Dynasty	Chandel
State	Himachal Pradesh
Gun Salutes	11
Agency	Punjab States Agency
Accession	12th October 1948
Revenue	₹ 100,000 (1891)
Villages	992
Area	1,173 km2
Population	100,994 (1931)
Privy Purse	₹ 70,000
Religion	Hinduism
Hindi Name	बिलासपुर
Last Updated	12th Sep, 2022

Present Head/Ruler

There are two claims to the Throne of Bilaspur.

1^st Claim

• HH Raja Kirti Chand, born 1941, succeeded to the gadi in 1983, educated at Chandigarh and Canada but could not complete his studies due to disability, married Kumari Karuna Kumari in 1979, daughter of Kunwar Hemender Singh of Suket, and his wife, Kanwarani Kushal Devi, and had issue, two children, one son and one daughter. He died 8^th October 2013 at Chandigarh after a brief illness.
  • Rajkumari Shubhani Rajya Lakshmi, born in February, 1980.
  • Tikka Shubhendra Chand, he succeeded as HH Raja Shubhendra Chand (qv)
• HH Raja Shubhendra Chand, born in 1987, succeeded to the gadi 8^th October 2013.

2^nd Claim

HH Raja Dr. Gopal Chand, MA (Cantab), PhD (Cantab), born 1969, educated at the City of London School for Boys 1979/1987 and at Trinity College, Cambridge (M.A. and Ph.D., 1995); married 1996, Lakshmi Rana, daughter of Major Gandharb Singh Rana, and has issue, two children.

• Tikka Raj Chand, born in October, 1997.
• Kumari Jaya Chand, born in November, 1999.

Short History

The predecessor state was founded about 697AD. It was called Kahlur, after a fort of that name built by Raja Kahal Chand, and called after himself, Kot Kahlur. The capital of Bilaspur was founded by Raja Dip Chand and was originally at Jhandbari and then at Kot Kahlur, but was later transferred to Bilaspur. The Rajas were members of the Kahluria clan of the Chandravanshi Rajputs descended from the ancient Rajas of Chanderi in Bundelkhand. The Raja maintains a military force of 40 cavalry, 620 infantry, and 11 guns, and is entitled to a salute of 11 guns (as of 1892). The state ranks 1^st in the order of precedence amongst the Simla Hill States and 8^th amongst the Punjab States.

