This city Srinagar, situated on the left bank of the Alaknanda, is even before the Mahabharata period. In the ancient times, it shed many times, many times got destroyed, and settled many times. Srinagar city was destroyed in the Gohna Lake dam-burst which destroyed all the old relics of the town. This was the capital of Shah Panwar descendants has many historical aspects covered in its zenith.
If you have ever noticed that 3 km before reaching Srinagar, after crossing the old bridge of the British era of Kirtinagar, a rock or a big rock is seen in the middle of the Alaknanda river.
Thousands of years ago, it was called Sripur area by the name of this Shriyantra rock. The capital of King Subahu of Mahabharata period was in this Sripur. Later its name became Srinagar due to the resettlement of the city.
A village (town) named Srikot also exists in this area. In 1506–1512 AD Ajaipal, the king of Garhwal, shifted the capital of Garhwal from Chandpur Garhi and declared Dewal Garh and later Srinnagar as his capital in 1500 AD. From 1803 AD till this time it was the capital of Panwar dynasty kings of Garhwal.
The year of 1803 is said to be a dark chapter in the history of Srinagar. This year the worst earthquake of 8.8 occurred in Garhwal. Most of the villages were destroyed. A large part of the palace also collapsed, the walls of the fort got cracks and there was a huge loss of public money. Taken advantage of the situation by the Gorkha army, in the month of February 1803, Amar Singh Thapa, the commander of the Gorkhas and Hastidutt Chautriya who had already conquered Kumaun went ahead and attacked Garhwal too.
Raja Pradhuman Shah had understood that his remaining Khushi army could not compete with the Gorkha army, so on the advice of Minister Doval and he fled to Haridwar with his family and the rest of the army in the night itself. Gorkha reached Srinagar but there the king The queen could not be found, the Srinagar halt was put up and on the very next day soon they also traveled towards Rishikesh Haridwar to follow her.
Pradhuman Shah sent his 6-year-old son Shudarshan along with his spies to Rana Gulab Singh Pundir, the king of Saharanpur. Had to run towards Dehradun with a small contingent of The Gorkha commander sent a message and asked him to surrender or ready for war. The king of Garhwal agreed to fight. Vishala could not compete with the Gorkha army and while fighting, he was killed. After capturing whole of Garhwal it was ruled by the Gorkhas and the Gorkhas also kept the capital Srinagar.
Time passed and in 1815, 20-year-old Shudarshan Shah, under the guidance of the Raja of Saharanpur, made a treaty with the British in Sangola, under which Sudarshan Shah would give five lakhs of compensation to the British or half of Garhwal.
In 1815, Sudarshan Shah, son of Pradhuman Shah, together with the British in the field of Khudbura, attacked the Gurkhas under the combined army, in which he defeated the Gurkhas badly on the strength of the gun-wielding British army and drove them across Kali Gaga to Nepal via Kumaun.
Gorkha ruled in the Garhwal area ended in 1815 when the British drove the Gorkhas to the West of Kali river, despite stiff resistance offered by them. After defeat of Gorkha army, the Britishers on 21 April 1815, decided to establish their rule over the eastern, half of the Garhwal region, which lies east of Alaknanda & Mandakini river, later on, known as ‘British Garhwal’ and Dun of Dehradun. The remaining part of the Garhwal in the west was restored to King Sudershan Shah who established his capital at Tehri. Initially the administration was entrusted to the commissioner of the Kumaon and Garhwal with his headquarters at Nainital, but later Garhwal was separated and formed into a separate district in 1840 A.D. under an assistant commissioner with his headquarter at Pauri.
At the time of independence, Garhwal, Almora and Nainital districts were administered through commissioner of Kumaon division. In early 1960, Chamoli district was curved out of Garhwal district. In 1969 Garhwal division was formed with its headquarter at Pauri.
Despite the geographical challenges of the tough terrains of Uttarakhand the project is gaining momentum. It will boost the socio, economic & cultural development in the region and aim towards last mile connectivity. Now soon Srinagar will be connected via railway line. Railway Line project Rishikesh – Karnaprayag is making swift progress which will be operational by 2024.
Dhari Devi Temple is located in Kalyansaur village between Srinagar and Rudraprayag on the banks of river Alaknanda, about 15 km from Srinagar Garhwal. Dhari Devi Temple is one of the most important places of worship in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. Goddess Dhari Devi is considered to be the protector and protector of the Char Dhams in Uttarakhand.
There is a popular legend which states that once the idol of Goddess Kali hit a big rock due to a flood in the Alaknanda River. Then the people of Dharo village heard the divine voice of the Goddess and they installed the idol of Goddess Kali at the place where the temple is situated. After this incident this temple is known as Dhari Devi Temple.
Another legend states that when Adi Guru Shankaracharya went on a tour, he took out some time to rest in this area and offer prayers here. There is a possibility that this temple is of Dwaparayuga era.
Due to the Srinagar Hydel project across the Alaknanda River, the Dhari Devi Temple was shifted from its original location. The number of visitors increases significantly during Navratras but devotees from all over the country visit the Dhari Devi temple throughout the year.