HISTORY OF BILASPUR
DISTRICT (also known as KEHLUR STATE / BILASPUR PRINCELY STATE)
It was formerly known as Kehlur
State. As the story runs, it was named after a Gurjar named Kehlu by Raja Bir
Chand who is the founder of this state . A Goddess Durga idol was found by the
Raja beneath a slab in this area. It is the same place where the present day
Naina Devi temple is constructed.
- · Some sources claim that a fort named “ Kot Kehlur” was built by Raja Bir Chand.
- · Bilaspur was earlier under the rule of petty thakurs and ranas
- · Chronological account for each reign/ruler is provided via various sources. Some of the prominent sources include “Twarikh-i-Rajputana-Mulk-i-Punjab” by Thakur Kahn Singh Balaurea and Bind. These have records from 697 A.D till present.
BILASPUR STATE RAJAS
11)
Raja
Bir Chand ( A.D. 900 )
o
He is the founder of Bilaspur State.
o He was a cadet of the Chandel Rajput family,
which ruled in Chanderi Bundelkhand Kingdom.
o
The then Raja of Chanderi - Harihar, had five
sons. Raja Bir Chand was one of them.
Sons
of Raja Harihar Chand
o
Raja Bir Chand reigned for almost 30 years
o
He waged wars to expand his territories and
conquered fifteen neighbouring states
o
Raja Bir Chand built the Naina Devi Temple on
the Naina Devi Dhar and below it was the capital of the Kehlur State
o
After Bir Chand the state was reigned by Udhran
Singh, Jaskaran Singh, Madanbrahm Chand and Ahl Chand
22)
Raja
Kahal Chand
o He was the sixth descendant of the ruling
family. Not much is known about the previous rulers.
o
Some records mention that the fort ‘Kot Kahlur’
was built by Raja Kahal Chand
o
Raja Kahal Chand had four sons.
33)
Raja
Sangar Chand ( 1197-1220 A.D.)
o
The various families descended through Raja
Sangar Chand include – Darol, Jhandwal, Sangwal, Ghal, Nanglu, Meghari and
Dukhi
44)
Raja
Megh Chand
o
He was the eldest son of Sangar Chand
o
He was an oppressive ruler and was forced by
people to leave the state. He took asylum in ‘Kullu’.
o Raja Megh Chand regained his kingdom with the help
of Delhi’s Sultan Shamsu-ud-din-Altumash (1211 – 1236 A.D. )
o After Megh Chand, Raja Dev Chand and Alim Chand
ruled the Bilaspur State respectively.
55)
Raja
Abhisand Chand
o
He ruled over Bilaspur State at the period of
Sikander Lodi
o He fought long and victorious battle against
Tatar Khan Amir but was later treacherously killed along with his son by the
latter
66)
Raja Sampuran
Chand ( 1380 A.D. )
o
He was killed by his elder brother Raja Ratan
Chand for throne
77)
Raja Ratan
Chand ( 1400 A.D. )
o
He had two sons – Narinder Chand and Mian Mithu.
The elder son Narinder succeeded to the throne later
o Subsequent rulers were Fateh Chand, Pahar Chand,
Ram Chand, Uttam Chand. Not much is known about these rulers
88)
Raja
Gyan Chand or Ayam Chand ( 1570 A.D. )
o
He was a contemporary of Mughal Emperor Akbar
(1556 -1586 A.D. )
o
Under the influence of Viceroy of Sirhind, Raja
Gyan Chand embraced Islam.
o
He built a tomb in Kiratpur.
o
Raja Gyan Chand had three sons.
99)
Bik
Chand ( 1600 A.D. )
o He remained Hindu, unlike his two brothers who
embraced Islam. The muslim inhabitants of Bilaspur are mostly descendants of
the Hindu converts during that period.
o
He fled to Sunhani across the Satluj banks.
o
He was married to the daughter of Raja Trilok
Chand of Kangra (1600 -1612). Though, the marriage was an unsuccessful one. He
also had a second marriage from Bhagal (Sunhani ). Following are the sons from
the respective wives.
110)
Raja
Kalian Chand (1630 A.D. )
o He was the son of Raja Sultan Chand and was
contemporary of Raja Shyam Sen of Suket ( A.D. 1620 – 53 )
o
Raja Shyam Sen’s daughter was Raja Kalian Chand’s
chief Rani
o
He fought a war with the Hindur state and won.
Later, the Suketi Raja and Kalian Chand died at a place today known as ‘Kalian
Chand di dwari’ meaning cave of Kalian Chand. Suketi rani became sati.
11)
Raja
Tara Chand ( 1645 A.D. )
o
He was the eldest amongst the eight sons of
Kalian Chand
o
He built the ‘Taragarh fort’ in Hindur.
o
He was considered to be a weak and inefficient administrator
11)
Raja Dip
Chand ( 1650 -1656 A.D. )
o
He regained the lost glory of the state and
shifted the capital from Sunhani to a place called Vyasgufa on the left banks
of river Satluj.
o
He built a new palace which was called “Dholra”.
The Bilaspur town could be viewed from here. He called it Biaspur ( now Bilaspur)
o
He fixed salutations -> Jai Deva for Raja ,
Jai for Mians and Ram-Ram for Ranas
o
In 1656, Sikhs invaded Bilaspur. Raja Dip Chand
who had fled to Nadaun in Hamirpur was poisoned by the then Raja of Kangra –
Chander Bhan Chand
11)
Raja
Bhim Chand ( 1667 A.D.)
o
He was a minor at the time when Raja Dip Chand
died.
o
Manak Chand, who was the brother of Dip Chand was appointed as Wazir.
He was tyrannical and was dismissed by ‘Jalal Devi’, the Queen Mother. He later
attacked Bilapsur with the help of Raja of Kangra. He got defeated by the
combined forces of Sidha Sen of Mandi and Bhim Chand at ‘Joboth’ near Bhambla.
Manak Chand’s forces burnt towers of Jai Singapur (now Palampur) and Bilaspur.
o
In 1682, Guru Gobind Singh was in Bilaspur and
trouble arose between him and Bhim Chand. The latter was defeated.
o
In 1685, Raja Bhim Singh leagued with the Rajas
of Guler and Kangra to attack Sikhs but were again defeated.
o
Raja Bhim Chand died in 1712 A.D.
o
His son was Ajmer Chand
11)
Raja
Ajmer Chand ( 1712 – 41 A.D. )
o
He had seven sons and was succeeded by his
eldest son Raja Devi Chand ( 1741- 78 A.D. )
o
The Ajmergarh Fort on the border of Hindur was
built by him.
o
He died in 1741 A.D.
11)
Raja
Devi Chand ( 1741 – 78 A.D. )
o
A revolt took place in the neighbouring Hindur
State and its Raja Man Chand and his son were killed during his period. Raja
Devi Chand installed Gaje Singh Hindurea, a member of the Hindur ruling family
as Raja.
To be continued in Bilaspur District Explained - Part 2.2 - History
for free related documents/notes, mail at : akshaykthakur@gmail.com
To be continued in Bilaspur District Explained - Part 2.2 - History
for free related documents/notes, mail at : akshaykthakur@gmail.com
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