Tira Sujanpur is also called Sujanpur Tira or Sujanpur Tihra located on the bank of River Beas. It is a beautiful town inhabited by Maharaja Sansar Chand Katoch who was the King of Kangra and later shifted from Kangra to Sujanpur Tira after the war with Muslim kings who wanted to capture Kangra fort. Maharaja Sansar Chand constructed his palaces, temples and courts (called Baradari) on the peak of hillock called Tira overlooking Sujanpur's famous Chaugan, hence the name of the town is Sujanpur Tira. In the middle of this beautiful town there is one square kilometer green ground popularly called in Pahari language 'Chaugan' (which remains green throughout the year). Now part of the ground is occupied by the Sanik School. The ground is a meeting place for most of the town people, ladies, men, children for evening walk and for playing all types of games. Most famous Holi fair also takes place on this ground which lasts almost 2–3 weeks during the month of March.

Based on the caste system each side of 'Chaugan' is occupied by Brahmins, merchants (Vaishyas), Kashtriyas and Shudras. The concept is now waning off. The town has two famous temples constructed by the king which are Bansiwala ( For Lord Krishna) on one side of the ground, and Narvdeshwar on the other side towards the river Beas. One of the famous temple at Tira was destroyed during the Kangra Earthquake in 1905 , as also the most of the palace buildings. Archaeological Department has tried to restore some of the monuments but not to an extent desired. It is more like whitewashing done by Archaeological Department. Many of the invaluable Kangra paintings were collected by erstwhile commissioner E.N.Mangatrai and some were returned to the museum in Chandigrah.

People of Sujanpur Tira (earlier probably called Sajjanpur due to people being nice, honest and religious-minded) are very hospitable and helpful. Though the town is now-a-days thriving with activities and population in around is over 10,000. The people are highly educated and most of them know how to read and write. This town has produced many scientists, administrators, professors , doctors. Once upon a time it was the most educated town in Kangra and Himachal at large.

The ruins still remind us the old paintings which exists on the temples and palaces though the passage of time and atmospheric attacks have sullened them a lot. Whatever were left were destroyed by locals by whitewashing due to their innocence.

History of Kangra and Sujanpurtira

Sujanpur bears its name from Sajjanpur, which means the town of honest and gentle people. Tira was later added as Maharaja Sansar Chand Katoch moved his capital from Kangra to this place and added more palaces, temples, courts and fort at the top of the hill ‘Tira’. Katoch have been kings for time immemorial and their dynasty can be traced back to 4300BC when Rajanaka Bhumi Chand founded the Katoch Dynasty. They claimed to have fought against Lord Rama in 3000BC and Raja Susrma Chandra fought against Pandavas during the Mahabharta War in 1500BC. He also built the Kangra Fort. In 900 BC Katoch fought Persian and Assyrian in Punjab and Rajanaka Permanand Chandra (also known as Porus) fought against Alexandra the Great in 500BC. In 275 BC Katoch kings also fought Ashoka the Great and lost their land in Multan. In 100 BC Raja of Kangra fought against Raja of Kannauj, 470 BC against Raja of Kashmir. In 853 AD Rajanaka Prithvi Chandra’s empire expanded. In 1009 AD Mahmud Ghazni attacked Kangra and captured large booty. Inn 1170 Kangra saw the division into Kangra and Jaswan. They lost the war with Muhammad of Ghor in 1220 AD. In 1526 to 1556 AD, Katoch fought against Akbar the Great along with the forces of Sikandar Shah Suri, but lost and yielded to alliance to Akbar in return to the title of Maharaja. Mughals attacked fort of Kangra 52 times but failed to defeat it. In 1620 AD Kangra was occupied by Mughuls. In 1700AD Maharaja Bhim Chadra joined with Guru Gobind Singh in fight against Aurangzeb and was given the title of Dharma Rakshak by Guru Gobind Singh. In 1750 Maharaj Ghammand Chandra took reins. From 1775 AD to 1820 AD , saw the golden era of Kangra under the kingdom of Maharaja Sansar Chand Katoch. Kangra flourished in education, business and paintings etc. Famous Kangra paintings dates back to the era only. From 1820 decline of Kangra kingdom started and Kangra was occupied by Sikh after the war with Gorkhas of Nepal. Katoch fought against British and lost. Raja Parmod Chand was imprisoned and died in captivity in Almoda in 1924AD. In 1924 Maharaja Jai Chandra of Kangra- Lambagraon was granted the title of Maharaja by British regime. 1947AD Maharaja Dhruv Dev Chandra, the last ruler of Kangra-Lambagraon merges his state with Independent India and in 1972 princely order was abolished in India and all kings became ordinary citizens of India akin to others. Kangra was merged with newly-founded state of Himachal Pradesh. Later Kangra was split into three districts thereby separating Sujanpurtira from Kangra . Sujanpurtira became part of Hamirpur District. This was in short the historical background of Kangra and its kings.

Festivals

The lavish decoration of Baradari and palaces were surrounded by green gardens. At the entry of Baradari there was Ashtdhtu statue of Lord Shiva placed with colorful décor. The famous Holi festival was celebrated with lot of pomp and show which has become a tradition now and every year for 3–4 weeks during the month of March Holi fair takes place in this ground. Some of the photos will elaborate it. Other festivals like Diwali, Lohri, Shivratri, Janamashtami Baisakhi, Basant Panchami and many others are also celebrated with great zeal and zest by the people. They all live as one community and help each other. Community feeling is very well imbibed in the mind of people as also the feeling of being Sujanpurian. In fact there is a Sujanpuri Association which meet regularly and arrange a luncheon every year in Delhi. Some of the photos of Holi fair (mela) are given below:

This town of Sujanpurtira has plenty to offer to the tourists, only they need to go and explore this beautiful town on foot. One can trek toward Tira, or walk miles along each side to explore the rich heritage which still bear marks of the old kingdom.