The census of 1872 disclosed a population in the Garhwâl district of 310,288 (115,745 males and 154,537 females), distributed among 3944 villages and 57,293 houses. The Hindus numbered 308,398, or no less than 99 ’ 3 per cent, of the population, the Mahometans 1799, and Christians 85. The two great Hindu temples of Badrinath and Kedarnath, which lie hidden among the recesses of the snowy range, attract large numbers of pilgrims, who considerably add to the prosperity of the district. No place in Garhwâl contains as many as 5000 inhabitants. Srinagar is the largest town, but the administrative headquarters is at Pauni. Trade is principally carried on with Tibet, by way of the Mana and Niti passes, sheep and goats being used as beasts of burden. The chief exports are grain, gur, cloth, and tobacco; the imports salt, borax, wool, gold, and precious stones. Good hill roads, from 10 to 12 feet in width, intersect the district in every direction, the total length being about 1000 miles. The land revenue in 1875 amounted to £9555. Only a small force of regular police is stationed at headquarters, and there is little crime of any kind.

Education has made greater progress among these mountain valleys than in the plain districts beneath them. In 1875 73 schools afforded education to 3609 pupils.

Garhwâl originally consisted of 52 petty chieftainships, each chief with his own independent fortress (yarh). Between 400 and 500 years ago, one of these chiefs, Ajai Pal, ruler of Chandpur, reduced all the minor principalities under his own sway, and founded the Garhwâl kingdom. He and his ancestors ruled over Garhwal and the adjacent state of Tehri, in an uninterrupted line till 1803, when the Gurkhas invaded Kumâon and Garhwal driving Prithimân Sâh, the Garhwal chief, into the plains. For twelve years the Gιirkhas ruled the country with a rod of iron, until a series of encroachments by them on British territory, led to the war with Nepal in 1814. At the termination of the campaign, Garhwal and Kumâon were converted into British districts, while the Tehri principality was restored to Pridliimân Sâh, whose grandson still holds it. Since the annexation, Garhwâl has rapidly advanced in material prosperity. Cultivation lias rapidly increased, and the spread of tea-culture has opened the country to British capital and enterprise, which are converting this long harassed tract into an important and wealthy district.