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Rajouri area remained the region of great importance in ancient times. In
Mahabharta there was a kingdom known as Panchal Desa. The king of this State was Panchal
Naresh whose daughter Dropdi was married to Pandvas. The Historians Identify Panchalya
Desha as the region in Panchal range of mountains. Rajouri was also a part of this
kingdom of Panchal Naresh.
Rajouri, then known as Rajapuri – ‘the land of Kings’ - finds its
mention in the travelogue of Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang who visited the town in 632 A.D.
and described it as a part of Kashmiri dominion. Still earlier in the Buddhist period it
formed a part of Gandhar territory (Afghanistan, Gandhar and Tashkent) and later was
included in the domain called Darabhisanga which comprised the hilly stretch from Poonch
to Kashmir. Those days Laharkote in Poonch district and Rajouri had emerged as two
powerful states of the area.
According to F.E.Pargitor, second branch of Aryan
emigrants crossed Himalayas in the north and west and settled in Rajouri and Poonch area.
Rajouri, Bhimber and Naushera were included within the territory of Abhisar, which was one
of the hill states of Punjab Kingdom. Early records of fragmentary nature show that in 4th
century B.C. there existed in the north west of India a federal type of political set up
in which Abhisar with its capital Rajouri was also included. At the time of Alexander's
invasion, Rajouri was at the height of its glory. In Mauryan period, the town of Rajouri
was a great trade centre. During the Mughal rule, the rulers of Rajouri have embraced
Islam though they retained the title of Raja.
Albaurni visited Rajouri with Sultan Masud (Son of Sultan Mehmud) in 1036 A.D. In
his book "India" he wrote name of Rajouri as Raja Vari. Srivar, the writer of
'Raj Tirangini' written during the regime of Sultan Zain-Ul-Abdin, also named this area as
Raja Vari. It appears that Raja Vari is the changed shape of Raj Puri. Praja Bhat another
writer of Raj Tirangini of 16th century A.D. wrote this place as Raj-Vare in his book.
Mirza Zafarulla Khan writer of ‘Tarikh Rajgan-E-Rajour’ described in his book
that this place was originally known as Raj-Avar and then changed from Rajour to Rajouri.
But the old people in the villages still call the place as Rajour. With the passage of
time the name changed from Raja's Raj Avar to Raja Puri, Rajpuri to Raj Vari, Raj Vari to
Raj Vara, Raj Vara to Raj Avar, Raj Avar to Rajour and then Rajour to Rajouri. As per
Rajtirangini of Kalhan, Rajouri emerged as principality in about 1003 A.D. The first ruler
of this kingdom was Raja Prithvi Paul. From 1033 A.D. to 1194 A.D. these Pauls ruled this
state. They were Raja Prithvipaul, Raja Janki Paul (1035 A.D.), Raja Sangram Paul (1063
A.D.), Raja Som Paul (1101 A.D.), Bahu Paul (1113 A.D.) and Amna Paul (1194 A.D.). Raja
Prithvi Paul defeated Pir Panchal Pass at the time of invasion of Sultan Mehmud in1021
A.D. Raja Sangram Paul defended his Principality Rajouri when Raja Harash of Kashmir
assaulted his country in 1089 A.D. Sangram Paul fought so bravely that Raja Harash was
compelled to return from Prithvi Paul fort without capturing Rajouri.
As per
‘Tarikh-Rajgan-e-Rajour” Noor-Ud-Din who migrated from Punjab to Rajouri
revolted against Raja Amna Paul. Raja Amna Paul was killed in the revolt and Noor-Ud-Din
became the Raja of Rajouri. In this way Raja Noor-Ud-Din aid the foundation of Jaral
Muslim rule in Rajouri in 1194 A.D. to 21st October 1846 A.D. Rajouri Principality
remained governed by Jaral Rajas. The renowned Rajas of this dynasty were Raja
Noor-Ud-Din (1194 A.D.), Raja Anwar Khan (1252 A.D.), Raja Sardar Khan (1289 A.D.), Raja
Shah-Ud-Din (1412 A.D.), Raja Mast Wali Khan (1565 A.D.), Raja Taj-Ud-Din (1604
A.D.), Raja Anayat Ullah Khan (1648 A.D.), Raja Azmat Ullah Khan (1683 A.D.), Raja
Izzat Ullah Khan (1762 A.D.), Raja Karam Ullah Khan (1676 A.D.), Raja Aggar Ullah Khan
(1808 A.D.) and Raja Raheem Ullah Khan (1819 A.D.). Raja Raheem Ullah Khan was the last
Muslim Ruler of Rajouri who governed this principality upto 21st October, 1846.
Jaral Muslim Rajas rebuilt Rajouri city during their rule. Number of Fort, Sarai,
Mosque and Baradaries were constructed with the help of Mughals, on Mughal road. The area
of Rajouri principality comprised proper Rajouri, Thanna, Bagla Azim Garh, Darhal,
Behrote, Chingus, Nagrota and Phalyana etc. The total revenue of Rajouri was Rs.3.00 lacs
in 1846. Raja Aggar Ullah Khan (1808-1819) fought bravely, first against Maharaja
Ranjit Singh in 1815 and then Raja Gulab Singh in 1819. These Muslim Rajas were very
liberal and accommodating. Raja Azmat Ullah was having Hindu Minister of Mehta family of
Rajouri. Hindu Rajputs were given preference at the time of employment in armed forces.
The successive Rulers were also responsible for the proper upkeep of Mughal route
from Gujarat to Kashmir, dotted by a dozen stations in between. The town also called
Rampur as per the revenue document, gained popularity during the Mughal period as the
Mughal Ruler, during their movement from Delhi to Kashmir and back, used to stay at the
station for some time.
In 1846 Amritsar pact was signed between British Government and Raja Gulab Singh of
Jammu. In the light of this pact, Jammu and Kashmir State was handed over to Raja Gulab
Singh and he was designated as Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir.
After taking the charge of Rajouri from Raja Faqir Ullah in 1846, Maharaja Gulab
Singh changed the name of Rajouri to Rampur. He appointed Mian Hathu as Governor of
Rajouri. Mian Hathu remained in Rajouri upto 1846 A.D. He constructed a beautiful temple
in between Thanna Nallah near Rajouri city. He also built Rajouri Fort at Dhannidhar
village. After Mian Hathu, Rajouri was converted into a Tehsil and affiliated with Bhimber
District. In 1904 A.D., this Tehsil was bifurcated from Bhimber and affiliated with Reasi
District. After Independence, Rajouri became part of the newly constituted Poonch-Rajouri
District. On Ist January 1968, Rajouri emerged as a new District on the map of the State.
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