Predecessors

• Raja Hari Har Chand, 70^th Raja of Chanderi in Gwalior, married and had issue. He died 697 or 880.
  • Raja Govind Chand, 71^st Chanderi King in succession to his father.
  • Raja Bir Chand (qv)
  • Mian Sabir Chand, died 697 or 880.
  • Raja Kabir Chand, founder and first Raja of Kumaon.
  • Raja Gambhir Chand, founder and first Raja of Chenani.
• Raja BIR CHAND, 1^st Raja of ‘Kahlur’ 697/730 or fl.880, founder, subjugated 15 neighboring states but was ultimately checked by the Raja of Sirmur, with whom he made peace.
• Raja UDHRAN CHAND, 2^nd Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja JASKARN CHAND, 3^rd Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja MADANBRAHM CHAND, 4^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja AHL CHAND, 5^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja KAHAL CHAND, 6^th Raja of Kahlur 894/902, he built Kot Kahlur, giving its name to the state.
• Raja SLAR CHAND, 7^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja MEN CHAND, 8^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja SEN CHAND, 9^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja SULKHAN CHAND, 10^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja KAHN CHAND, 11^th Raja of Kahlur 1057/1099, conquered Hindur and gave it to his second son, Sujit Chand, from whom the ruling line of Nalagarh is descended, married and had issue.
  • Raja Ajit Chand (qv)
  • Raja Sujit Chand, founder of Hindur (later Nalagarh).
  • Mian Tegh Chand, settled in the village of Malyaru near present day Kandrour. His descendants are spread across the district Bilaspur and are called Maliaru Chandel.
• Raja AJIT CHAND, 12^th Raja of Kahlur 1099/-
• Raja GOKAL CHAND, 13^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja UDAI CHAND, 14^th Raja of Kahlur 1133/1143
• Raja GEN CHAND, 15^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja PRITHVI CHAND, 16^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja SANGAR CHAND, 17^th Raja of Kahlur 1197/1220, married and had issue, ten sons, seven of whom founded jagiri families, existing to the present day (1910).
  • Raja Megh Chand (qv)
  • Mian Kali Chand, ancestor of the rulers of Ramgarh in Haryana.
• Raja MEGH CHAND, 18^th Raja of Kahlur 1220/1251, forced to flee a rebellion by his subjects which was eventually put down with the help of the Sultan of Delhi.
• Raja DEV CHAND, 19^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja AHIM CHAND, 20^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja ABHISAND CHAND, 21^st Raja of Kahlur 1302/1317.
• Raja SAMPURAN CHAND, 22^nd Raja of Kahlur 1317/1355.
• Raja RATTAN CHAND, 23^rd Raja of Kahlur 1355/1406.
• Raja NARANDAR CHAND, 24^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja FATH CHAND, 25^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja PAHAR CHAND, 26^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja RAM CHAND, 27^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja UTTAM CHAND, 28^th Raja of Kahlur.
• Raja GYAN CHAND, 29^th Raja of Kahlur 1518/1555, forced to convert to Islam, after quarrelling with the Governor of Sirhind and being defeated in battle, married (amongst others), the daughter of the Muslim Governor of Sirhind, and had issue. He died 1555 and was buried at Kiratpur.
  • Raja Bikram Chand (qv)
  • Mian Ram Chand, converted to Islam.
  • Mian Bhim Chand, converted to Islam.
• Raja BIKRAM CHAND, 30^th Raja of Kahlur 1555/1593 (abdicated), married (a), daughter of Raja Triloka Chand of Kangra, married (b), a daughter of Rana Pratap Chand of Baghal, and had issue. He died 1593.
  • Raja Sultan Chand (by 1^st wife) (qv)
  • Mian Kesab Chand (by 2^nd wife)
  • Rani Prakash Devi, married Raja Sahib Sen, Raja of Mandi.
• Raja SULTAN CHAND, 31^st Raja of Kahlur 1593/1600, married and had issue. He died 1600.
  • Raja Kalyan Chand (qv)
• Raja KALYAN CHAND, 32^nd Raja of Kahlur 1600/1636, married (amongst others) a daughter of Raja Shyam Sen of Suket, she committed sati, 1645, and had issue, eight sons. He died 1645.
  • Raja Tara Chand (qv)
  • Mian Manak Chand
• Raja TARA CHAND, 33^rd Raja of Kahlur 1636/1653, married and had issue. He died 1653.
  • Raja Dip Chand (qv)
• Raja DIP CHAND, 34^th Raja of Kahlur 1653/1665, provided assistance to the Mughal Emperor, for which he received a khillat of 5 lakhs and a sanad authorising his suzerainty over 22 states; he transferred the capital to Bilaspur; married (a), Rani Kunkam Devi of Kullu, married (b), Rani Jalal Devi, daughter of Raja Shyam Sen of Mandi, and had issue. He died 27^th April 1665 at Nadaon, poisoned to death by the Raja of Kangra.
