The story of the Dogra dynasty is one of remarkable ascent. From local chieftains in the Shivalik foothills, the Dogra rulers — particularly Gulab Singh and Ranbir Singh — built a kingdom that stretched from Ladakh to Gilgit. The Treaty of Amritsar in 1846 formalized Dogra control over the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, creating one of the largest and most strategically important states in British India. This article traces the military campaigns, diplomatic manoeuvres, and cultural contributions that defined the Dogra era.
