Kahlur

Bilaspur State or Kahlur was a princely state in the Punjab region during the era of British India. The state was initially known as Kahlur and was later renamed Bilaspur. It covered an area of 1173 km², and had a population of 100,994 according to the 1931 Census of India. The last ruler of Bilaspur State signed the accession to join the Indian Union on 12 October 1948.

Bilaspur State became Bilaspur Province in independent India until 1950 when the province was briefly renamed "Bilaspur State" before it was merged with Himachal Pradesh state as a district in 1954.

History

According to local myths compiled during the reign of Raja Hira Chand the predecessor state was founded around 697 by Bir Chand. After Kahal Chand had built Kahlur Fort the state was named after it. Initially the capital of the state was at a place named Jhandbari —now in Hoshiarpur district— and then it was transferred to Kahlur Fort, but was later moved permanently to Bilaspur by Dip Chand, the 32nd Raja of Kahlur (1653 - 1665). Since the 18th century the rulers of Bilaspur State patronized artists of the Kangra painting style.