Page 239 - Lohgarh

State of Garhwal and the Sikhs w 239

When Suleiman Shiloh took refuge in Garhwal, Guru Har Rai was at
Thapal, in the old state of Nahan/Sirmaur (1645-1657), and this place is
quite near to Garhwal. In 1658, in order to help Dara Shikoh, the Guru
left Thapal and reached Goindwal, along with 2200 cavalry. Raja Rajrup
of Nurpur (1646-1661) also came to help the prince, but as Prince Dara
was highly disheartened, they had to go back. In 1659, Dara Shikoh
was captured and beheaded by his younger brother Aurangzeb.
Raja Pirthvi Shah of Garhwal continued to provide the asylum to
Suleiman Shikoh, and Aurangzeb tried his level best for the get Suleman,
but Raja of Garhwal stood firm and did not hand over him (Suleman) to
the Emperor. Raja Jai Singh Mirza tried to intervene in the matter, but
Garhwal Raja refused to oblige. After many efforts, and against the wish
of the Raja of Garhwal, Suleiman Shikoh surrendered before Aurangzeb
in 1661.
In 1661-1662 Raja of Garhwal died (40 years old), Suleiman Shikoh
died (28 years old), Guru Har Rai died (32 years old) and Raja of Nurpur
died (40 years). Mystery surrounds the deaths of these personalities in
the same year and most of them at a young age. Some people doubt
that it was the result of a conspiracy by Aurangzeb.

Uttrakhand and the Vanjaras
Hiuen Tsiang did not mention any cities which can be identified as lying
within the present district of Dehradun; and tradition asserts that they
remained without inhabitant , until the eleventh century, when a passing
caravan of Vanjaras struck with the beauty of the country , permanently
3
settled on the spot . If we look back at the Sikh history, Guru Nanak
Sahib during his first Udasi, took a southerly route from Gorakh Matta,
which brought him to the Tanda Vanjara, near Bareilly, division
Moradabad, the home town of Vanjara traders. These Vanjaras
embraced Sikhism and followed the path of truth. Guru Hari Rai Sahib
4
increased the Sikh preaching centres from 22 to 360 and new centres
were also established in the estate of Nahan, Garwal, Sarkar of
Saharanpur and Moradabad. The Sikhs made Fortification (some of the
Fortress still exist & archaeological evidences related to Bhai Lakhi Rai