The Hali, Koli, Dagi, Dhaugri, Dasa, Khasa, Kanaura, and Kirat were among the prehistoric tribes who lived in the region. People from the Indus valley civilisation, which thrived between 2250 and 1750 BCE, lived in the foothills of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Several small republics known as Janapada existed during the Vedic period, which the Gupta Empire later annexed. However, following King Harshavardhana's brief reign of terror, the area was divided into many local forces led by chieftains, including several Rajput principalities.
These kingdoms had a tremendous amount of liberty and were repeatedly attacked by the Delhi Sultanate. Mahmud Ghaznavi captured Kangra at the beginning of the 11th century. Timur and Sikander Lodi have marched through the state's lower hills, seizing a host of forts and fighting several battles. Several hill states recognised Mughal suzerainty and paid Mughal tribute regularly. Gorkha annexed several kingdoms before gaining control of Nepal in 1768. They continued to consolidate their military might and extend their territories. The Kingdom of Nepal gradually invaded Sirmour and Shimla. The Nepali army besieged Kangra under the command of Amar Singh Thapa. With the assistance of several provincial chiefs, they defeated Sansar Chand Katoch, the ruler of Kangra, in 1806.
On the other hand, the Nepali army could not take the Kangra Fort, which had fallen under Maharaja Ranjeet Singh's control in 1809. They expanded to the south of the state after the loss. During the First Anglo-Sikh War, Raja Ram Singh, Raja of Siba State, seized the fort of Siba from the remnants of the Lahore Darbar in Samvat 1846.
They were in direct conflict with the British along the Tarai belt, and the British removed them from the Satluj provinces. However, the British eventually established themselves as the region's dominant force. As a result, the citizens of the hill states were not as politically involved as those in different parts of the country during the revolution of 1857 or the first Indian war of Independence, which arose from a variety of grievances against the British. Except for Bushahr, they and their rulers remained largely dormant. [20] During the uprising, some kings, including those of Chamba, Bilaspur, Bhagal, and Dhami, aided the British government.
Following Queen Victoria's declaration in 1858, the British colonies became part of the British Crown. During the British rule, the states of Chamba, Mandi, and Bilaspur made significant gains in various areas. In addition, almost all of the hill states' rulers remained loyal to Britain during World War I, contributing both men and materials to the British war effort. Jaswan, Kangra, Datarpur, Guler, Rajgarh, Nurpur, Chamba, Suket, Mandi, and Bilaspur were among them.
The Chief Commissioner's territory of Himachal Pradesh was formed on April 15, 1948, due to the merger of 28 petty princely states (including feudal princes and zaildars) in the western Himalayan promontories after Independence. Under the Himachal Pradesh (Administration) Order, 1948, and Sections 3 and 4 of the Extra-Provincial Jurisdiction Act, 1947, are also known as the Simla Hills States and four Punjab southern hill states.
With the enactment of the Indian Constitution on January 26, 1950, Himachal became a Part 'C' state, and the Lieutenant Governor was selected. In 1952, the Legislative Assembly was elected. Finally, on November 1, 1956, Himachal Pradesh became a union territory. Simla, Kullu, Kangra, Nalagarh Tehsil of Ambala District, Lahul and Spiti Districts, Amb, and Santokhgarh Kanungo circle, some area of Una Janungo circles, and some other defined area of Una Tehsil of Hoshiarpur District, as well as some portions of Pathankot District's Dhar Kalan Kanungo circle. Parliament sanctioned the State of Himachal Pradesh Act on December 18, 1970, and the new state was formed on January 25, 1971. With Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar as its first chief minister, Himachal Pradesh became the Indian Union's 18th province.