The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c13.2.4

v1.c13.2.4

Karnāv).⁴ Between Dvārāvatī and Karṇāha, the Kājnāg Range accompanies the Vitastā for about eighty miles down to Muzaffarabad. ‘The mountains which enclose the Kashmir valley in the north-west and north, may be looked upon as one great range.’ It ‘joins on to the Kājnāg Peak north-west of Bārāmūla and then continues in the direction of south to north towards the Upper Kishen Ganga. The watershed of this portion forms the western boundary of Kashmir towards Karṇāha.’ One important route that crossed this range near modern Sardi started from ‘the ancient districts of Samāla (mod. Hamal) and Uttara (mod. Uttar) and was guarded by the castle of Śiraḥśila.⁵ From Sardi, this range continues in a slightly south-easterly direction for about a 100 miles. The upper course of the Kṛṣṇā in this region was inhabited by the Dards, and was known as the Daraddeśa.¹ A route starting from the north of Mahāpadma (Wular Lake) crossed this northern range at Gurais on the Kishen Ganga, which is probably to be identified with Daratpurī,² the chief town of the Dards. From Gurais it leads to Astor and the Balti territory on the Indus. This route was guarded by the ancient fort of Dugdhaghāta (mod. Dudᵃkhut) which was often a bone of contention between Kashmirians and Dards.³ To the east of Dugdhaghāta the summit of the range gradually culminates in the Haramukuṭa (mod. Haramuk) peaks, round which cluster some of the holiest of Kashmirian *tīrthas*.