter the region’s political history, which has come full circle

Queen Didda was a powerful and formidable  ruler, who has often been described as ruthless by Kashmiri writers. Has history been fair on her?

Kashmir’s ‘Ruthless’ Queen Didda

Queen Didda was Kashmir’s powerful and formidable Hindu ruler, who ruled Kashmir with an iron fist.

One of India’s best Neolithic sites is being destroyed – believe it or not – by a local cricket tournament being played plum in the middle of the archaeological zone. On the outskirts of Srinagar, the site has been damaged irreversibly even as those meant to protect it look the other way. Let us rally together to salvage what remains of Burzahom 

Saving Kashmir’s Prehistoric Gem

Burzahom is being destroyed by a local cricket tournament being played in the middle of the archaeological zone

In the rugged mountains of North Pakistan is a cave that was an important centre of Hinduism dating to the 2nd century CE. And, yet, its true significance was discovered only 20 years ago. Catch the story of Kashmir Smast and its explosive revelations

Kashmir Smast: The Maha Guha of Lord Shiva

Kashmir Smast: Maha Guha of Lord Shiva

The buzz surrounding the upcoming film 'Napoleon' has cast a worldwide spotlight on the love story between Napoleon and his first wife, Josephine. But did you know that there is an interesting 'Pashmina' connection to their romance? Catch the story

Napoleon’s Kashmir Connection

Kashmir experienced its Golden Age in the 8th century CE under a ‘Serpent King’ named Lalitaditya Muktapida, who ruled from present-day Srinagar. Catch the story of the Karkota Kings, their intriguing origin story, exploits and expeditions, and fabulous archaeological legacy.

Karkotas: Kashmir’s ‘Serpent’ Dynasty (7th to 9th century CE)

‘For rivers which have set out from their own region, the ocean is the limit. But nowhere is there a limit for those who are frankly aspiring to be conquerors.’ 

These words were written by 12th century CE Kashmiri historian Pandit Kalhana, in his magnum opus Rajatarangini or the River of Kings, a historic chronicle of the Kings of Kashmir. He was referring to the greatest Emperor of Kashmir, Lalitaditya Muktapida (724-761 CE), whose empire stretched from Central Asia to the Gangetic plains. Emperor Lalitaditya belonged to the Karkotas, a dynasty that ruled over Kashmir from the 7th to the 9th centuries CE, and who presided over the ‘Golden Age of Kashmir’. 

Travel 22 km north-west of Srinagar, to a plateau overlooking the Jhelum River, to a place locals call ‘Kani Shahr’ or the ‘City of Stones’. This was once ‘Parihaspora’ or the ‘City of Smiles’, the capital of the Karkota Empire. It was one of the most magnificent cities in North India in its time. A millennium of political turbulence in Kashmir has meant that very little has survived of one of India’s dynasties. Due to severe paucity of material and epigraphical evidence on the Karkotas, we must turn to Pandit Kalhana, to piece together their story. 







The Martand Sun Temple is the only surviving reminder of the great Kashmiri Emperor Lalitaditya, whose empire stretched from Central Asia to the Gangetic plain

Lalitaditya Muktadipa - Kashmir’s Great Empire Builder

The ruins of the great Sun temple at Martand, never fail to take your breath away. Most people will recognise them from Bollywood filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj’s haunting film Haider (2014). It is sad that we need a movie set, as a reference point to what was once a spectacular Sun temple, unlike any, anywhere in the subcontinent. But this article is not about the Martand temple which was pulled down in the late 15th century CE. It is about the King who built it. The Martand Sun Temple, is the only surviving reminder of the great Kashmiri Emperor Lalitaditya, whose empire stretched from Central Asia to the Gangetic plain.

King Lalitaditya of the Karkota dynasty of Kashmir ruled for 37 years from 724 to 761 CE. His rule is considered to be the golden age of Kashmir, when art, architecture, culture and learning flourished. Due to his great conquests, writers and scholars have termed him ‘Alexander of Kashmiri history’. Today, while the conquests of Chola King Raja Raja Chola over South East Asia in 11th century CE are celebrated, the exploits of this great Kashmiri king have been buried in the pages of time.

