History The mythological history of Kinnaur is contained in the chironings, which are a fascinating oral history of the origin and times of important deities, recited at important events and festivals by the hereditary oracle of each deity.

Bhimkali Temple at Sarahan. Credit: Karamjeet Singh

Kinnaur was inhabited by tribes in the early ages. It was visited by the Pandavas of Mahabharata fame during their periods of hiding. This land finds mention in ancient legends as Kinnerdesh of Kimpurusha Khand. The famous Kinner King Banasur is credited in Hindu mythology with having brought the Satluj River to the plains from Lake Mansarovar. Later on Kinnaur became a part of the empire of Emperor Kanishka. Local kings or rulers broke loose from the central authority after the death of King Harsha in around the 8th-9th century AD. Kinnaur then became a part of Bushahr state which had a more or less independent existence. The Raja of Bushahr had a loose control over Kinnaur, which was called Sat Kund.

In 1810, the death of the Raja of Bushahr led to the crowning of an eighteen month old heir. Upon this Nepalese troops captured the state but the infant king with his mother fled to Kinnaur and remained there till the British finally defeated the Nepalese. Thereafter Kinnaur remained under the loose control of the British till India's independence in 1947. After that Kinnaur formed the Chini Tehsil of Mahasu District. As part of the reorganization of border areas, the Kinnaur district was formed on May 1, 1960, to enable speedy development of this area. Kinnaur District forms part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.