From 1731 until the accession to India, the Sandur state was ruled by
Maratha royals. In 1776 – 1790 its territory was annexed to the
Mysore Kingdom. Between 27 October 1817 and 1 July 1818 Sandur was annexed to the
Marathas's Dominions. In 1801,
Bellary district was transferred to
British India, and the Rajas of Sandur came under the political authority of the
Madras Presidency. On 1 July 1818 Sandur formally became a
British protectorate. The area of the state was 433 km2. (161 sq. mi.); its population in 1901 was 11,200. The military sanatorium of
Ramandurg is located in a range of hills on the western border of the district. The
Raja of Sandur acceded to the
Union of India on 10 August 1947. The ruler commanded an estimated annual revenue of Rs.3,500/-. Sandur remained a separate territorial entity till 1 April 1949 when it was merged with the neighbouring Bellary district of
Madras State (the previous directly ruled colonial
Madras Province). Sandur state was later incorporated into
Bellary district, then part of the Madras Presidency. In 1953, Bellary District was transferred to
Mysore State, which was later renamed
Karnataka. The instrument of accession to the Dominion of India was signed by
Yeshwantrao Ghorpade on 10 August 1947, thereby merging Sandur State with the
Madras Presidency in 1949. After formation of states on linguistic basis, Sandur was transferred to the
Mysore State in 1956. Raja Yeshwantrao continued playing an influential and active role in public life, till his death in 1996. He was succeeded by is son,
M. Y. Ghorpade as the titular Raja. M. Y. Ghorpade served as a state Minister for Finance, Rural Development & Panchayats, Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Member of Parliament the Indian Parliament (Lok Shabha). == Royal insignia ==