History of Bilaspur Himachal Pradesh
The founder of Bilaspur state was Raja BIR CHAND of Chandel Rajput family. He was the son of Raja of Chander HARI CHAND. Bir Chand had 4 brothers ( govind chand, gambir chand, kabir & sabir chand). Bir Chand of bilaspur built a temple of Naina Devi. Bir chand was followed by many of successors but they were of very little importance.
Kot Kahlur was built by Raja Kahal Chand- 6th Descendant of Bir Chand.
The next raja was Raja Ajit Chand son of Kahal Chand. Ajit had 3 other brothers.Ajit Chand founded HINDUR (nalagarh)
Raja Sangar Chand 1197-1120AD his 7 sons descended diffrent rajput families Dohkli, Darol, Jhandwal, Sangwal, Ghal, Nanglu, Meghari
Raja Megh Chand- He was a very harsh kind of kind and he was forced by the people of his state to leave and he took shelter in KULLU. He was helped by Shamsu Din to regain control back on his kingdom.
Raja Sampuran Chand 1380AD- he was killed by his younger brother Ratan Chand.
Raja Ratan Chand 1400AD- He had a long reign and relation with the court at delhi.
Raja Ayam Chand 1570AD - He was a contemporary of Mughals. He embraced ISLAM under influence of Viceroy of Sirhind. His two younger sons Rama & Bhima chand also embraced islam but his elder son Bik chand remained hindu..
Raja Bik Chand 1600AD- He remained hindu and fled to Sunhani. Raja Trilok chand of kangra gave his daugher to Bik Chand. He had two ranis one from Kot Kahlur another from Bhagal at SUnhani. His throne was asceded by Sultan Chand in 1620
Raja Kalian Chand 1630AD- He built a fort on the borders of Hindur which caused war b/w 2 states. Suketi Raja and Kalian chand were wounded and died at Kalian Chand di-dwari while returning to bilaspur.
Raja Dip Chand 1650-1656AD He switched his residence to Vyasgufa. He founded the town ' Bilaspur' He also fixed the salute system- Jai Deva to rajas, and Jai to Mians and Ram-Ram for Ranas. He was Poisoned by Raja of Kangra at Place Nadaun by Raja Chander Bhan Chand.
Raja Bhim Chand 1667 AD- During his time wazir Manak chand who was the brother of his father was dismissed by Jalal Devi the queen Mother. The wazir manak chand with the help of raja of kangra attacked Bilaspur but he was repulsed by combined forces of sidh sen of Mandi and Bhim Chand at Jaboth near Bhambla. In 1685 Bhim chand allianced with Rajas of Guler, Kangra and other states and they attacked sikhs but they faced defeat. Again in 1700AD Raja Bhim Chand and Alam Chand of Kangra attacked sikhs only to be routed. Bhim Chand died in 1712AD.
Raja Ajmer Chand 112- 1741AD- He built fort of Ajmergarh on the border of Hindur.
Raja Devi Chand 1741-1778AD- As soon he became raja a revolt took place in adjoining state Hindur and Raja Man Chand and his son both were killed. Devi chand appointed Gaje Singh Hindurea as Raja of Hindur. Devi Chand built the for of BhamaiKot. He also gave Ramgarh fort to Bejai Chand of Hindur. Devi chand also helped Raja of kangra Ghamand Chand who was invaded by Raja of Jaswan Abhai Chand
Raja Mahan Chand 1778-1824AD During the time of his reign the administration was in control of Ramu of Darol family. Ramu died in 1785 and Zorawar Chand younger bro of devi chand appointed as the new wazir of Bilaspur.Raja Sansaar chand invaded bilapur in 1795 & occupied chuki hatwar and also built a fort Chhatipur on Dhar Janjrar.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed Hathawat, Jahanbhari and Dharkot.
Mahan Chand beged for help from Gurkhas to invade Kangra and he was also supported by other chiefs of kangra against Sansar Chand. In 1805 Sansar's forces were on defeat at Mahal Morain place and he was then compelled to go back to kangra fort. the gurkhas siege kangra fort.
In 1809 Ranjit Singh liberated Kangra Fort and made gurkhas compelled back THe Jahanbahri was annexed by sikhs in 1808 and was not restored to Bilaspur
In 1819 Desa singh Majitha Nizam of Kangra hills assisted by Sansar Chand captured the forts of Pichrota, Nihalgarh, and Biholi Devi.
Raja Jagat Chand 1839-857AD- Jagat Singh had to fled to Hindur to save his life because The rani of Kharak Chand Gave birth to a son on her father's home in Sirmaur She then came back to bilaspur with army of Sirmaur and also a force from Suket to claim the Gaddi.
Jagat singh was then helped by Political Agent of Ambala and restored him again to power. He was also Helped by Raja of HIndur Ram Saran. Jagat Chand leaved the throne to his grandson Hira Singh and he retired to Brindaband and died in 1857.
Raja Hira Chand 1857-1882AD- During His time a salute of 11 guns was granted by british to him. TIll 1863 he organized the revenue system and made demand payable partly in cash and kind. 167 strip of land bachetru was restored to state.
Mian bhangi purgnia was his wazir. During the visit of raja to shimla he felt ill and his son Tikka Amar Chand organized palki to him and wanted him to brought back to bilaspur but he died at Mahol.
Raja Amar Chand 1883-1888AD He was also installed as a Deputy Commissioner of shimla in 1883. His short reign was marked with revolt against revenue administration. He opened school and suspension bridge over satluj. and he died in 1888.
Raja Bijai Chand He came into power in 1889 and he effected many reforms, The System Of Court Fees and Non Judicial stamps were introduced. He also laid a water supply system in Bilaspur.he also built Rang Mahal in Bilaspur.
1901 chandel rajputs revolted against him Lala Hari Chand was appointed as Wazir in 1902 and was so fed up and left over from adminstration and departed for Varanasi.
Rai Sahib Mian Amar Singh was appointed as Managaer of State. He returend back to bilaspur in 1908 and he also helped britisher in 1st world war. His services was decorated with KCIE. as also the honorary rank of Major. and he died in 1931 at varanasi.
Raja Anand Chand- 1928- 1948 He was the last raja. He abolished Child Marriage, begar and introduced probihition in Bilaspur act in 1942. He constructed new roads to mandi and suket and opened new schools and health centers. He ruled up to 9/10/1948 .
He was appointed as First Chief Commissioner in 12/october/1948 by GOI. and he continued up to 1/april/1949.
He handed the charge to Sri Chand Chhabra and he aslo continued up to 03/11/1953. Later Maj. Gen. Himmat Singh. Lt. Governor of HP took over additional charge.
On july/01/1954 Bilaspur was merged into HP to form a distt. He also wrote a book Bilapur Past, Present and Future and he died in london in 1983.
