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Garli – Past & Present |
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| Garli is a quiet hamlet nestled in the lap of the Kangra valley. Its glorious past is a visual treat for any history enthusiast. Legend has it that in the 16th century, Garli and its sister village Pragpur came under the influence of the Jaswan kingdom. Around that time, a pack of marauders plundered the tranquil foothills of the Kangra valley. The ruling Princess of Garli, Prag Dei, waged war against the intruders, and was successful in restoring peace in the area. The village-folk of Garli and adjoining villages, were more than delighted by the efforts of their princess and came together to commemorate her.
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Garli boasts of an incredible location that was thoughtfully chosen to receive the positive astral influences of the three Shakti temples (better known as Shaktipeeths) located nearby - Brajeshwari (Kangra), Chintpurni and Jwalamukhi.
Given prominence by the Sood Clan – a prominent northern trading community of the 19th century, this community were enterprising merchants, who made their fortunes by trading with the British in timber, oils, spices etc. in Shimla, the then summer capital of India. |
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| In setting up Garli, they showed great foresight in making the environment self sufficient. All required trades & crafts such as cobblers, ironmongers, carpenters, mechanics, jewelers, potters, weavers, cloth merchants, painters etc. were brought in and settled so there would be no need to go outside the area for anything. |
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In a classic model of collaborative town planning & development, the Soods contributed as per their ability in creating hospitals, schools, infrastructure etc. in addition to opulent mansions and Sarais that stand tall as symbols of their prosperity even today. The Soods were also well known for their generous philanthropic pursuits. And it’s no wonder then that Garli came to be known as the educational and medical hub of Kangra valley in the first half of the 20th century.
The scenic beauty and wealth till the 1940’s made Garli known as the “Switzerland of India”. |
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| Today Garli is progressive, but in an unobtrusive way. It carries forward the legacy left behind by its glorious past, it sustains with it a largely rural present, with its eyes set on an even more glorious future. |
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Disclaimer:
"The facts in this website been culled from numerous conversations with the people and well wishers of Garli. Should you find any inaccuracies or omissions, please do email us at feedback@garli.in . We will gratefully acknowledge your inputs and make the necessary changes in the next revision." |
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