According to local oral tradition and records during the reign of
Raja Harihar Chand, a new state was founded around 697 CE by his son First Ruler Raja Bir Chand (697–730). He was born in the
Chandel Rajput dynasty, who claimed to be a descendant of Sisupala from the
Chandravansha. After Raja Kahal Chand (890–930) had built
Kahlur Fort the state was named Kahlur (probably from Kahal
-pur) and the ruling Chandel dynasty of Kahlur was also known as Kahluria. Initially the capital of the state was at a place named Jandbari (now in
Punjab, India) and then it was transferred to Kahlur Fort, but was later moved permanently to present town
Bilaspur by Dip Chand, the 32nd
Raja of Kahlur (). When Raja Bhim Chand abdicated in 1692 to lead a life of
sanyasi the state was at previously unknown heights. The reign of Bhim Chand's son Ajmer Chand was of conquest as well. By the end of his forty years reign the number of states paying tribute was considerable:
Baghal State,
Baghat,
Keonthal, Beja,
Mangal,
Bhajji, Mahlog,
Dhami,
Kuthar,
Kotkhai,
Kunihar, Balsan, and Nehra among others. All continued to pay tribute until Mahan Chand (1778) but by 1790 only Mangal State continued to acknowledge Bilaspur's suzerainty. Since the 18th century the rulers of Bilaspur State patronised artists of the
Kangra painting style. Bilaspur State came under
British protection in 1815 under Raja Mahan Chand and became one of the
Simla Hill States. Raja
Anand Chand was the last ruler of the princely state and Pandit Sant Ram was the last Home Minister. As Bilaspur acceded to India on 28 October 1948, from 26 January 1950 Bilaspur retained an independent identity as a separate province and as a
part-C State of India named
Bilaspur State. The Raja was appointed commissioner of the State. In following years after Raja resigned, his deputy Chhabra was appointed by govt of India and helped run the temporary government of Bilaspur while the territory of the princely state was politically integrated into the Indian Union. == Demographics ==