Chamba State
Princely state in present-day Republic of India
title: "Chamba State" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["princely-states-of-himachal-pradesh", "chamba-district", "rajput-history", "states-and-territories-disestablished-in-1948", "6th-century-establishments-in-india", "550-establishments", "1948-disestablishments-in-india", "former-monarchies-of-asia", "gun-salute-princely-states"] description: "Princely state in present-day Republic of India" topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamba_State" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Princely state in present-day Republic of India ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox former country"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| native_name | चम्बा रियासत |
| conventional_long_name | Chamba State |
| common_name | Chamba |
| capital | Bharmour (580-920) And Chamba (920-1948) |
| year_start | ? |
| year_end | 1948 |
| event_end | Accession to the Indian Union |
| s1 | India |
| flag_s1 | Flag of India.svg |
| image_flag | Drapeau Chamba.png |
| image_coat | Chamba State Coat of Arms.png |
| image_map | Chamba Kangra Bilaspur Mandi Kulu 1911.jpeg |
| image_map_caption | 1911 map of the Princely States of the Shimla Hills showing the boundaries of Chamba State. |
| stat_area1 | 8329 |
| stat_year1 | 1892 |
| stat_pop1 | 115,773 |
| today | Himachal Pradesh, India |
| footnotes | Chamba Princely State |
| :: |
| native_name = चम्बा रियासत | conventional_long_name = Chamba State | common_name = Chamba | capital = Bharmour (580-920) And Chamba (920-1948) | era = | year_start = ? | date_start = | event_start = | year_end = 1948 | date_end = | event_end = Accession to the Indian Union | event1 = | date_event1 = | p1 = | s1 = India | flag_p1 = | flag_s1 = Flag of India.svg | image_flag = Drapeau Chamba.png | image_coat = Chamba State Coat of Arms.png | image_map = Chamba Kangra Bilaspur Mandi Kulu 1911.jpeg | image_map_caption = 1911 map of the Princely States of the Shimla Hills showing the boundaries of Chamba State. | stat_area1 = 8329 | stat_year1 = 1892 | stat_pop1 = 115,773 | today = Himachal Pradesh, India | footnotes = Chamba Princely State ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Princess_with_a_Hawk_LACMA_M.76.2.36.jpg" caption="Painting of an early 18th century Chamba princess"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Gopal_Singh,Raja_of_Chamba(ruled_1870-1873)..jpg" caption="Gopal Singh, Raja of Chamba (ruled 1870–1873)"] ::
Chamba State was one of the oldest princely states in present-day Republic of India, having been founded during the late 6th century. It was part of the States of the Punjab Hills of the Punjab Province in India from 1859 to 1947. Its last ruler signed the instrument of accession to the Indian Union of 15 April 1948.
History
According to tradition, the ancient name of Chamba was Champa, and its predecessor state was known as Brahmpur. This site later became Bharmour around 550 AD when Raja Maru Verman came from Kalpagram to the Chamba Hills. Around 920 CE, the capital was shifted from Bharmour to present day Chamba Town. The rulers of Chamba State patronized artists of the Pahari painting style. Between 1809 and 1846 Chamba was tributary to Sikh Empire & come under its The Kangra hills province of lahore durbar. In 1821, Chamba annexed Bhadrawah State.
After the First Anglo-Sikh War, the British gained a large amount of land from the Sikh Empire through the Treaty of Lahore. This treaty gave the British all land between the Sutlej and Beas rivers, along with several hilly areas, including Kashmir and Hazara, as part of the payment for war expenses. Later in 1846, by the Treaty of Amritsar, the British sold Kashmir, Hazara, including Chamba to Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu for a payment of 75 lakh rupees. However, questions came up about whether the entire Chamba region, on both sides of the Ravi River, was meant to go to Gulab Singh. At that time, he already controlled Lakhanpur, which the British had actually taken under the Treaty of Lahore.
At the same time, the Raja of Chamba said that the Bhadrawah area rightfully belonged to him, since it had been granted to him earlier by Maharaja Ranjit Singh,But it was now under gulab singh's control. The Raja of Chamba, who had earlier paid tribute to the Sikh empire, also did not want to become a subject of Gulab Singh.
By Treaty of Amritsar Chamba was initially intended to be incorporated into Jammu territory. However, this outcome was averted due to the timely intervention of Wazir Bhaga, who travelled to Lahore and presented Chamba's case to Sir Henry Lawrence. in 1847 With Lawrence's support, Chamba retained its autonomy, though Bhadrawah was ceded to Kashmir.
This settlement clarified the status of Chamba as a princely state under British protection, separate from Kashmir & lahore.
