Ranjit Singh’s Kashmir Expedition of 1814 (Baramulla and the Toshamaidan Pass)

01Two roads over the Pir Panjal

After Attock, Ranjit Singh turned to Kashmir, held for Kabul by Muhammad Azim Khan. In June 1814 the army gathered at Rajauri and split. Ram Dayal, grandson of Dewan Mokham Chand, led one column by the Bahramgala route over the Pir Panjal, while the Maharaja himself, with Hari Singh Nalwa, took the road through Poonch towards the Toshamaidan pass. The hill chiefs of Rajauri and Poonch, nominally allies, gave little help.

02Baramulla held

Ram Dayal fought his way down into the valley and reached Baramulla on 24 July 1814. He dug in there and beat off an attack by Azim Khan. But he was cut off, short of supplies, and no one at headquarters knew for certain where he was. In the end Azim Khan, unable to dislodge him, let him go on terms, and Ram Dayal led his column back out of the valley.

Person · 1791–1837 CEHari Singh NalwaRanjit Singh’s foremost general fought at Kasur, Attock, Multan and Kashmir, governed Kashmir and Hazara, and took Peshawar in 1834. He fell defending Jamrud fort at the mouth of the Khyber on 30 April 1837.Read →

03Stopped at Toshamaidan

The Maharaja’s column had a harder time. Heavy rain turned the tracks to mud, the hill men harassed the rear and plundered the camp, and many soldiers deserted. At the Toshamaidan pass Azim Khan’s men were strongly entrenched. Ranjit Singh, his force dwindling, ordered a full retreat to Lahore in August. Five years later, in 1819, Misr Diwan Chand and Kharak Singh took Kashmir at Shopian.