  • Raja Bhim Chand (by 2^nd wife) (qv)
  • Mian Dhan Chand (by 2^nd wife)
• Raja BHIM CHAND, 35^th Raja of Bilaspur 1665/1692 (abdicated), born about 1651, spent the last few years of his life as a fakir after abdicating in favour of his son, married and had issue. He died about 1712.
  • Raja Ajmer Chand (qv)
• Raja AJMER CHAND, 36^th Raja of Bilaspur 1692/1738, he was a formidible military ruler, and forced a number of neighbouring states to pay tribute; married (amongst others) (a), daughter of Raja Fateh Shah of Garhwal, married (b), a Princess of Sirmur, and had issue, seven sons. He died 1738 (1741).
  • Raja Devi Chand (by Rani Garhwali) (qv)
  • Mian Shakt Chand (by Rani Garhwali), married and had issue.
    • Mian Bishnu Chand, married and had issue.
      • Raja Jagat Chand [Mian Jangi Singh](qv)
  • Mian Chiman Singh, married and had issue.
    • Mian Ajudhia Das
    • Mian Ram Das
  • Mian Suchet Singh (by Rani Sirmuri), ancestor of Mian Changhnian Chand.
  • Mian Zorawar Singh (by Rani Sirmuri), Wazir of Bilaspur 1778/1793, married and had issue. He died 1793.
    • Mian Indar Singh
    • Mian Man Singh
    • Mian Dalel Singh
• Raja DEVI CHAND, 37^th Raja of Bilaspur 1738/1778, waged war against Kangra and Nalagarh, married (a), a Katoch Princess of Kangra, married (b), a daughter of Rana Mehar Chand of Baghal, married (c), a daughter of Rana Anup Singh of Kumharsain, and had issue. He died 1778.
  • Raja Mahan Chand (qv)
• Raja MAHAN CHAND, 38^th Raja of Bilaspur 1778/1824, born 1772, during his reign the state was overrun by the Gurkhas from 1803 to 1815, and after their expulsion, the state was confirmed to the Raja by a sanad from the British Government, dated 6^th March 1815, he waged war with Nalagarh and Kangra, and lost Dhar Kot to the Sikhs, married and had issue. He died 1824.
  • Raja Kharak Chand (qv)
• Raja KHARAK CHAND, 39^th Raja of Bilaspur 1824/1839, born 1813, married (amongst others) (a), Rani Tripta Devi, married (b), a daughter of Rana Shiv Saran Singh, Rana of Baghal, and had issue. He died 29^th March 1839 at Bilaspur leaving three widows, including two daughter of Raja Karam Prakash II of Sirmur.
  • Raja Garabh Chand Sahib, born posthumously in 1839, lost his claim to the gaddi in the dispute decided by the British government in favour of his nearest relation Jagat Chand, married and had issue.
    • Raja Kishan Chand, married and had issue.
      • Kunwar Ganga Singh
      • Kunwar Ishwari Singh, held the post of Mewar Vakil, married and had issue. He died 1979.
        • Kunwar Surendra Singh Chandel, settled at Udaipur where he worked as purchasing officer with BIRLAS, married Kunwarani Narendra Kumari of Mendhsor (Shekhawat), and had issue.
          • Kunwar Gajraj Singh Chandel, M.Com., born 4^th April 1959 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, married 7^th May 1987, Kunwarani Neera Singh Sisodia, daughter of Thakur Himmat Singh of Nandli, and has issue.
            • Kunwar Takshsheel Singh, born 1988.
        • Kunwar Gajender Singh, born 7^th January 1934, married Kunwarani Harsidh Kanwar, and had issue. He died 3^rd January 2005.
          • Kunwar Harshwardhan Singh, married and has issue.
            • Kunwar Yashwardhan Singh
            • Kumari Sonu Kumari
          • Kunwar Ashwani Chandela, born 17^th October 1966 in Bikaner, married 2^nd April 2002 in Bikaner, Kunwarani Suman Rathore, and has issue, one daughter.
            • Kumari Chhavi Singh Chandela
        • Kunwar Harender Singh, he settled in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
        • Kumari Chitra Kumari, married Maharaj Shri Udai Singhji of Ralawata, and had issue, one son and three daughters.
      • Kunwar Pradyumna Singh
• Raja JAGAT CHAND, 40^th Raja of Bilaspur 1839/1850 (abdicated), installed April 1839, married and had issue. He died 1857.
  • Mian Narpat Chand, married and had issue. He died 1844 or 1850.
    • Raja Hira Chand (qv)
    • Kumari (name unknown), married in October 1848, HH Maharaja Ranbir Singhji of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Raja HIRA CHAND, 41^st Raja of Bilaspur 1850/1882, born 1835, he rendered good service during the Mutiny of 1857, and was rewarded with a salute of 11 guns, married a daughter of the Raja of Rajpur [Raipur] in Ambala, and had issue. He died January 1883.
