The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c13.2.3

v1.c13.2.3

About five miles due north of the (lake) Nandan Sar' we again reach a pass now known as Pīr Pantsāl (11,400 ft.), probably the Pañcāladhārā of Kṣemendra.⁶ 'The route which crosses it, has from early days to the present time been the most frequented line of communication from Kashmir to the central part of the Punjab.’ The next considerable depression, which was also an ancient line of communication, was the Tōṣᵉmaidān Pass, which connected Srinagar with the Western Punjab, *via* Lohara. During the reign of the Lohara kings (*c.* 1003-1154 A.D.) this route acquired special importance in the history of Kashmir. Beyond this, in the north-west, the Pīr Pantsāl Range gradually descends into the Vitastā valley which was one of the great gates of Kashmir, connecting it with Uraśā (mod. Hazara), Gandhāra (mod. Rawalpindi district), and the regions to the west. It was through this route that Yuan Chwang and Ou-K'ong came to Kashmir. As the route ended in Kashmir at Varāhamūla¹ (mod. Bārāmūla) it is convenient to designate it after the name of that town. The kings of Kashmir appear to have held Vitastā valley as far as Bolyāsaka² (mod. Buliasa) as an outlying frontier district. Beyond this, up to the borders of Uraśā, the valley was known as Dvārāvatī (mod. Dvārbiḍi).³ North of Dvārāvatī in the lower valley of the Kṛṣṇā (mod. Kishen Ganga), lay the semi-independent Khaśa principality of Karṇāha (mod.