
Chamba State was one of the oldest
princely states in present-day
Republic of India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area; the most populous country since 2023; and, since its independence in 1947, the world's most populous democracy. Bounded by ...
, having been founded during the late 6th century. It was part of the
States of the Punjab Hills of the
Punjab Province in
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
from 1859 to 1947. Its last ruler signed the
instrument of accession
The Instrument of Accession was a legal document first introduced by the Government of India Act 1935 and used in 1947 to enable each of the rulers of the princely states under British paramountcy to join one of the new dominions of Dominion ...
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
The Sikh Empire was a regional power based in the Punjab, Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. It existed from 1799, when Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured Lahore, to 1849, when it was defeated and conquered by the East India Company, Br ...
& come under its The Kangra hills province of lahore durbar. In 1821, Chamba annexed
Bhadrawah State.
After the
First Anglo-Sikh War
The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company in 1845 and 1846 around the Firozpur district of Punjab. It resulted in the defeat and partial subjugation of the Sikh empire and cession of Jammu ...
, 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.
[Source: Page no.- 148, 1963 Gazetteer of India HIMACHAL PRADESH CHAMBA, Thakur Sen Negi]
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
The Sikh Empire was a regional power based in the Punjab, Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. It existed from 1799, when Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured Lahore, to 1849, when it was defeated and conquered by the East India Company, Br ...
, 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.
[Source- Page no.- 149, 1963 Gazetteer of India HIMACHAL PRADESH CHAMBA, Thakur Sen Negi]
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:
Demographics
See also
*
Political integration of India
*
Pahari painting
Further reading
* ''The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh V. 1'', by Mark Brentnall. Published by Indus Publishing, 2006. .
Notes
References
External links
*
*
{{Coord, 32, 34, 12, N, 76, 7, 48, E, region:IN_type:landmark_source:kolossus-svwiki, display=title
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