Bilaspur District , Himachal Pradesh | Briefly explained | History | Tourism Places
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| Bilaspur District |
Geography
Geographical location –
Bilaspur district Located in the southwest of the Himachal Pradesh. It lies between 31 ° 12 ’30 “to 31 ° 35′ 45” north latitude and 76 ° 23 ’45 “to 76 ° 55’40” east longitude. Mandi and Solan in the east of Bilaspur, Solan in the south, Punjab in the west, Hamirpur and Mandi in the north and Una district in the northwest. The Sutlej river divides Bilaspur into two parts.
Hills / Dhar –
Bilaspur (Kahlur) has also been called Satdhar – Kahlur. Because there are seven hills here.
Nainadevi Hill – On this hill there is the temple of Nainadevi Ji. Kot Kahlur Fort and Fatehpur Fort are situated on this hill.
Kot Pahari / Dhar – Bachretu Fort is located in Kotdhar.
Jhanjhiyar Dhar – Seer Khad divides it into 2 parts. There is a temple of Gugga Gehadvi and Goddess Bhadoli here.
Tiyun Dhar – Tiyun Fort, Pir Bianu Temple, Syun Fort and Naurangarh Fort are situated on this hill.
Bandala Dhar – This Dhar 17 km Is long
Ratanpur Hill / Dhar – Ratanpur Fort is located on this hill in which David Octor Loni defeated Gorkha Commander Amar Singh Thapa.
Bahadurpur Hill / Dhar – Bahadurpur Fort is located here which is 1980 m high. It is the highest place in Bilaspur due to its height. Bahadurpur Fort was the summer residence of King Bijai Chand.
Tank / Toba –
Bilaspur district is famous for the tank which is locally called Toba.
Jagatkhana Tank – This tank was built in 1874 AD. It was done by King Hirachand.
Swarghat Tank – Construction of this tank was done in 1874 AD. It was done by King Hirachand.
Tank Sanghwana – This tank was built by Raja Bijai Chand. Apart from this, Tank Kasol, Tank Jamthal, Tank Rewalsar and Tank Naina Devi are located in Bilaspur.
Basic Details / Information –
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State
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Himachal Pradesh
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Established in
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1 July 1954 AD
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District Headquarter
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Bilaspur
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Total Area
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1,167 sq km (2.10% of total area of H.P.)
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Total Population (2011)
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(in 2011) -3,81,956 (5.56%of H.P. Population)
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Population Density (2011)
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(in 2011) -327
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Literacy rate
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84.59%
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Sex ratio
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(in 2011) -981
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Decadal- (2001-2011) Population Growth Rate
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12.05%
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Tehsils (7)
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BilaspurSadar, Ghumarwin, Jhanduta, Naina Devi, Bharari, Namhol, Kalol.
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Vidhan Sabha Constituencies
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4
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Total Villages
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1061(Abad Villages-965)
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Total Gram Panchayat
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151
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Development Blocks
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3
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Infant sex ratio (in 2011)
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900
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Rural population (in 2011)
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3,56,930 (93.43%)
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DC Bilaspur
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Dr. Saransh Mittar (IAS)
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Municipal Council
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02
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Nagar Panchayat
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04
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Revenue Village
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708
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Municipal Corporation
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01
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History
Establishment of Kahlur Princely State –
Bilaspur Past and Present, Bilaspur Gazetteer and Ganesh Singh’s book Chandravansh Vilas and Shashivansh Vinod confirm that the foundation of Kahlur Princely State was laid by Birchand in 697 AD. While According to Dr. Hutchison and Vogel’s book History of Punjab Hill State, Birchand established the princely state of Kahlur in 900 AD. Shashivansh Vinod was composed during the time of Raja Hirachand of Bilaspur (1857–83).
Birchand Chandel was a Chandel Rajput from Bundelkhand (Madhya Pradesh) of Chanderi. Birchand’s father Harihar Chand had five sons. Birchand crossed the Sutlej and first defeated the Ruhand Thakurs and established the fort, which was later called Kot – Kahlur Fort. Birchand established the Naina Devi temple at the insistence of Naina Gujjar and made her capital under it. According to old mythology eyes of Devi Sati fell in Naina Devi. Raja Veer Chand under the control of 12 Thakurais (Baghal, Kunihar, Beja, Dhami, Kyothal, Kuthad, Jubbal, Baghat, Bhajji, Mahalog, Mangal, Balsan).
Kahalchand –
Ajaychand, son of Kahalchand, founded Hundur Riyasat (Nalagarh).
Meghchand –
Due to his harsh behavior, the public forced him to leave the state. Meghchand take refuge in Kullu. Meghchand regained the throne in the Kullu princely state with the help of the Asylum Flame and Iltutmish.
Abhisand Chand –
Abhisand Chand was a contemporary of Sikandar Lodi. He defeated Tatar Khan in battle.
Sampoorna Chand –
Sampoorna Chand was killed by his brother Ratanchand.
Gyanchand (1570 AD) –
The princely state of Kahlur came under the Mughals during the reign of Gyanchand. Gyanchand was the contemporary king of Akbar. Gyanchand had converted to Islam under the influence of the Mughal Viceroy of Sirhind. Gyanchand’s tomb can still be seen in Kiratpur Punjab. Out of the 3 sons of Gyanchand, 2 (Ram and Bhima) converted to Islam, while Bekchand adopted Hinduism.
Bekchand (1600 AD) –
Bekchand around 1600 AD changed his capital from Naina Devi /Kotkahlur to Sunhani.
Kalyan Chand (1630 AD) –
Kalyan Chand built a fort on the border of Hundur princely state, which led to a war between the two princely states in which the king of Hondur died.
To Read complete History of Bilaspur click here
Economy –
Asia’s largest trout fisheries (breeding) farm “Deoli fish farm” Located in Bilaspur District of Himachal Pradesh India, this farm was Founded in 1962 AD. There is also an ACC cement factory in Bilaspur is located in Barmana of Bilaspur. Animal disease control room is located at Swarghat. In 1944 AD Bilaspur’s first bank ‘Bank of Bilaspur’ was established. In 1956 AD at Bilaspur, the first branch of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank established. There is an animal breeding center is located at Kothipura (Bilaspur). There is a Beroja Factory in Raghunathpura. There is a Navodaya School in Barathi.
Bridge -There is a Bridge in Kandror of Bilaspur, which is Asia’s tallest bridge, which is formed in between 1959 to 1964 AD and is built on the Sutlej river. Its height is 80 meters. Salapad Bridge (built in 1960-64), Ghamrola Bridge, Ghaghas Bridge (above Alikhad on NH-21) are located in Bilaspur.
Fairs and Temples –
Baba Balaknath Temple is located in the Shahatlai of Bilaspur. There is a Gugga temple in Gugga Bhated. Gopal Mandir, Murali Manohar Temple and Ranganatha Temple are located in Bilaspur. There is a Narasimha temple in Dholra. There is Lakhdata Temple in Pir Pianu. Naina Devi Temple is located in Naina Devi.
Fair -In 1889 Nalwadi Fair was started by W. Goldstein. This fair is a cattle fair which is held in the month of April. Nalwadi fair was earlier held in Sadhu Maidan but after Bhakra Dam was built, it started in Luhanu Maidan. Gugga Fair seems to be Gehadvi. Baisakhi fair is held in Hatwar. Gugga Navami fair is held in Navami.