History of Bilaspur | HPPSC HPAS Preparation - HPPSC HPAS (Himachal Pardesh) PDF Download

Founding of Bilaspur (Kehlur)

• The old name of Bilaspur was Kehlur.
• It is said that Raja Bir Chand, the founder of the state, found an idol of Goddess Durga under a stone slab.
• A miraculous event occurred when a Gujjar named Kehlu witnessed one of his goats fighting off a leopard.
• Raja Bir Chand understood the significance of the place and built a fort named Kot Kehlur, after Kehlu.
• The Naina Devi temple was later constructed for the idol.

Rulers of Bilaspur

Raja Bir Chand

Founder of the state, belonged to the Chandel Rajput family from Bundelkhand.

Raja Kahal Chand

• He was the sixth descendant of the ruling family.
• Some accounts credit him with building Kot Kahlur fort, while others say it was built by Bir Chand.

Raja Ajit Chand

• He founded the ruling dynasty of Hindur (Nalagarh).
• Handed over the new dynasty to his brother, Suchet Chand.

Raja Megh Chand

• A tyrannical ruler who was forced to flee the state by his people.
• He took refuge in Kullu but later regained his kingdom with the help of Delhi's Sultan, Altutmish.

Raja Abhisand Chand

• Contemporary of Sikandar Lodhi.
• Fought a victorious battle against Tatar Khan Amir.
• Both he and his son Sundar Chand were treacherously killed by Tatar’s son.

Raja Sampurna Chand

Killed by his brother Ratan Chand in a rare case of fratricide.

Raja Gyan Chand (1570)

• Contemporary of Emperor Akbar.
• Converted to Islam, and his tomb is in Kiratpur, Punjab.
• His elder son, Bik Chand, remained Hindu, while his younger sons Ram Chand and Bhima Chand also converted to Islam.

Raja Bik Chand

• Succeeded the throne and had two wives, one from Kangra and one from Bhagal.
• Abdicated the throne to his son Sultan Chand in 1620.

Raja Kalyan Chand (1630)

• Married the daughter of the Raja of Suket.
• Built a fort on the border of Hindur, leading to a war between the two states.

Raja Tara Chand

Built the Taragarh fort in Hindur.

Raja Deep Chand (1650-1656)

• Shifted the royal residence to Dholra on the left bank of the Sutlej River.
• Founded the town of Bilaspur.
• Poisoned by Raja Chander Bhan Chand of Kangra.

Raja Bhim Chand (1667)

• A minor when his father Deep Chand died.
• Fought battles with Manak Chand and Guru Govind Singh over a white elephant.
• Lost the battle and spent his last years as a Faqir.

Raja Ajmer Chand (1712-1741)

Built Ajmergarh fort on the border of Hindur.

Raja Devi Chand (1741-1778)

• Installed Gaje Singh as the new king of Hindur after the revolt in Nalagarh.
• Contemporary of Nadir Shah.
• Built Bhamaikot fort and handed Ramgarh fort to Hindur.

Raja Mahan Chand (1785)

• Became king at six years old after his father Devi Chand died.
• Invited Amar Singh Thapa to help him against Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra.

Raja Kharak Chand (1824-1839)

His reign saw revolts, led by his uncle Jagat Chand, who later seized the throne.

Raja Jagat Chand

• Seized the throne after a revolt.
• Fled to Hindur when Rani, wife of Kharak Chand, returned with an army to claim the throne.
• Restored as Raja with the help of Raja of Ambala and Hindur.

Raja Hira Chand (1857-1882)

• Supported the British during the 1857 revolt.
• His reign is considered a golden age for the region.
• He implemented tax reforms and reduced taxes.
• In 1882, during a visit to Shimla with his son Tikka Amar Chand, he developed a serious illness and died on the way back at Mahal.

Amar Chand

In 1885, he translated all literary sources of the state into the Devanagari script.

Raja Bijai Chand

• Became Raja in 1889.
• Introduced judicial reforms, including the system of court fees and non-judicial stamps for the first time.
• Constructed the Rang Mahal Palace in Bilaspur.

Raja Anand Chand (1928-1948)

• Succeeded the throne in February 1927.
• Passed important laws to abolish Begar (forced labor) and child marriage.
• Signed the Instrument of Accession to join the Indian Dominion after independence.
• Bilaspur became a Part-C state on 15 August 1948, and Raja Anand Chand was appointed the first Chief Commissioner of the Part-C state until 1st April 1949.
• On 1st July 1954, Bilaspur was merged into Himachal Pradesh as a new district.
• Raja Anand Chand was a member of the Constituent Assembly, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and the state legislative assembly.
• He authored a book titled "Bilaspur: Past, Present, and Future."
• He died in October 1983 in London.

Raja Kriti Chand

• Succeeded Raja Anand Chand in 1983 and ruled until his death in 2013.

Raja Shubhendra Chand

• Succeeded his father in 2013 and won the Bilaspur Palace.