Twilight of the Sultanate c7.s3.20

c7.s3.20

Tīmūr arrived at Hardwar, a well known place of Hindu pilgrimage on the Ganga, on 12 January, 1399 (5 Jamadiul Avval). Sharafuddīn describes it thus: "Kupila (or Hardwār, probably named after the sage Kapil) is situated at the foot of a mountain by which the river Ganga passes. Fifteen *kos* higher up there is a stone in the form of a cow, and the water of the river flows out of the mouth of that cow."¹³⁴ This certainly is a reference to Gangotri the source of the Ganga, and the distance should be 50 rather than 15 *kos*. The chronicler continues, "The infidels of India worship this cow, and come hither from all quarters, from distances even of a year's journey, to visit it. They bring here and cast into the river the ashes of their dead. They throw gold and silver into the river and perform their oblations leg deep in the stream."¹³⁵ This was a good reason for its sack by a champion of Islam, but the most important one seems to be that "in this valley there was a large concourse of Hindus, having great riches in cattle and moveables."¹³⁶ However, since the people of Hardwar were determined not to surrender without desperate resistance, Tīmūr thought it fit to organise his troops for a regular battle. He "massed all the wings of his army together" and charged with great vigour. According to the *Zafar Nāmā* the Hindus began to flee soon after,¹³⁷ but the details given in the *Mulfūzāt* clearly show that the people gave a very tough fight.¹³⁸ Later events also show that Tīmūr's attack was not a complete success. He left Hardwar the same day crossing the Ganga before the afternoon, marching back five *kos* down the river before encamping.¹³⁹ Never before had he taken such a precipitate action.