Rajas
Raja Shahil Verman, around 920 AD, shifted his capital from Bharmaur to present-day Chamba Town. It is believed that King Shahil Varman ruled until 940 AD. From then onwards the State of Chamba continued to be ruled by different kings of the Mushana Rajput Dynasty from their capital at Champavati, which later came to be known as Chamba. Following are some of more famous kings of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh: ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Old_Palace_of_Chamba_(6132621207).jpg" caption="The Akhand Chandi palace in Chamba town. This erstwhile palace of the rulers of Chamba state is presently used as a government college."] ::
::data[format=table title="Rajas of Chamba State"]
| Ruler | Portrait | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Raja Maru | ~550 AD | |
| Raja Jaistambh | After Maru’s death | |
| Raja Shahil Varman | Beginning of 10th century AD | |
| Raja Yugakar Verman | After 940 AD | |
| Raja Vidagdha Verman | After Yugakar Verman | |
| Raja Dodaka Verman | After Vidagdha Verman | |
| Raja Vichitra Verman | After Dodaka Verman | |
| Raja Dhariya Verman | After Vichitra Verman | |
| Raja Salavahana Verman | After Dhariya Verman | |
| Raja Soma Varman | After Salavahana Verman | |
| Raja Asata Varman | After Soma Varman | |
| Raja Jasata Verman | After Asata Varman | |
| Raja Dhala Verman | After Jasata Verman | |
| Raja Udayan Varman | After Dhala Verman | |
| Raja Anand Verman | After Udayan Varman | |
| Raja Ganesa Verman | After Anand Verman | |
| Raja Pratap Singh Verman | 1559 to 1586 | |
| Raja Vir Vahnu Verman | 1586 to 1589 | |
| Raja Balbhadra Verman | 1589–1641 | |
| Raja Prithvi Raj Singh | [[File:Anonymous - Mughal emperor Shah Jahan receives a sparrowhawk from Raja Prithvi Singh of Chamba - 2009.202.217 - Arthur M. Sackler Museum.jpg | 160x160px]] |
| Raja Chattar Singh | [[File:Indian, Himachal Pradesh, Chamba region - Raja Chattar Singh smoking - 2018.109 - Cleveland Museum of Art.tif | 194x194px]] |
| Raja Udai Singh | 1694–1720 | |
| Raja Ugar Singh | [[File:Painting of Raja Ugar Singh of Chamba State, smoking a hookah pipe, attended by two ladies, ca.1730.jpg | 150x150px]] |
| Raja Dalel Singh | 1735–1748 | |
| Raja Umed Singh | [[File:Portret van Umed Singh van Chamba, RP-T-1993-292.jpg | 200x200px]] |
| Raja Raj Singh | [[File:Painting of a raja, probably Raja Raj Singh of Chamba State, smoking on a terrace, Guler-style at Chamba, ca.1790.jpg | 200x200px]] |
| Raja Jit Singh | [[File:Painting of Raja Jit Singh of Chamba State seated with Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra State, Kangra School, ca.1790–95.jpg | 190x190px]] |
| :: |
Demographics
::data[format=table title="Religious groups in Chamba State ([[British Punjab province]] era)"] | Religious group | 1901 | 1911 | 1921 | 1931 | 1941 | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Hinduism [[File:Om.svg|15px]] | Islam [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|15px]] | Sikhism [[File:Khanda.svg|15px]] | Christianity [[File:Christian cross.svg|15px]] | Buddhism [[File:Dharma_Wheel_(2).svg|15px]] | Jainism [[File:Jain_Prateek_Chihna.svg|15px]] | Zoroastrianism [[File:Faravahar.svg|15px]] | Judaism [[File:Star_of_David.svg|15px]] | Others | Total population | 127,834 | 135,873 | 141,867 | 146,870 | 168,908 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 119,327 | | 126,269 | | 130,489 | | 135,254 | | 155,910 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8,332 | | 8,750 | | 10,529 | | 10,839 | | 12,318 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 80 | | 141 | | 242 | | 112 | | 107 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 70 | | 81 | | 63 | | 94 | | 190 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 22 | | 627 | | 541 | | 568 | | 383 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | 5 | | 3 | | 3 | | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Note: British Punjab province era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::
Notes
References
References
- [http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/asia/asia_features/sikhism/art/hindu/index.html Hindu Hill Kingdoms] {{webarchive. link. (30 March 2010 ''[[V&A Museum]]''.)
- Source: Page No. - 62 & 335 [[iarchive:history-of-sikhs-5-ranjit-singh-hr-gupta. Vol V - The Sikh Lion of Lahore (Maharaja Ranjit Singh) By Hari Ram Gupta]]
- Source: Page no.- 148, [[iarchive:dli.csl.2963. 1963 Gazetteer of India HIMACHAL PRADESH CHAMBA, Thakur Sen Negi]]
- Source- Page no.- 149, [[iarchive:dli.csl.2963. 1963 Gazetteer of India HIMACHAL PRADESH CHAMBA, Thakur Sen Negi]]
- Bharti, K. R.. (2001). "Chamba Himalaya: Amazing Land, Unique Culture". Indus Publishing.
- (1901). "Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province.".
- (1911). "Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables.".
- Kaul, Harikishan. (1911). "Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II".
- (1921). "Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables.".
- (1931). "Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables.".
- (1941). "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab".
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::