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{{for|the district in Himachal Pradesh|Sirmaur district}}
{{Short description|Princely state of India}}
{{For|the district in Himachal Pradesh|Sirmaur district}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox former subdivision
{{Infobox former subdivision
|native_name = सिर्मूर रियासत
| conventional_long_name = Sirmaur State<br /><small>Sirmoor State<br />Nahan State</small>
|conventional_long_name = Sirmaur State<br><small>Sirmoor State<br>Nahan State</small>
| common_name           = Sirmur
|common_name = Sirmur
| nation                 = [[British India]]
|nation = [[British India]]
| subdivision           = [[Princely State]]
|subdivision = [[Princely State]]
| capital               = Nahan
|capital     = Nahan
| era                   =  
|era =  
| year_start             = 1095
|year_start = 1095
| date_start             =  
|date_start =  
| event_start           =  
|event_start=  
| year_end               = 1948
|year_end = 1948
| date_end               =  
|date_end =  
| event_end             = [[Independence of India]]
|event_end= [[Independence of India]]
| event1                 =  
|event1 =  
| date_event1           =  
|date_event1 =  
| p1                     =  
|p1 =
| s1                     = India
|s1 = India
| flag_p1               =  
|flag_p1 =  
| flag_s1               = Flag of India.svg
|flag_s1 = Flag of India.svg
| image_flag             =  
|image_flag =
| image_coat             = Sirmur State CoA.png
|image_coat =Sirmur State CoA.png
| image_map             = Urdu map of Sirmur State.jpg
|image_map = Punjab-Districts 1911.png
| image_map_caption     = Urdu map of Sirmur State
|image_map_caption = Sirmur State in a 1911 map of Punjab
| stat_area1             = 4039
|stat_area1 =4039
| stat_year1             = [[1901 Census of India]]
|stat_year1 = [[1901 Census of India]]
| stat_pop1             = 135,626
|stat_pop1 = 135,626
| footnotes             = {{cite book
|footnotes = {{cite book
  | title = Gazetteer of the Sirmur State
  | title = Gazetteer of the Sirmur State
  | publisher = Indus Publishing
  | publisher = Indus Publishing
Line 36: Line 37:
  | isbn = 978-81-7387-056-9
  | isbn = 978-81-7387-056-9
  | oclc = 41357468}}
  | oclc = 41357468}}
|today     = [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]]  
| today                 = [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]]
| image_map2            = Punjab-Districts 1911.png
| image_map2_caption    = Sirmur State in a 1911 map of Punjab
}}
}}
[[File:Indian - Portrait of Kirat Prakash of Sirmur - Walters W898.jpg|thumb|250 px|Portrait of Maharaja Kirat Prakash of Sirmur. Late 18th century.]]
[[File:Indian - Portrait of Kirat Prakash of Sirmur - Walters W898.jpg|thumb|250 px|Portrait of Maharaja Kirat Prakash of Sirmur. Late 18th century.]]
[[File:The Fort of Nahan, c.1850.jpg|right|thumb|250 px|The Fort of Nahan, the capital of princely-state of [[Sirmur]]]]
[[File:The Fort of Nahan, c.1850.jpg|right|thumb|250 px|The Fort of Nahan, the capital of princely-state of [[Sirmur]]]]
[[File:NahanStamp1800s.jpg|right|thumb|Stamp of Sirmour in 1800s]]
[[File:NahanStamp1800s.jpg|right|thumb|Stamp of Sirmour in 1800s]]
 
'''Sirmur''' (also spelled as '''Sirmor''', '''Sirmaur''', '''Sirmour''', or '''Sirmoor''') was a [[princely state of India]], located in the region that is now the [[Sirmaur district]] of [[Himachal Pradesh]]. The state was also known as '''Nahan''', after its main city, [[Nahan]]. The state ranked  predominant amongst the [[Punjab Hill States]]. It had an area of 4,039&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> and a revenue of 300,000 rupees in 1891.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}}
'''Sirmur''' (also spelled as '''Sirmor''', '''Sirmaur''', '''Sirmour''', or '''Sirmoor''') was an independent kingdom in [[Indian subcontinent|India]], founded in 1616, located in the region that is now the [[Sirmaur district]] of [[Himachal Pradesh]]. The state was also known as '''Nahan''', after its main city, [[Nahan]]. The state ranked  predominant amongst the Punjab hill States. It had an area of 4,039&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> and a revenue of 300,000 rupees in 1891.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}}


