Battle of Nadaun :

The Battle of Nadaun was fought on 20 March 1691 between an imperial expeditionary force aided by Raja Kirpal Chand of Kangra and Raja Dyal of Bijharval in the Sivalik hills on the one hand and several other neighbouring chieftains who enjoyed the support of Guru Gobind Singh on the other. The battle is also mentioned in the autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh called the Bachittar Natak. This was the second battle of Guru Gobind Singh after the Battle of Bhangani.

The Battle of Nadaun was fought at Nadaun ( now tehsil of distt. Hamirpur ), between Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur and the Mughals under Alif Khan. Raja Bhim Chand was supported by Guru Gobind Singh and other hill chieftains, who had refused to pay tribute to the Mughal emperor. The Mughals were supported by Raja of Kangra and Raja Dayal of Bijarwal. The battle resulted in the victory of Bhim Chand and his aides.

Reason for the Conflict :

Demand of Revenue

The hill Rajas, taking advantage of Emperor Aurangzeb's preoccupation with the endless Maratha insurgency in the South, had neglected to pay their annual tributes into the imperial treasury for three years. Early in 1691 orders were issued to Hifzullah Khan alias Mian Khan, Governor of Jammu, to collect the revenue. Mian Khan despatched a punitive force under Alif Khan. Two of the chieftains, Raja Kirpal Chand and Raja Dyal, submitted without opposition and in fact became Alif Khan's allies.

Bhim Chand turned down :

Raja Bhim Chand of Kahlur (Bilaspur), the most powerful of the Chieftains rallied the rest of the rulers to resist the Mughal demands. Guru Gobind Singh, who did not cotton to the idea of anyone paying tribute to Aurangzeb and his religious wars, was asked for help and joined in the combined effort to route Alif Khan and his punitive force.

                          The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaigns against Bijapur and Golconda had put considerable strain on the Mughal exchequer. To meet these expenses Aurangazeb ordered the Governor of Punjab , Azim Khan, to recover annual tributes from the rulers of hill states, who had been defaulting on the payment for three consecutive years. Azim Khan assigned the duty of collecting tributes to Mian Khan, the viceroy of Jammu .

The duty of collecting tributes from Kangra and adjoining principalities was assigned to Alif Khan. Alif Khan first approached Raja Kirpal Chand or Bhim Chand Katoch of Kangra. The Raja told him that Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur was the most powerful king in the region; if he pays tribute, the others will follow. Raja Dayal of Bijarwal (or Bijharwal) was persuaded by Kirpal to meet Alif Khan’s demands.

At Raja Kirpal’s suggestion, Alif Khan proceeded towards Bhim Chand’s capital. He halted at Nadaun and sent his envoy to Bhim Chand of Bilaspur with his demands. However, Bhim Chand refused to pay the tribute. Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur formed an alliance with the rest of the hill Rajas, and also sought the support of Guru Gobind Singh . The Guru, who was against the idea of paying tributes to the Mughals, decided to support Bhim Chand.

Description in Bichitra Natak :

The author of Bichitra Natak states that Bhim chand was aided by Raj Singh, Ram Singh, sukhdev Gaji of Jasrot, and Prithi Chand of Dadhwal, among others. He also states that the Rajputs of the Nanglua and Panglu tribes, and the soldiers of Jaswar and Guler, also participated in the battle. Initially, the forces of Kirpal Chand overpowered Bhim Chand’s forces. Then, Bhim Chand recited Hanuman mantras , and called all his allies, including the Guru. As the combined forces launched an attack, the enemy forces of Raja Dayal of Bijharwal and Raja Kirpal also advanced. In the ensuing battle, the forces of Mughals and Kirpal Chand were driven out into the river. Alif Khan and his warriors fled away.

According to Bichitra Natak, Guru Gobind Singh remained at Nadaun, on the banks of the River Beas, for eight more days, and visited the places of all the chiefs. Later, both the parties made an agreement and peace was established.

Later, Maharaja Ranjit Singh built a gurdwara on the spot where the Guru had pitched his tent. The Gurdwara was affiliated to Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee in 1935. It is known as Gurudwara Dasvin Patshahi or Gurdwara Nadaun Sahib.