Bilaspur State (princely state)


Bilaspur State or Kahlur was a princely state in the Punjab Province during the era of British India, ruled by Chandel dynasty.
The state was initially known as Kahlur and was later renamed Bilaspur. It covered an area of, and had a population of 100,994 according to the 1931 Census of India. The last ruler of Bilaspur State acceded to the Indian Union on 12 October 1948.
Bilaspur State remained Bilaspur Province in independent India until 1950 when the province was briefly renamed "Bilaspur State" before it was merged with Himachal Pradesh state as a district in 1954.

History

According to local myths compiled during the reign of Raja Hira Chand the predecessor state was founded around 697 CE by Bir Chand. After Kahal Chand had built Kahlur Fort the state was named after it. Initially the capital of the state was at a place named Jhandbari — now in Hoshiarpur district — and then it was transferred to Kahlur Fort, but was later moved permanently to Bilaspur by Dip Chand, the 32nd Raja of Kahlur. Since the 18th-century the rulers of Bilaspur State patronised artists of the Kangra painting style.
Bilaspur State came under British protection in 1815 under Raja Mahan Chand and became one of the Simla Hill States. Raja Anand Chand was the last ruler of the princely state and Pandit Sant Ram was the last Home Minister. As Bilaspur acceded to India on 28 October 1948, Bilaspur retained an independent identity as a separate province and as a part-C State of India. The Raja was appointed commissioner of the State. In following years after Raja resigned his deputy Chhabra, who was appointed by govt of India, helped run the temporary govt of Bilaspur while the territory of the princely state was politically integrated into the Indian Union.
From 26 January 1950 Bilaspur was administered by the Government of India as a separate C-Class state named Bilaspur State which in 1954 was incorporated into the State of Himachal Pradesh as a province.

Rajas

  1. Bir Chand, founder; or
  2. Udhran Chand
  3. Jaskarn Chand
  4. Madanbrahm Chand
  5. Ahl Chand
  6. Kahal Chand, 6th Raja
  7. Slar Chand
  8. Men Chand
  9. Sen Chand
  10. Sulkhan Chand
  11. Kahn Chand, 11th Raja. Conquered Hindur, which he created as a separate realm for his second son.
  12. Ajit Chand, 12th Raja
  13. Gokul Chand
  14. Udai Chand,
  15. Gen Chand
  16. Pruthvi Chand
  17. Sangar Chand,
  18. Megh Chand,
  19. Dev Chand
  20. Ahim Chand
  21. Abhisand Chand,
  22. Sampurn Chand
  23. Rattan Chand
  24. Narandar Chand
  25. Fath Chand
  26. Pahar Chand
  27. Ram Chand
  28. Uttam Chand
  29. Gyan Chand
  30. Bikram Chand
  31. Sultan Chand
  32. Kalyan Chand
  33. Tara Chand
  34. Dip Chand
  35. Bhim Chand
  36. Ajmer Chand
  37. Devi Chand
  38. Mahan Chand
  39. Kharak Chand
  40. Jagat Chand
  41. Hira Chand
  42. Amar Chand
  43. Bijai Chand
  44. Anand Chand
  45. Gopal Chand