The story of the great Kashmiri Emperor Lalitaditya whose empire stretched from Central Asia to the Gangetic plain

 For decades, conflict has eclipsed all else in Kashmir but archaeologists, historians and heritage experts might just have a balm for these troubled times. Our weekly online talk show, Heritage Matters, focused on how we can revive interest in a region that was once a confluence of cultures

Heritage Matters: Kashmir’s Forgotten Wonders 

For decades, conflict has eclipsed all else in Kashmir but experts might just have a balm for these troubled times.

Heritage Matters: Kashmir’s Forgotten Wonders

The tragic story of Habba Khatoon, or ‘Zoon’, one of the greatest poets of Kashmir isn’t very widely known. But her ballads are sung in the valley even today, 400 years after her death! 

Habba Khatoon: Kashmir’s Poet Queen

In Athwajan, on the Srinagar-Jammu highway is a simple grave which is largely ignored. Here rests Habba Khatoon, also popular as Zoon or Zoonie, one of the greatest poets of Kashmir.

Sadly the story of Kashmir’s greatest poet in not very well known outside Kashmir. But it is a testimony to Habba Khatoon’s greatness that her ballads are sung in the valley even today, 400 years after her death!

The tragic story of Habba Khatoon, or ‘Zoon’, one of the greatest poetesses of Kashmir.

Lal Ded was a 14th century mystic-poet whose verse laid the foundation of the Kashmiri language and literature. Catch the story of this naked mendicant, who rose above her miserable life to become a spiritual icon for centuries to come

Lal Ded: Kashmir’s Rebel Poetess

A 14th century mystic-poet whose verse laid the foundation of the Kashmiri language and literature

Lost Cities

King Lalitaditya was one  of  Kashmir’s most famous rulers.  But did you know, that his capital Parihaspora, near Srinagar remains one of the most confounding sites in India. Why are there thousands of stones scattered all around, its once grand buildings? Find out 

Parihaspora: Unmapped Capital of Kashmir

The intriguing story of a beautiful but blighted city that lasted only as long as its creator did

Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin was a progressive ruler of the Shah Miri dynasty of Kashmir and was known for his innovative socio-economic reforms that could teach us a thing or two even today. More than 500 years later, his legacy continues in the music and handicrafts of the region.


Zain-ul-Abidin: The ‘Akbar’ of Kashmir

If you ask a Kashmiri about Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin (r. 1420-1470), they will probably tell you he was a ‘Bud Shah’ or ‘Great King’. Often compared to the great Mughal Emperor Akbar, the Sultan earned this popular title for his tolerance, and the stability and prosperity he brought to his kingdom. He patronized Sanskrit and even banned cow slaughter!

This is even more surprising because Zain-ul-Abidin was the son and successor of the notorious Sultan Sikandar Shah, also known as ‘Sikandar Butshikan’ (the iconoclast) for his persecution of Hindus and Buddhists in Kashmir, and the destruction of hundreds of temples, including the famous Sun Temple at Martand in Kashmir. 

On the occasion of Buddha Purnima we bring to you the story of  Harwan monastery in Kashmir where 2000 years ago  4th Buddhist council was held and scholars from all over the subcontinent congregated 

The Harwan Monastery: A Relic of Kashmir’s Buddhist Past

Kashmir’s Harwan Monastery was where Emperor Kanishka’s fourth Buddhist Council was convened in 2nd century CE.

As the ‘New Great Game’ plays out across the Himalayas, we revisit the original Great Game, where an Indian spy played a pivotal role in aiding British missions in Central Asia and Afghanistan. After a life of action, drama and intrigue, Mohan Lal died in obscurity

Explorer, Scholar, Spy: The Life and Times of Mohan Lal Kashmiri

“Now I shall go far and far into the North, playing the Great Game”

– Rudyard Kipling, Kim

The recent tensions between China and India across the high Himalayas have been labelled by some scholars as the ‘New Great Game’. This harks back to an episode in history called the ‘Great Game’, the shadow boxing between British-India and Tsarist Russia for access to and control over South and Central Asia across the 19th century. 

