Trigarta Empire was since
Satyuga and first ruler of this Empire was Raja Bhumi Chander.
Trigarta was also a kingdom mentioned in the epic
Mahabharata. Mahabharata mentions two different Trigarta kingdoms, one in the west close to the
Sivi Kingdom and the other north to the
Kuru Kingdom. Modern
Kangra is one of the ancient town in North
Trigarta,
India, extending westward to the Punjab area. Trigarta is the territory around the three rivers of Satluj, Beas, and Ravi. These Trigarta kings were allies of
Duryodhana and enemies of
Pandavas and Viratas. Their capital was named
Prasthala. They attacked the
Virata Kingdom aided by the Kurus to steal cattle from there. The Pandavas living there in anonymity helped the Viratas to resist the combined forces of Trigartas and Kurus. Trigarta kings fought the
Kurukshetra War and were killed by
Arjuna, after a ruthless and bloody conflict. Arjuna also annihilated an
Akshouhini (a large military unit) of Trigarta warriors called the
Samsaptakas. These warriors had vowed to either die or kill Arjuna as part of a larger plan by
Duryodhana to capture
Yudhishthira alive. Katoch Dynasty is an offshoot of Trigratraje Dynasty. The
Katoch Dynasty has been attributed to have ruled this area and the above story from the Mahabharata is recorded in their history. Maharaja
Susharma Chand had fought against Arjuna. His son built the
Kangra Fort.
Katoch Dynasty,in
Kaliyuga, has also its famous sub clans as
Jaswal Dynasty, Guleria Dynasty, Sibaia Dynasty and
Dadwal Dynasty.