Arki, India
Encyclopedia
Arki is a town and a Nagar panchayat
in Solan district
in the state of Himachal Pradesh
, India
. The town is notable for its fort built in late 18th century when Arki was the capital of the erstwhile hill state
of Baghal
.
. The state was founded around 1643 and Arki was declared as its capital by Rana Sabha Chand in 1650. The Arki Fort is a converted hotel and lovely to visit.
The Arki Fort was built between 1800–1805 by Rana Prithvi Singh, a descendent of Sabha Chand. The Fort was captured by the Gurkha
s in 1806. Rana Jagat Singh, the ruler of Baghal had to take refuge in Nalagarh
. During this period from 1806–1815, the Gurkha General Amar Singh Thapa
used Arki as his stronghold to make further advances into Himachal Pradesh as far as Kangra
.
The Gurkhas were however driven out by Rana Prithvi Singh assisted by Sir David Ochterlony
and the British forces during the Gurkha War
in 1815–1816. Thereafter Rana Prithvi Singh regained control of Arki.
Rana Kishan Singh
, who ruled the state from 1840–1867, developed the town of Arki in a planned manner. The Rana was a far sighted ruler and built horse and mule tracks to connect Arki with Shimla and Bilaspur. Many artisans, scholars and businessman from other parts of India settled in Arki during his reign as he provided them with tax free land free of cost.
The Rana was a patron of arts and had muralled interiors installed in the Arki fort in 1850. The murals are a prime attraction among tourists today.
The ruler of Baghal was late Shri Raja Rajander Singh (1928-2010) he had two son late Shri Pramod Singh his two son's (Presently the ruler of Bagahl) Shri Raja Harshvardhan Singh and second son Kure Ajai Dev Singh and his second son's name is Kure Nagander singh and his son is Rahul Dev Singh
During the Indian Rebellion of 1857
, Rana Kishan Singh assisted the British forces for which he was presented the title of Raja. Another revolt was suppressed in 1905 with the help of Superintendent of Shimla Hill States
. This was as payback for the support he had received earlier to driving Gurkha out.
Arki is located in the Siwalik range of Himalaya mountains. Due to its high altitude, Arki enjoys a pleasant weather in the summers with the temperatures hovering between 26 °C – 32 °C. The winters are chilly and the temperature ranges between 4 °C – 8 °C. The rainfall is moderate and occurs mainly during July and August.
Arki is known for its various caves and cave temples among which Lutru Mahadev
and Mutru Mahadev
are very famous.
, Arki had a population of 2877. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Arki has an average literacy rate of 89%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 55% of the males and 45% of females literate. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Nagar Panchayat
A nagar palika or nagar panchayat is a form of an urban political unit in India comparable to a municipality.An urban centre with more than 30,000 and less than 100,000 inhabitants is classified as a nagar panchayat....
in Solan district
Solan district
Solan district is one of the twelve districts of Himachal Pradesh state in northern India. Solan town is the administrative headquarters of the district...
in the state of Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The town is notable for its fort built in late 18th century when Arki was the capital of the erstwhile hill state
Hill States
The term hill states means states in a hilly area. In particular it is used for two northern border regions of colonial British India.-Raj period Punjab:...
of Baghal
Baghal
Baghal, covering an area of 312 km² and currently a part of Himachal Pradesh state, was one of the Princely states of India during the period of the British Raj...
.
History
Arki was the capital of the princely hill state of Baghal, which was founded by Rana Ajai Dev, a Panwar RajputRajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
. The state was founded around 1643 and Arki was declared as its capital by Rana Sabha Chand in 1650. The Arki Fort is a converted hotel and lovely to visit.
The Arki Fort was built between 1800–1805 by Rana Prithvi Singh, a descendent of Sabha Chand. The Fort was captured by the Gurkha
Gurkha
Gurkha are people from Nepal who take their name from the Gorkha District. Gurkhas are best known for their history in the Indian Army's Gorkha regiments, the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas and the Nepalese Army. Gurkha units are closely associated with the kukri, a forward-curving Nepalese knife...
s in 1806. Rana Jagat Singh, the ruler of Baghal had to take refuge in Nalagarh
Nalagarh
#REDIRECT Target page nameNalagarh is a city and a municipal committee in Solan district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It was the seat of the eponymous princely state during the British Raj, and known in medieval period as the state of Hindur. It was founded by the Chandella Rajputs in...