==History==
==History==
[[Nahan]], the predecessor state of Sirmur, was founded by Soba Rawal in 1095 AD  who assumed the name Raja Subans Prakash. The new capital was founded in 1621 by Raja Karam Prakash, and the state was renamed to Sirmur.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}}


Sirmur was surrounded by the hill states of [[Balsan State|Balsan]] and [[Jubbal]] in the North, [[Dehradun district]] in the East, [[Ambala district]] in the South West, and the states of [[Patiala]] and [[Keonthal]] in the North-West.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}}
=== Origin ===
According to Mian Goverdhan Singh in ''Wooden Temples of Himachal Pradesh'', the principality of Sirmaur was founded in the 7th to 8th century by Maharaja of [[Parmar (Rajput clan)|Parmar]] [[Rajput|Rajputs]], and Rathore noble.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Mian Goverdhan |title=Wooden Temples of Himachal Pradesh |publisher=Indus Publishing |year=1999 |isbn=9788173870941 |pages=48–49}}</ref>


But by chance, shortly after this event a prince of [[Jaisalmer]] visited [[Haridwar]] as a pilgrim, and was invited by one of the minstrels of the Sirmoor kingdom to become its sovereign. He accordingly sent a force under his son, the Rawal or prince Sobha, who put down the disorders which had arisen in the State, and became the first Räjã of Sirmur, under the title of Subhans Parkash, a title which the Rajãs have ever since retained.
=== Nahan State ===
[[Nahan]], the predecessor state of Sirmur, was founded by Soba Rawal in 1095 AD  who assumed the name Raja Subans Prakash.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}


[[Rajban]] became the capital of the new king in 1095. The eighth Rãjã conquered Ratesh, later a part of the Keonthal State, about 1150 and his successor subdued [[Jubbal]], [[Balsan (princely state)|Balsan]], [[Kumharsain]], Ghond, Kot, and [[Theog]], thus extending his dominions almost to the [[Sutlej]]. For many years these territories remained feudatories of the State; but its capital was at [[Kälsi]], in [[Dehra Dun]], and the Rajas’ hold over their northern fiefs appears to have been weak until in the fourteenth century Bir Parkash fortified Hãth-Koti, on the confines of Jubbal, Retwain, and Sahri, the last of which became the capital of the State for a time.
Near the end of the 12th century in the year 1195, a flood of the [[Giri River]] destroyed the old capital of Sirmaur-Tal, which killed Raja Ugar Chand.<ref name=":0" /> A ruler of [[Jaisalmer]], Raja Salivahana, thought this was an opportune time to attack the state as it was in a state of disarray due to the natural disaster and death of its ruler, so he sent his son Sobha to conquer the state.<ref name=":0" /> The attack was successful and a new dynasty headed by [[Bhati]] Rajputs was established.<ref name=":0" /> Sirmur was invaded by invader [[Jasrat|Jasrath]]'s army, who also invaded fragments of Punjab and Jammu.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Ayyappa |last=Panikkar|author-link= Ayyappa Panikkar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYLpvaKJIMEC&pg=PA73 |title=Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections |date=1997 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-260-0365-5 |language=en|page=72}}</ref>


Eventually in 1621 Karm Parkash founded [[Nahan]], the modern capital. His successor, Mandhata, was called upon to aid Khalil-ullah, the general of the emperor [[Shah Jahan]], in his invasion of Garhwãl, and his successor, Sobhag Parkãsh, received a grant of Kotaha in reward for this service. Under [[Aurangzeb]] this Rãjä again joined in operations against Garhwãl. His administration was marked by a great development of the agricultural resources of the State, and the tract of Kolagarh was also entrusted to him by the emperor.
=== Sirmur State ===