The original Great Game had all the characteristics of a bestselling novel, filled with action, adventure and intrigue. It also had its set of glamorous characters: Sir Alexander ‘Sikunder’ Burnes – the famous British spy with oodles of charm and dashing good looks to boot – was the James Bond of his era. He was matched on the Russian side by Captain Yan Vitkevich, the enigmatic Polish-Lithuanian orientalist and explorer. Mercifully, there was very little by way of direct bloodshed between the principal protagonists, although things did come close to getting out of hand on a few occasions. No wonder the Russians evocatively called the contest ‘The Tournament of Shadows’.  

The Verinag spring, from which emerges the Jhelum river, is flush with history and legends

Verinag: The Heart of Jhelum

The legends and history of the Verinag spring, from which emerges the Jhelum river are fascinating

Fine hand woven, Pashmina shawls or Cashmeres as they are known, are prized for their beauty & quality. Literally meaning ‘soft gold’ in Kashmiri, the Pashmina has a truly illustrious and ancient past

Pashmina: Illustrious and Ancient

Literally meaning ‘soft gold’ in Kashmiri, the Pashmina has a truly illustrious and ancient past

Srinagar’s irresistible allure emanates from its top draws like the Dal Lake, markets, beautiful shrines and picture-perfect landscape. But there is a lot more to see. Here’s a list of lesser-known but remarkable monuments that will take your breath away.

Srinagar’s Hidden Wonders     

Travel off the beaten track to discover Srinagar’s hidden wonders

Srinagar’s Hidden Wonders

The Secrets of Ladakh: A Rare Journey

Dholavira: Tracing the Story of the Harappans

South Asian Masterpieces at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Revisiting India’s First Port City: Lothal

Join us on unforgettable journeys week after week and meet those who are defining the way we look at history

Quarterly

Yearly

The Story of Mohenjo-daro

Explore the Story of India Through Objects

The Caves of Meghalaya

Uncovering the Life and Legacy of Dara Shukoh, the Beloved Mughal Prince

Your Gateway to Exclusive History Content one Story at a Time

Trails

The Making of Jaipur

Pune before the Peshwas 

Tales of Shahjahanabad

Terracotta Harappan Pashupati Seal Replica with Frame

Handmade Harappan Dancing Girl Replica in Dhokra Metal

MARBLE INLAY ROSELLE COASTER

Lippan White Wall Mirror

The ruins of the great Sun temple at Martand, never fail to take your breath away. Most people will recognise them from Bollywood filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj’s haunting film 

(2014). It is sad that we need a movie set, as a reference point to what was once a spectacular Sun temple, unlike any, anywhere in the subcontinent. But this article is not about the Martand temple which was pulled down in the late 15th century CE. It is about the King who built it. The Martand Sun Temple, is the only surviving reminder of the great Kashmiri Emperor Lalitaditya, whose empire stretched from Central Asia to the Gangetic plain.

Kashmiri Emperor Lalitaditya has been dubbed the ‘Alexander of Kashmiri history’

King Lalitaditya of the Karkota dynasty of Kashmir ruled for 37 years from 724 to 761 CE. His rule is considered to be the golden age of Kashmir, when art, architecture, culture and learning flourished. Due to his great conquests, writers and scholars have termed him ‘Alexander of Kashmiri history’. Today, while the conquests of Chola King Raja Raja Chola over South East Asia in 11th century CE are celebrated, the exploits of this great Kashmiri king have been buried in the pages of time.