. During this period from 1806–1815, the Gurkha General Amar Singh Thapa
Amar Singh Thapa
Amar Singh Thapa, also known as "Living lion of Nepal", was the General of the Nepalese forces of western front in the Anglo–Nepalese War. He is regarded as one of the National heroes of Nepal....
used Arki as his stronghold to make further advances into Himachal Pradesh as far as Kangra
Kangra district
Kangra is the most populous district of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Dharamsala is the administrative headquarters of the district.-Geography:Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh is situated in Western Himalayas between 31°2 to...
.
The Gurkhas were however driven out by Rana Prithvi Singh assisted by Sir David Ochterlony
David Ochterlony
Sir David Ochterlony, 1st Baronet GCB was a British general.-Biography:David Ochterlony was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and attended the Dummer Charity School in nearby Byfield, Massachusetts...
and the British forces during the Gurkha War
Gurkha War
The Gurkha War , sometimes called the Gorkha War or the Anglo–Nepalese War, was fought between the Kingdom of Nepal and the British East India Company as a result of border tensions and ambitious expansionism...
in 1815–1816. Thereafter Rana Prithvi Singh regained control of Arki.
Rana Kishan Singh
Kishan Singh
Lt.Col. Kishen Singh was a former national polo player from India. He was a member of the Indian polo team that won the World Cup in 1954 at Deauville France. He was awarded Arjuna Award in 1963. He is from Jodhpur in Rajasthan. He later converted his residence into a heritage hotel called Polo...
, who ruled the state from 1840–1867, developed the town of Arki in a planned manner. The Rana was a far sighted ruler and built horse and mule tracks to connect Arki with Shimla and Bilaspur. Many artisans, scholars and businessman from other parts of India settled in Arki during his reign as he provided them with tax free land free of cost.
The Rana was a patron of arts and had muralled interiors installed in the Arki fort in 1850. The murals are a prime attraction among tourists today.
The ruler of Baghal was late Shri Raja Rajander Singh (1928-2010) he had two son late Shri Pramod Singh his two son's (Presently the ruler of Bagahl) Shri Raja Harshvardhan Singh and second son Kure Ajai Dev Singh and his second son's name is Kure Nagander singh and his son is Rahul Dev Singh
During the Indian Rebellion of 1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
, Rana Kishan Singh assisted the British forces for which he was presented the title of Raja. Another revolt was suppressed in 1905 with the help of Superintendent of Shimla Hill States
Hill States
The term hill states means states in a hilly area. In particular it is used for two northern border regions of colonial British India.-Raj period Punjab:...
. This was as payback for the support he had received earlier to driving Gurkha out.
Geography
Arki is located at 31.15°N 76.97°E. It has an average elevation of 1045 metres (3428 feet).Arki is located in the Siwalik range of Himalaya mountains. Due to its high altitude, Arki enjoys a pleasant weather in the summers with the temperatures hovering between 26 °C – 32 °C. The winters are chilly and the temperature ranges between 4 °C – 8 °C. The rainfall is moderate and occurs mainly during July and August.
Arki is known for its various caves and cave temples among which Lutru Mahadev
Mahadev
Mahadev may refer to:*Shiva, a primary Hindu deity*Mahadev, Nepal*Mahadev people a scheduled tribe of India....
and Mutru Mahadev
Mahadev
Mahadev may refer to:*Shiva, a primary Hindu deity*Mahadev, Nepal*Mahadev people a scheduled tribe of India....
are very famous.
Sair Fair
The Sair Fair is an annual event held at Arki on sakranti of Ashwin (16/17 September). The fair is famous for buffalo fights. Local people train their buffalos for the event. The chief guest for the fair in 2009 was Govind Sharma the Local M.L.A. and other VIP's. The fair is attended by thousands of people every year.Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Arki had a population of 2877. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Arki has an average literacy rate of 89%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 55% of the males and 45% of females literate. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Places of interest
- Lutru Mahadev Temple: This was built in 1621 by king of BaghalBaghalBaghal, covering an area of 312 km² and currently a part of Himachal Pradesh state, was one of the Princely states of India during the period of the British Raj...
. Shiva appeared in his dream and ordered him to make his temple. There is a statue of Shivalinga here. It is located 4 km away from Arki. - Jakholy Devi Temple (Bharda Kali Temple): This temple was made around 1650. This temple is 7 km away from Arki. It is built by king of Baghal for Bhadra Kali. This temple is a shaktipith of Himachal Pradesh.
- Bhakhalag: Another place of interest is Bakhalag which is around 9 km from Arki. This small village is known for its scenic beauty.
- Polytechnic College named as Pt. GAURI SANKAR MEMORIAL Polytechnic college DEVNGAR
- Arki Fort: This fort built between 1695–1700 by Rana Prithvi Singh is situated in the town.