Budh Parkãsh, the next ruler, recovered [[Pinjaur]] for [[Aurangzeb]]’s foster-brother. Raja Mit Parksh gave an asylum to the Sikh Guru, [[Gobind Singh]], permitting him to fortify [[Paonta]] in the Kiarda Dun; and it was at Bhangani in the Dun that the Guru defeated the Rajäs of Kahlur and Garhwäl in 1688. But in 1710 Kirat Parkäsh, after defeating the Räja of [[Garhwal Kingdom|Garhwal]], captured Naraingarh, Morni, [[Pinjaur]], and other territories from the Sikhs, and concluded an alliance with Amar Singh, Raja of [[Patiala]], whom he aided in suppressing his rebellious Wazir; and he also fought in alliance with the Raja of Kahlür when [[Ghulam Kadir|Ghuläm Kãdir Khan]], Rohilla, invaded that State. He supported the Rajã of Garhwãl in his resistance to the [[Gurkha]] invasion, and, though deserted by his ally, was able to compel the Gurkhas to agree to the Ganges as the boundary of their dominions. His son, Dharm Parksh, repulsed the encroachments of the chief of [[Nalagarh]] and an invasion by the Rãjã of Garhwãl, only to fall fighting in single combat with Rãjã Sansãr Chand of [[Kangra-Lambagraon|Kangra]] who had invaded Kalhur, in 1793.
Eventually in 1621 Karm Parkash founded [[Nahan]], the modern capital.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Sen Negi |first=Thakur |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.3089 |title=Himachal Pradesh District Gazetteers: Sirmur |date= |publisher=Government of Himachal Pradesh |year=1969 |page= |pages=52–54}}</ref>
Budh Parkãsh, the next ruler, recovered [[Pinjore|Pinjaur]] for [[Aurangzeb]]’s foster-brother.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} Raja Mit Parkãsh gave an asylum to the Sikh Guru, [[Gobind Singh]], permitting him to fortify [[Paonta]] in the Kiarda Dun; and it was at Bhangani in the Dun that the Guru defeated the Rajäs of Kahlur and Garhwäl in 1688.<ref name=":1" /> But in 1710 Kirat Parkãsh, after defeating the Räja of [[Garhwal Kingdom|Garhwal]], captured Naraingarh, Morni, Pinjaur, and other territories from the Sikhs, and concluded an alliance with [[Amar Singh of Patiala|Amar Singh]], [[Maharaja of Patiala|Raja of Patiala]], whom he aided in suppressing his rebellious Wazir; and he also fought in alliance with the Raja of Kahlür when [[Ghulam Kadir|Ghuläm Kãdir Khan]], Rohilla, invaded that State.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Sen Negi |first=Thakur |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.3089 |title=Himachal Pradesh District Gazetteers: Sirmur |date= |publisher=Government of Himachal Pradesh |year=1969 |page= |pages=55–57}}</ref>


He was succeeded by his brother, Karm Parkãsh, a weak ruler, whose misconduct caused a serious revolt. To suppress this he rashly invoked the aid of the Gurkhas, who promptly seized their opportunity and invaded Sirmür, expelled Ratn Parkash, whom the rebels had placed on the throne, and then refused to restore Karm Parkash. His queen, a princess of Goler and a lady of courage and resource, took matters into her own hands and invoked British aid. Her appeal coincided with the declaration of war against [[Nepal]] by the British, and a force was sent to expel the Gurkhas from Sirmür, On the conclusion of the [[Gurkha War]] the British Government placed Fateh Parkash, the minor son of Karm Parkãsh, on the throne, annexing all the territories east of the Jumna with Kotaha and the Kiãrda Dan. The Dun was, however, restored to the State in 1833 on payment of Rs.50,000. During the first [[First Anglo-Afghan War|Afghan War]] the Raja aided the British with a loan, and in the first [[First Anglo-Sikh War|Sikh War]] a Sirmur contingent fought at [[Hari-ka-pattan]]. Under Raja Sir Shamsher Parksh, G.C.S.I. (1856—98), the State progressed rapidly. Begar (forced labour) was abolished, roads were made, revenue and forest settlements carried out, a foundry, dispensaries, post and telegraph offices established. In 1857 the Raja rendered valuable services, and in 1880 during the [[Second Afghan War]] he sent a contingent to the north-west frontier. The Sirmür Sappers and Miners under his second son, Major Bir Bikram Singh, C.I.E., accompanied the Tirãh expedition in 1897.<ref name="Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 23, p. 22.">{{cite web
[[File:Painting of a panoramic view of pilgrims visiting holy sites at the Shivalik Hills near Sirmaur, Jodhpur, 1824.jpg|thumb|Painting of a panoramic view of pilgrims visiting holy sites at the Shivalik Hills near Sirmaur, Jodhpur, 1824]]
| url = https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V23_028.gif
| title = Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 23, p. 22
| access-date = 2012-01-09
}}</ref>


