Nilgiri State

Nilgiri State
ନିଳଗିରି / नीलगिरी
Princely State
1125–1949 →
Palace gate of the Niligiri Rajas in Nilagiri
History
 - Established 1125
 - Accession to the Union of India 1949
Area
 - 1931 723 km2 (279 sq mi)
Population
 - 1931 68,594 
Density 94.9 /km2  (245.7 /sq mi)
Public Domain This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Nilgiri State was one of the Princely States of India during the British Raj. It was headquartered at Raj Nilgiri,[1] which is essentially the modern town of Nilagiri.

As of 1940 the state had a population of 73,109 and an area of 263 square miles (680 km2). In 1949 it was merged into Balasore District.[2]

History

According to local tradition Nilgiri state was founded in 1125 by a mytical ancestor coming from the Chhota Nagpur region. In 1525 Raja Narayan Singh distinguished himself by his service to Emperor Akbar in the battles against Afghan invaders. Between 1611 and 1797 there were seven successive rulers. During the time of the political integration of India freedom fighters such as Balaram Raj, Shyamsundar Parida, Kailashchandra Mohanty, Banamali Das, Baishnab Patnaik and Nanda Kishore Patnaik forced the last Raja of Nilgiri to surrender to the newly formed Indian National Government. The prince signed the accession to the Indian Union on 1 January 1948.[3]

Rulers

The rulers of Nilgiri State were Rajputs of the Bhanj dynasty.[4] They bore the title of 'Raja', 'Rani' in the case of female ruler Chira Devi.[5]

Rajas

References

  1. ↑ Columbia-Lippincott Gazateer, p. 1325
  2. ↑ Amalgamation of Princely States
  3. ↑ Nilgiri (Princely State)
  4. ↑ Rajput Provinces of India - Nilgiri
  5. ↑ Princely States of India

External links

Coordinates: 23°28′N 86°46′E / 23.46°N 86.77°E