  • HH Raja Amar Chand Sahib Bahadur (qv)
  • Kumari (name unknown), married Raja Jai Singh of Dada-Siba, and had issue.
• HH Raja AMAR CHAND Sahib Bahadur, 42^nd Raja of Bilaspur 1883/1889, born 1854, married (a), the daughter of Kanwar Jai Singh of Baghal, married (b), Rani Panwariji from Tehri-Garhwal, married (c), another daughter of Kanwar Jai Singh of Baghal, married (d), a daughter of Rana Bhawani Singh, Rana of Kumharsain, married (e), another daughter of Rana Bhawani Singh, Rana of Kumharsain, and had issue. He died 3^rd February 1889.
  • Maj. HH Raja Sir Bijai Chand (by Rani Panwariji) (qv)
  • Kumari (name unknown), married into Kashipur.
  • Kumari (name unknown), married Tikka Ugar Sen of Keonthal.
  • Kumari (name unknown), married Maharaja Jai Chand VI of Kangra-Lambagraon.
  • Kumari (name unknown), married Major Raja Baldev Singh of Poonch.
  • Kumari (name unknown), married Major Raja Baldev Singh of Poonch.
  • Mian Sohan Singh, married and had issue.
    • Kanwar Isher Singh [?same as Kanwar Ishwari Singh (see below)]
    • Kanwar Mohinder Singh
• Maj. HH Raja Sir BIJAI CHAND K.C.S.I., 43^rd Raja of Bilaspur [3-2-1889] – [18-2-1927] (abdicated), born 1873 (1872), educated at Aitchison Chiefs College, Lahore, he succeeded to the gaddi as a minor on 3^rd February 1889, and was granted full ruling powers in 1893; he was created a Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India (C.S.I.) in 1911, and a Knight Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India (K.C.S.I.) in 1917, appointed a Member of the Executive Council of Bengal in 1919, he abdicated in favour of his son on 18^th February 1927; married 1898, (amongst others), HH Rani Suraj Devi, born 1886, died 1939, daughter of Raja Balbir Singh of Mankot, and had issue, as well as further issue by secondary unions. He died in November 1931 at Benares.
  • HH Raja Sir Anand Chand (by Rani Suraj Devi) (qv)
  • Mian Shiv Singh (by a secondary marriage), born 1893, married a daughter of Raja Raghunath Singh, Raja of Guler, and had issue. He died 1941.
    • Kanwarani Shanta Kumari, born in October 1923 in Bilaspur, married in 1943, Kanwar Kashmir Singh of Mandi, and had issue, one son.
• HH Raja Sir ANAND CHAND, 44^th Raja of Bilaspur 1933/1983, born 26^th January 1913, succeeded on 18^th February 1927 on his father’s abdication; installed 1928 and granted full ruling powers on 9^th January 1933; educated at Mayo College, Ajmer; Chief Commissioner of Bilaspur 1948/1950; Member of the Constituent Assembly 1948, the Lok Sabha 1952/1957 and the Rajya Sabha 1958/1964 and 1964/1970; Author of “Bilaspur – Past, Present and Future”; married 1^stly, 18^th May 1931 HH Rani Umawati Kumari, born 1916, died 12^th/13^th March 1961, daughter of Raja Rana Sir Bhagat Chand Bahadur of Jubbal, and his first wife, Rani Tara Devi, they had two sons and two daughters. Married 2^ndly, 1969, Rani Sudarshana Kumari, born 1941, daughter of Kanwar Mehar Chand of Bhojpur, and had issues, 2 sons. He died 12^th October, 1983 in London.
  • Tikka Rajendra Chand (from 1^st wife),born 2^nd September 1935, died unmarried 12^th March 1970 in London.
  • Rajkumari Ambika Kumari (from 1^st wife), born on 31^st July, 1933 and died on 29^th August, 1981.
  • Rajkumari Raj Rajeshwari (from 1^st wife), born on 8^th November, 1937 and died on 12^th November, 2004.
  • H.H. Raja Kirti Chand (from 1^st wife) born 1941, died 2013 (see above)
  • H.H. Raja Dr. Gopal Chand (from 2^nd wife) (see above)
  • Rajkumari Dr. Sunanda Chand (from 2^nd wife), MBBS, MRCGP. Born on January, 1973 in Delhi. She received her education from City of London School for Girls, London and received many prizes, awards, and distinctions. She did MBBS and MRCGP from Imperial College London. She is GP. She married Dr Jay Singh Chauhan and has one daughter.
    • Kumari Priya Chand, born February, 2008.

Other Members

• Kumari Shakuntala, married Kanwar Akshay Singh of Sirmur, and has issue.
• Kumari (name unknown), married Raja Fateh Prakash, Raja of Sirmur, and had issue.
• Kanwar Ishwari Singh, married Kumari Krishna Kumari, daughter Kanwar Jagatjit Singh of Bashahr, and his second wife, and had issue.
• Kanwar Khushal Singh, married and had issue.
  • Rani Rama Kumari, married Rana Surinder Singh, Rana of Mangal, and has issue.
• Capt. Kanwar Shamsher Singh, married a daughter of Rana Raghunath Chand, Thakur of Mahilog.
• Kanwar Prem Singh, married Kumari Padmawati Devi, daughter of Kanwar Fateh Singh of Rawingarh, and has issue.