==Rulers==
==Rulers==
The rulers of Sirmur bore the title "[[Maharaja]]" from 1911 onward.<ref>[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_princes_K-W.html Princely states of India]</ref>
The rulers of Sirmur bore the title "[[Maharaja]]" from 1911 onward {{citation needed|date=November 2024}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
! Name
! Name
!Portrait
! Ruled from
! Ruled from
! Ruled till
! Ruled until
!Citation
|-
| Subhansh Prakash
|
| 1095
| 1099
|
|-
| Mahe Prakash
|
| 1099
| 1117
|
|-
| Udit Prakash
|
| 1117
|1127
|
|-
| Kaul Prakash
|
| 1127
| 1153
|
|-
| Sumer Prakash
|
| 1153
| 1188
|
|-
| Suraj Prakash
|
| 1188
| 1254
|
|-
| Bhagat Prakash I
|
| 1254
| 1336
|
|-
| Jagat Prakash
|
| 1336
| 1388
|
|-
| Bir Prakash
|
| 1388
| 1398
|
|-
| Naket Prakash
|
| 1398
| 1398
|
|-
| Ratna Prakash
|
| 1398
| 1413
|
|-
| Garv Prakash
|
| 1413
| 1432
|
|-
| Brahm Prakash
|
| 1432
| 1446
|
|-
| Hams Prakash
|
| 1446
| 1471
|
|-
| Bhagat Prakash II
|
| 1471
| 1538
|
|-
| Dharam Prakash
|
| 1538
| 1570
|
|-
| Deep Prakash
|
| 1570
| 1585
|
|-
| Budh Prakash
|
| 1605
| 1615
|
|-
| Bhagat Prakash III
|
| 1615
| 1620
|
|-
|-
| Karam Prakash
| Karam Prakash I
| 1616
|[[File:Raja Karam Pragash of Sirmur (1616-30) with his son and two nobles (6124585105).jpg|150x150px]]
| 1621
| 1630
| 1630
|
|-
|-
| Mandhata Prakash
| Mandhata Prakash
|[[File:Painting of Raja Mandhata Prakash of Sirmur State, Punjab Hills, possibly Bilaspur, ca.1720.jpg|203x203px]]
| 1630
| 1630
| 1654  
| 1654  
|
|-
|-
| Sobhag Prakash
| Sobhag Prakash
|
| 1654
| 1654
| 1664
| 1664
|
|-
|-
| Budh Prakash
| Budh Prakash
|
| 1664
| 1664
| 1684
| 1684
|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13">{{Cite book |last=Archer |first=William George |title=Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills |publisher=Sotheby Parke Bernet |year=1973 |isbn=9780856670022 |series=Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills: A Survey and History of Pahari Miniature Painting |volume=1 |pages=414}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[Mat Prakash]] (died 1704)
| [[Mat Prakash]]
|
| 1684
| 1684
| 1704
| 1704
|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13"/>
|-
|-
| Hari Prakash
| Hari Prakash
|
| 1704
| 1704
| 1712
| 1712
|<ref name=":13"/>
|-
|-
| Bijay Prakash (died 1736)
| Bijay Prakash
|
| 1712
| 1712
| 1736
| 1736
|
|-
|-
| Pratap Prakash (died 1754)
| Pratap Prakash
|
| 1736
| 1736
| 1754
| 1754
|
|-
|-
| Kirat Prakash (died 1770)
| Kirat Prakash
|[[File:Painting of Raja Kirat Prakash of Sirmur State, Guler, ca.1765–70 (detail).jpg|156x156px]]
| 1754
| 1754
| 1770
| 1770
|
|-
|-
| Jagat Prakash (died 1789)
| Jagat Prakash  
|[[File:Painting of Raja Jagat Prakash of Sirmur State worshipping Rama and Sita, ca.1790.jpg|206x206px]]
| 1770
| 1770
| 1789
| 1789
|
|-
|-
| Dharam Prakash (died 1793)
| Dharam Prakash
|
| 1789
