A short history of Kashmir

An old text says Kashmir was once a great lake, drained by the sage Kashyapa.

People lived in Kashmir over 4,000 years ago. Later it became a famous centre of Buddhist learning.

Kalhana wrote the Rajatarangini, one of the earliest true histories written in India.

King Lalitaditya built the famous Martand Sun Temple and made Kashmir strong and wide.

King Avantivarman's engineer Suyya tamed the rivers and made food cheap for all.

Queen Didda ruled Kashmir with great skill and founded the Lohara dynasty's line.

Shah Mir founded Kashmir's first lasting Muslim dynasty in 1339 CE.

Budshah brought back Hindus, ended extra taxes, and supported art and learning.

The Chaks were the last kings to rule Kashmir as an independent land.

Emperor Akbar brought Kashmir into the Mughal Empire in 1586.

The Durrani rulers of Afghanistan controlled Kashmir for about 66 years.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army took Kashmir from the Afghans in 1819.

In 1846 the British sold Kashmir to Gulab Singh through the Treaty of Amritsar.