Hoshiarpur is a city and a municipal council in Hoshiarpur district in the Indian state of Punjab. It was founded, according to tradition, during the early part of the 4th century. In 1809 it was occupied by the forces of Maharaja Karanvir Singh and was united under the greater state of Punjab. Hoshiarpur is also known as an ancient manufacturing town where colourful lacquer (formerly ivory) finished plastic inlay furniture is made.
The area of present Hoshiarpur was also part of Indus Valley Civilization. Recent excavations at various sites in the district have revealed that the entire area near the Shivalik foothills was selected for habitation not only by the early palaeolithic man but also by those in the protohistoric and historic periods. In the explorations, seven early Stone Age sited an Atbarapur, Rehmanpur and Takhni, 30–40 km north of Hoshiarpur District in the foothills of Shivalik, have been discovered where the stone artifacts have been found. Besides these excavations, among the archaeological remains in the Hoshiarpur District, the remains of temples at Dholbaha, 24 km north of Hoshiarpur, and especially the local legends throw valuable light on the ancient history of the district. The archaeological explorations made during the recent years have revealed the antiquity of the Hoshiarpur District to the Harappan Period. The sculptures and other findings excavated from Dholbaha pertain to the Gurjara Prathihara Period ( C-800-1100 A D). In the 10th Century A D Shiwalik areas came under the influence of Pratiharas. During that period, the art of the local tribes took a definite shape. In AD 965, Jaipal came to the throne and thus the Hindu Shahi style penetrated into the valley of Dholbaha. In AD 988, the rulers of Parmaras remained paramount power up to AD 1260. It is said that before the first Muhammadan invasion in 1174AD, Raja Shankar Dass built a fort on the site of the present town of Garhshankar, but it was taken by Mahmud Ghazni. After that this region was invaded by many Muslim rulers time to time and later on in 19th century was under Sikh rule before being occupied by Britishers until 1947
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