| 1789
| 1793
| 1793
|
|-
|-
| Karam Prakash II (died 1820)
| Karam Prakash II (died 1820)
|
| 1793
| 1793
| 1803
| 1803
|
|-
|-
| Ratan Prakash (installed by [[Gurkha]]s, hanged by the [[British India|British]] in 1804)
| Ratan Prakash (installed by [[Gurkha]]s, hanged by the [[British India|British]] in 1804)
|
| 1803
| 1803
| 1804
| 1804
|
|-
|-
| Karma Prakash II (died 1820)
| Karma Prakash II (died 1820)
|
| 1804
| 1804
| 1815
| 1815
|
|-
|-
| Fateh Prakash (1809-1850)
| Fateh Prakash  
|[[File:Detail of Raja Fateh Prakash of Sirmur, from a painting of Lord Auckland receiving the Raja of Nahan in Durbar, by Emily Eden, watercolour, 1844 (cropped).jpg|150x150px]]
| 1815
| 1815
| 1850
| 1850
|
|-
|-
| Raghbir Prakash (1827-1856)
| Raghbir Prakash  
|
| 1850
| 1850
| 1856
| 1856
|
|-
|-
| Shamsher Prakash (1846 – October 1898)
| Shamsher Prakash
|[[File:Painting of Raja Shamsher Prakash of Simur State with the Rani of Simur and his son Surendra Prakash, Simur, ca.1869.jpg|150x150px]]
| 1856
| 1856
| 1898
| 1898
|
|-
|-
| [[Surendra Bikram Prakash]] (14 November 1867 – 1911)
| [[Surendra Bikram Prakash]]
|[[File:Portrait of Raja Surendra Bikram Prakash of Sirmur State, published in 'The Panjab, North-West Frontier Province and Kashmir' (1916).jpg|166x166px]]
| 1898
| 1898
| 1911
| 1911
|
|-
|-
| [[Amar Prakash]] (26 January 1888 – February 1933)
| [[Amar Prakash]]
|
| 1911
| 1911
| 1933
| 1933
|
|-
|-
| [[Rajendra Prakash]] (10 January 1913 – 13 November 1964)
| [[Rajendra Prakash]]  
|
| 1933
| 1933
| 1964.
| 1947
|
|-
|-
|Lakshraj Prakash  
|[[Lakshraj Prakash]]
|
|2013
|2013
|Present<ref>{{Cite web |last=May 16 |first=TNN / |last2=2013 |last3=Ist |first3=02:21 |title=Lakshya Raj Singh new head of Sirmaur royal family {{!}} India News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/lakshya-raj-singh-new-head-of-sirmaur-royal-family/articleshow/20076939.cms |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
|
Reference: [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/lakshya-raj-singh-new-head-of-sirmaur-royal-family/articleshow/20076939.cms https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/lakshya-raj-singh-new-head-of-sirmaur-royal-family/articleshow/20076939.]<nowiki/>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/lakshya-raj-singh-new-head-of-sirmaur-royal-family/articleshow/20076939.cms cms]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=Royal |date=2025-07-26 |title=Sirmur (Princely State) |url=https://oroyalarchives.com/sirmur/ |access-date=2025-07-26 |website=Royal Archives |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-05-15 |title=9-year-old Jaipur prince becomes Maharaja of Sirmaur |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/9-year-old-jaipur-prince-becomes-maharaja-of-sirmaur-163173-2013-05-14 |access-date=2025-07-26 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>
|}
 