Much of what we know of the early history of Kashmir, comes from a Sanskrit text known as 

(River of Kings), written by a 12th century CE Kashmiri scholar Kalhana between 1148 to 1150 CE. It is a chronological account of various rulers who ruled Kashmir. It is voluminous - it is spread over eight books comprising of 8000 Sanskrit verses, but it is also the most comprehensive account of the life and times of King Lalitaditya of Kashmir. The first English translation of this great text was by Indologist MA Stein in 1900.

 written by Kalhana in the 12th century CE is a chronological account of the rulers of Kashmir

Kalhana tells us that the Karkota dynasty of Kashmir, to which King Lalitaditya belonged, was founded in 625 CE by King Durlabhavardana. King Lalitaditya was the fifth ruler of the Karkota dynasty and great grandson of Durlabhavardana. The noted Kashmiri historian PNK Bamzai has also written extensively on the Karkota dynasty and Lalitaditya in his book, ‘

Culture and Political History of Kashmir: Vol 1’. 

This book is an important reference point for understanding the pre-Islamic history of Kashmir.

Lalitaditya Muktapida became the fifth ruler of the Karkota dynasty around 724 CE, and his kingdom comprised of the Kashmir valley. However, his ambition extended far beyond it. Bamzai, quotes Kalhana from 

For rivers which have set cut from their own region, the ocean is the limit. But nowhere is there a limit, for those who are frankly aspiring to be conquerors.

By the 8th century CE the Gupta Empire had ended and the subcontinent was once again divided into numerous small warring kingdoms. This political chaos was a perfect launch pad for the ambitious King of Kashmir Lalitaditya, to expand his empire. Interestingly, Bamzai reveals the secret of Lalitaditya’s great success. During those times, Chinese military technology and techniques were far superior to those used in the Indian subcontinent. Lalitaditya recruited a large number of Chinese mercenaries and strategists in his army, which gave him a great edge over his rivals. His chief strategist and commander-in-chief, was a man called Cankunya, who might even have been Chinese, as 

Lalitaditya recruited many Chinese mercenaries and strategists in his army which gave him an edge over his rivals

Lalitaditya’s first great victory according to records, was over King Yashovarman of Kannauj, who ruled and controlled the Gangetic plains. This was followed by the victory over Gaur (Bengal) and the defeat of the king there. Sadly, we don't have any dates relating to Lalitaditya’s eastern conquests, but it is estimated to be around 733 CE. Around 735-736 CE, Lalitaditya is said to have marched to the Deccan and attacked the Rashtrakutas. Apparently, the aim of this mission was to control the 

, the great trade route that connected North and South India. However, it does not appear that Deccan campaign of Lalitaditya established political control of the South. Kalhana however does mention the huge war booty, which Lalitaditya brought to Kashmir from his campaigns in the South.

The Eastern and the Southern campaigns were followed by his campaigns in the North West, where Lalitaditya eyed control of some of the important centres along the Silk Route, which ran through Central Asia. André Wink, Professor of History at University of Wisconsin–Madison in his book 

Al-Hind, the Making of the Indo-Islamic World

 (2002), looks at Lalitaditya’s conquests in Central Asia. The Chinese suzerainty over these areas had weakened and similarly the Sassanian Empire in Iran had collapsed in the face of the Arab invasion. Also, Lalitaditya is said to have employed a large number of Central Asian Turks in his army. This made his conquests easy. He is said to have conquered Turfan, Kuchan and many other towns in today’s Xinjiang province of China.

Lalitaditya eyed control of some of the important centres along the Silk Route, which ran through Central Asia

However, the Tibetan invasion of Kashmir in 747 CE is said to have forced him to turn back and focus on his core. So he turned to the Chinese for help. Lalitaditya is said to have sent an ambassador to China, requesting help from the Chinese Emperor against their common enemy, the Tibetans. He is said to have proposed a joint invasion of Tibet and even boasted how he could close all access to Tibet with the help of the rulers of the Indo-Gangetic plains. Though, nothing came of this request, Lalitaditya seems to have fought and defeated the Tibetans on his own. Kalhana mentions that second day of Chaitra was celebrated by Kashmiris as a victory day over the Tibetans.

