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. Raja Krishnachandra Mardraj Harichandan, who ruled Nilgiri in 1850s, adopted the son of the
Bhanj king of
Mayurbhanj, Krishna Chandra Bhanj Deo, who succeeded as the ruler of Nilgiri as Raja Shyamchandra Mardraj Harichandan in 1893. 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 , Kishor Chandra, to surrender to the newly formed Indian National Government. The prince signed the instrument of accession to the
Indian Union on 1 January 1948. ==Rulers==