== Demographics ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Religious groups in Sirmur State ([[British Punjab province]] era)
! rowspan="2" |[[Religion in India|Religious]]<br>group
! colspan="2" |1901<ref name="Census1901">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25363739 |jstor=saoa.crl.25363739 |access-date=30 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I–VIII, X–XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province. |year=1901 |pages=34}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1911<ref name="Census1911">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25393788 |jstor=saoa.crl.25393788 |access-date=30 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables. |year=1911 |pages=27}}</ref><ref name="Census1911B">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.62718 |access-date=30 March 2024 |title=Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II |year=1911 |pages=27 |author=Kaul, Harikishan}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1921<ref name="Census1921">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25430165 |jstor=saoa.crl.25430165 |access-date=30 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables. |year=1921 |pages=29}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1931<ref name="Census1931">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25793242 |jstor=saoa.crl.25793242 |access-date=30 March 2024 |title=Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables. |year=1931 |pages=277}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1941<ref name="Census1941">{{cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.28215541 |jstor=saoa.crl.28215541 |access-date=30 March 2024 |title=Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab |year=1941 |pages=42}}</ref>
|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
! [[Hinduism]] [[File:Om.svg|15px]]{{efn|name=ad-dharmi|1931-1941: Including [[Ad-Dharmi]]s}}
| 128,478
| {{Percentage | 128478 | 135687 | 2 }}
| 130,276
| {{Percentage | 130276 | 138520 | 2 }}
| 132,431
| {{Percentage | 132431 | 140448 | 2 }}
| 139,031
| {{Percentage | 139031 | 148568 | 2 }}
| 146,199
| {{Percentage | 146199 | 156026 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Islam]] [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|15px]]
| 6,414
| {{Percentage | 6414 | 135687 | 2 }}
| 6,016
| {{Percentage | 6016 | 138520 | 2 }}
| 6,449
| {{Percentage | 6449 | 140448 | 2 }}
| 7,020
| {{Percentage | 7020 | 148568 | 2 }}
| 7,374
| {{Percentage | 7374 | 156026 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Sikhism]] [[File:Khanda.svg|15px]]
| 688
| {{Percentage | 688 | 135687 | 2 }}
| 2,142
| {{Percentage | 2142 | 138520 | 2 }}
| 1,449
| {{Percentage | 1449 | 140448 | 2 }}
| 2,413
| {{Percentage | 2413 | 148568 | 2 }}
| 2,334
| {{Percentage | 2334 | 156026 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Jainism]] [[File:Jain_Prateek_Chihna.svg|15px]]
| 61
| {{Percentage | 61 | 135687 | 2 }}
| 49
| {{Percentage | 49 | 138520 | 2 }}
| 65
| {{Percentage | 65 | 140448 | 2 }}
| 52
| {{Percentage | 52 | 148568 | 2 }}
| 81
| {{Percentage | 81 | 156026 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Christianity]] [[File:Christian cross.svg|15px]]
| 46
| {{Percentage | 46 | 135687 | 2 }}
| 37
| {{Percentage | 37 | 138520 | 2 }}
| 44
| {{Percentage | 44 | 140448 | 2 }}
| 52
| {{Percentage | 52 | 148568 | 2 }}
| 38
| {{Percentage | 38 | 156026 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Buddhism]] [[File:Dharma_Wheel_(2).svg|15px]]
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 135687 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 138520 | 2 }}
| 10
| {{Percentage | 10 | 140448 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 148568 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 156026 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Zoroastrianism]] [[File:Faravahar.svg|15px]]
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 135687 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 138520 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 140448 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 148568 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 156026 | 2 }}
|-
! [[Judaism]] [[File:Star_of_David.svg|15px]]
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 135687 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 138520 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 140448 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 148568 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 156026 | 2 }}
|-
! Others
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 135687 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 138520 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 140448 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 148568 | 2 }}
| 0
| {{Percentage | 0 | 156026 | 2 }}
|-
! Total population
! 135,687
! {{Percentage | 135687 | 135687 | 2 }}
! 138,520
! {{Percentage | 138520 | 138520 | 2 }}
! 140,448
! {{Percentage | 140448 | 140448 | 2 }}
! 148,568
! {{Percentage | 148568 | 148568 | 2 }}
! 156,026
! {{Percentage | 156026 | 156026 | 2 }}
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="11" | {{small|Note: [[British Punjab province]] era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historic [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province region]] during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.}}
|}
 
