Kalhanas Rajtarangini written in 11th century is the earliest record available on history of Kashmir. Kalhana mentions that "Kailash is the best place in the three worlds ‘tri!ok’, Himalayas the best place in Kailash and Kashmir the best place in Himalayas”.According to Rajtarangni, Gonanada I came to the throne of Kashmir about2448 BC. His descendants ruled for many centuries. King Ashoka conquered Kasmir in 250 BC and made Srinagar the capital of his empire. Ist century AD saw the arrival of Kushan Dynasty.Emperor Kanishka organised the 3rd great council of Buddhists at Harwan.From the Karakota dynasty, the great ruler a Muktapida is mentioned as ruler in 8th century. The 9th century witnessed the rule of Utpal dynasty that produced a great ruler Avanti Verman .during whose reign Avantipur was the capital. In the 10th century, Loharo uled in Kashmir .11th century saw rule of King Harsha, a poet and a lover of art & music.12th century witnessed the rule of King Jaisimha. In the l3th century, Kashmir witnessed upheavals, though Islam was earlier spread by the famous saint Bulbul Shah RA, it was in mid-14th Century that Muslim rule started with Shah Mir’s arrival from CentralAsia.
The arrival of great Islamic preacher Syed Ali Hamdani RA from Persia during the rule of Sultan Qutab-ud-Din (AD 1395) witnessed wide-spread of Islam in the
valley.The Sultan was succeeded by his son Sultan Sikandar, ‘The Idol Breaker’. He followed by his son Sultan Zoin-ul-Abidin(AD 1421 - 1474), an exceptionally
peaceful ruler. He was reputed for being enlightened and restructuring Kashmir and was deservedly surnamed as Budshah ‘The Great King’.He said to be buried at ‘Budshah Tomb’in the vicinity of Zaina Kadal. In 16th century, ‘Chaks’ gained power. Yousuf Khan,commonly known as ‘Yousuf Shahi Chak’ ruled in AD 1580. He fell in love and married a peasant woman, Haba Khatoon, the famous poetess of Kashmir. His son Yakub Khan took over the reins in AD 1582. After consolidating the Mughal Empire in northern India, Emperor Akbar’s forces conquered Kashmir in AD 1586.
The Mughal rule lasted for 166 years. The Afghans ruled Kashmir from 1756 to 1818. In 19th century, Sikhs ruled Kashmir, who further installed Dogras as the rulers. On 16th March 1846, Raja Gulab Singh secured the sovereignty of Kashmir from the British under the Treaty of Amritsar. In 1947 when India became independent, Maharaja Hari Singh annexed Kashmir into the Indian Dominion.
