1899.] 
THE PIR PANTSAL RANGE. 
81 
GagrI Valley past the village of Ghdmbar mentioned in the Rajatararigini 
by the name of S'arambara . 1 The other leads over a cross-spur in a 
south-westerly direction straight down into the valley now known as 
LofHrin. The position of the ancient castle of Lohara which I was 
able to trace in the centre of this great and fertile valley, has been fully 
discussed by me in a separate note. 2 About 8 miles further down the 
valley and at the point where its waters meet the stream coming from 
GagrI, lies the large village of Mandi. It marks the site of the old 
‘ market of Attalika,’ repeatedly mentioned by Kalhana. 3 From Mandi 
onwards the route passes into the open valley of the Tohi (Tausi) of 
Prunts which offers an easy line of communication down to the plains. 
The historical importance of the T5s?maidan route is best illustra¬ 
ted by the fact that it was chosen on two occasions for expeditions 
aiming at the invasion of Kasmir. We have already referred to Mah¬ 
mud of Ghazna’s expedition, probably of a.d. 1021, which Alberuni 
accompanied, and to which we owe the valuable information recorded 
by him. 4 This attempt at invasion* perhaps the most serious of 
which we know during Hindu times, was frustrated by the valorous 
defence of the castle of Lohara and a timely fall of snow. Nor was 
Maharaja Ranjit Singh more successful when in 1814 he first attempted 
to invade Kasmir by this route. 6 The portion of the Sikh army led by 
him in person, safely reached the Tos^maidan plateau where the Af gh an 
defenders were posted near the towers above mentioned. Difficulties of 
supplies, however, and the news of a reverse sustained by the column 
marching by the Pir Pantsal route forced on a retreat. This ended in 
a complete rout in the mountain defiles about LolHrin. 
It may yet be mentioned that the route over the Tos?maidan was 
already in all probability followed by Hiuen Tsiang on his way to 
Parnotsa or Prunts. 6 It remained a favourite trade route until the recent 
• " 
Jehlam Valley cart-road was constructed. Owing to the elevation of 
the Pass, however, this route is always closed by snow longer than, e.g., 
that of the Pir Pantsal. During the winter, therefore, the road from 
Lohara to Kasmir lay by the lower passes in the west leading into the 
Vitasta Valley below Baramula. 7 
1 See Rajat. viii. 1875-77 note. 
2 See Note E, iv. 177; also Ind. Ant . 1897, pp. 225 sqq. 
3 See Rajat . viii. 581 note. 
4 See above, § 14. 
3 For a more detailed account of this expedition, see Note E , iv. 177, § 14. 
6 Compare above, § 9. 
1 See Note E (Rajat. iv. 177), §§ 7, 8, for Kalhana’s references to the ocoasions 
when this more circuitous route was used. 
J. I. II 
