1. Prehistoric Beginnings: Lakhudiyar and Rock Art
The earliest documented record of human existence in Uttarakhand stems from prehistoric rock shelters discovered throughout the Kumaon and Garhwal hills. The most prominent among these is Lakhudiyar (literally meaning "one lakh caves"), situated along the banks of the River Suyal in Barechhina near Almora. Discovered in 1968 by Dr. M.P. Joshi, Lakhudiyar's painted limestone walls depict stick-like human figures performing ritual collective dances, hunting scenes, hand prints, and wavy serpent-like motifs rendered in red, white, and black mineral pigments.
Similar pictographic rock shelters have been documented at Kasardevi, Falsima, and Dungri in Chamoli (Gwarkhya Udyar), where dynamic red-ochre paintings depict hunters pursuing wild ibex, bulls, and Himalayan stags. These sites confirm that hunter-gatherer communities established permanent seasonal camps in the Central Himalayan mid-hills during the Mesolithic and Neolithic transitions (circa 3000–1000 BCE).
2. The Vedic & Epic Epochs: Kedarkhand and Manaskhand
Ancient Vedic literature refers to the Himalayan region as Himavant. In the classical Sanskrit Puranas—specifically the Skanda Purana—the sacred landscape of Uttarakhand is divided into two distinct geographical domains:
- Kedarkhand: Encompassing the watershed of the Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Mandakini, and Yamuna rivers in western Uttarakhand (modern Garhwal). Revered as the tapobhumi of Lord Shiva and the source of sacred pilgrimage tracks to Kedarnath and Badrinath.
- Manaskhand: Spanning the Kali, Saryu, Gomati, and Ramganga river valleys in eastern Uttarakhand (modern Kumaon). Associated with the holy Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrim route and the sacred abodes of Jageshwar and Bagnath.
The Mahabharata contains exhaustive references to the region. The Pandavas, along with Draupadi, traversed the Garhwal Himalayas on their final celestial journey (Swargarohana) beyond Badrinath and Mana village. The epic explicitly names indigenous warrior tribes—the Kiratas, Khasas, Kunindas, and Tanganas—who fought in the Kurukshetra war and brought tributory Himalayan musk, pipilika gold, and chamara yak-tails to Emperor Yudhishthira.
3. The Ashokan Rock Edict at Kalsi (257 BCE)
The earliest monumental historical inscription found in Uttarakhand is the renowned Rock Edict of Emperor Ashoka at Kalsi, situated at the confluence of the Yamuna and Tons rivers near Dehradun. Engraved on a massive quartz boulder in 257 BCE, this monument features all 14 Major Rock Edicts written in Prakrit language using the ancient Brahmi script.
The Kalsi edict establishes that Uttarakhand's foothill valleys were directly integrated into the administrative orbit of the Mauryan Empire. The inscriptions advocate the practice of Dhamma—compassion towards all living beings, prohibition of animal slaughter, establishment of medical centers for humans and animals along trans-Himalayan trade routes, and religious tolerance.
Historical Factsheet & Key Parameters
| Historical Parameter | Documented Details / Evidence |
|---|---|
| Prehistoric Rock Art Sites | Lakhudiyar (Almora), Gwarkhya Udyar (Chamoli), Falsima, Kasardevi |
| Primary Vedic References | Skanda Purana, Rigveda, Mahabharata (Vana Parva & Sabha Parva) |
| Prominent Early Tribes | Kiratas (Himalayan hunters), Khasas (Aryan pastoralists), Kolis, Tanganas |
| Ashokan Inscription Location | Kalsi, near confluence of Yamuna and Tons rivers (Dehradun district) |
| Script & Language of Kalsi Edict | Brahmi Script, Magadhi Prakrit language (257 BCE) |
Historical Highlights & Legacy
- Prehistoric Habitation: Rock paintings at Lakhudiyar confirm that human societies flourished along Himalayan river terraces since the Mesolithic era.
- Epic Tapobhumi: Vedic scriptures and the Mahabharata explicitly identify Uttarakhand as the abode of sages, sacred rivers, and the Pandava Swargarohana.
- Ashoka's Global Vision: The 257 BCE Kalsi Rock Edict proves that Uttarakhand was an integral geopolitical gateway on ancient trans-Himalayan trade routes.