However, it is important to note that several historians dispute the accounts of Lalitaditya’s conquests in Central Asia. Professor Tansen Sen, Professor of History at the City University of New York in his research paper 

Kaśmīr, Tang China, and Muktāpīḍa Lalitāditya's Ascendancy over the Southern Hindukush Region,

 has looked at Lalitaditya’s Central Asian campaigns by studying the Chinese and Central Asian accounts, such as those of a Korean monk Hyecho who visited Kashmir in 725 CE.

The Tibetan invasion of Kashmir in 747 CE forced him to turn to the Chinese for help

Sen claims that the Central Asian towns continued to be tributaries to China and later were taken over by Tibetans. Also, Sen maintains that the fact that Lalitaditya defeated the Tibetans may have been an exaggeration by Kalhana in his 

, while Lalitaditya’s status as a great warrior and ‘

 (Digvijaya in Kalhana’s words) is a dominant theme, it also mentions his great public works, buildings and his patronage of learning.

Through its early history, Kashmir was plagued with continuous floods due to the silting of Jhelum River. Lalitaditya is said to have cleared the silting and created canals to bring waters to far flung areas. He is also said to have reclaimed swamps and built 

 in low lying areas to make them fit for cultivation. Kalhana also mentions that Lalitaditya erected water wheels to supply water for irrigation.

also mentions Lalitaditya’s great public works, buildings and his patronage of learning

Lalitaditya is also said to have founded several cities, including his capital Parihaspur or the ‘Smiling city’. Located around 22 kms from Srinagar and today known as Paraspore, there are just a few old ruins here that give us a peek to the grand city he built here.

Across his empire, Lalitaditya is also said to have built large number of temples dedicated to Vishnu, Shiva, Aditya (Sun God) as well as 

 and statues dedicated to Buddha. There is a fantastic description in 

 (possibly exaggerated) of some of the temples he built and idols he installed -

An idol of Parihasa-Keshava, made of 3600 kgs of silver

An idol of Mukta-Keshava made of 979 kgs of Gold

An idol of Naṛhari which was suspended in air by fixing magnets above and below it.

A Vishnu pillar which measured 54 hands in height, and had an image of Garuda at the top.

A large statue of Buddha made of 62,000 kgs of copper, which in Kalhana’s words ‘

But sadly, there is nothing that remains of these great temples today. The only hint of the scale at which Lalitaditya must have built, can be seen in the ruins of the Martand Sun Temple.

The Martand Sun Temple is the only surviving reminder of the great Kashmiri Emperor Lalitaditya

Five miles from Anantnag, are the ruins of the Martand Sun temple built by Lalitaditya. It was built on a plateau from which the entire valley of Kashmir and the Pir Panjal range can be seen, even today. We do not know of the exact date of its construction. Apart from the grand scale of this temple complex, what also stands out is the architectural confluence it represents. It blends architectural styles like the Gandharan, Gupta, and Chinese, showing varied influence on Lalitaditya’s kingdom, from Central Asia, China and from the Gangetic plain.

The temple consisted of a central shrine surrounded by 84 smaller shrines. While the temple was destroyed in the 15th century CE on orders of Sultan Sikandar Butshikan, its impressive ruins still stand tall.

Sir Francis Younghusband, British Explorer famous for his travels in Central Asia, in his book 

On a perfectly open and even plain, gently sloping away from a background of snowy mountains looking directly out on the entire length both of the smiling Kashmir Valley and of the snowy ranges which bound it - so situated in fact as to be encircled, yet not overwhelmed by, snowy mountains - stand the ruins of a temple second only to the Egyptian in massiveness and strength and to the Greek in elegance and grace... No one without an eye for natural beauty would have chosen that special site for the construction of a temple and no one with an inclination to the ephemeral and transient would have built it on so massive and enduring a scale.

King Lalitaditya passed away in 761 CE, though we don't know his exact age at the time and he was followed by a succession of weak rulers. Over centuries, there was little mention of King Lalitaditya or his legacy.

Martand Sun Temple is the only surviving monument to remind us of this great King from Kashmir. Even in its current state, the ruins of the Martand Sun Temple, remain one of the most spectacular temple complexes in India!