== Artwork ==
[[File:Fresco depicting a Devi Mahatmya scene from Indic mythology from a Shiva temple located in Nahan, painted during the reign of Sirmur State (3).png|thumb|Fresco depicting a [[Devi Mahatmya]] scene from [[Hindu mythology|Indic mythology]] from a Shiva temple located in Nahan, painted during the reign of Sirmur State]]
Not many paintings depicting the historical rajas of Sirmur State have survived due to the Gurkha occupation of the state between 1803 and 1814, which led to the loss and destruction of much artwork, including any portraits of earlier rulers produced in Sirmur itself.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Plumbly |first=Sara |date=2020 |title=RAJA JAGAT PRAKASH OF SIRMUR (R.1770-89) WORSHIPPING RAMA AND SITA |url=https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6282154 |access-date=23 October 2024 |website=Christie's |quote=Very few portraits of Sirmur rulers remain as the Gurkha occupation of the state in 1803-14 is thought to have destroyed any earlier paintings.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Galloway |first=Francesca |url=https://francescagalloway.com/usr/documents/exhibitions/list_of_works_url/27/seitz-online.pdf |title=Pahari Paintings From the Eva and Konrad Seitz Collection |publisher=www.francescagalloway.com |pages=48}}</ref>
 
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
== Further reading ==
 
* {{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Kanwar Ranjhor |title=Tarikh-i-Riyasat Sirmaur |year=1912 |language=fa |trans-title=History of Sirmaur State}}
{{Princely states of India}}
{{Princely states of the Punjab and Simla Hills}}
{{Authority control}}
 
[[Category:Sirmaur district]]
[[Category:Sirmaur district]]
[[Category:Princely states of India]]
[[Category:Rajput history]]
[[Category:History of Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rajputs]]
[[Category:11th-century establishments in India]]
[[Category:11th-century establishments in India]]
[[Category:1095 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:1095 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:1948 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:1948 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:Princely states of Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Princely states of Himachal Pradesh]]
|}{{Princely states of India}}{{Princely states of the Punjab and Simla Hills}}
[[Category:Sirmur State]]

Latest revision as of 08:14, 17 March 2026


For the district in Himachal Pradesh, see Sirmaur district.

Sirmaur State
Sirmoor State
Nahan State
Princely State of British India
1095–1948
Coat of arms of Sirmur
Coat of arms

Urdu map of Sirmur State

Sirmur State in a 1911 map of Punjab
CapitalNahan
Area 
4,039 km2 (1,559 sq mi)
Population 
135,626
History
History 
• Established
1095
1948
 Succeeded by
India
Today part ofHimachal Pradesh, India
Gazetteer of the Sirmur State. New Delhi: Indus Publishing. 1996. ISBN 978-81-7387-056-9. OCLC 41357468.
Portrait of Maharaja Kirat Prakash of Sirmur. Late 18th century.
The Fort of Nahan, the capital of princely-state of Sirmur
Stamp of Sirmour in 1800s

Sirmur (also spelled as Sirmor, Sirmaur, Sirmour, or Sirmoor) was a princely state of India, located in the region that is now the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh. The state was also known as Nahan, after its main city, Nahan. The state ranked predominant amongst the Punjab Hill States. It had an area of 4,039 km2 and a revenue of 300,000 rupees in 1891.[citation needed]

History[edit | edit source]

Origin[edit | edit source]

According to Mian Goverdhan Singh in Wooden Temples of Himachal Pradesh, the principality of Sirmaur was founded in the 7th to 8th century by Maharaja of Parmar Rajputs, and Rathore noble.[1]

Nahan State[edit | edit source]

Nahan, the predecessor state of Sirmur, was founded by Soba Rawal in 1095 AD who assumed the name Raja Subans Prakash.[citation needed]

Near the end of the 12th century in the year 1195, a flood of the Giri River destroyed the old capital of Sirmaur-Tal, which killed Raja Ugar Chand.[1] A ruler of Jaisalmer, Raja Salivahana, thought this was an opportune time to attack the state as it was in a state of disarray due to the natural disaster and death of its ruler, so he sent his son Sobha to conquer the state.[1] The attack was successful and a new dynasty headed by Bhati Rajputs was established.[1] Sirmur was invaded by invader Jasrath's army, who also invaded fragments of Punjab and Jammu.[2]

Sirmur State[edit | edit source]

Eventually in 1621 Karm Parkash founded Nahan, the modern capital.[3] Budh Parkãsh, the next ruler, recovered Pinjaur for Aurangzeb’s foster-brother.[citation needed] Raja Mit Parkãsh gave an asylum to the Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, permitting him to fortify Paonta in the Kiarda Dun; and it was at Bhangani in the Dun that the Guru defeated the Rajäs of Kahlur and Garhwäl in 1688.[3] But in 1710 Kirat Parkãsh, after defeating the Räja of Garhwal, captured Naraingarh, Morni, Pinjaur, and other territories from the Sikhs, and concluded an alliance with Amar Singh, Raja of Patiala, whom he aided in suppressing his rebellious Wazir; and he also fought in alliance with the Raja of Kahlür when Ghuläm Kãdir Khan, Rohilla, invaded that State.[4]

Painting of a panoramic view of pilgrims visiting holy sites at the Shivalik Hills near Sirmaur, Jodhpur, 1824

Rulers[edit | edit source]

The rulers of Sirmur bore the title "Maharaja" from 1911 onward [citation needed]

Name Portrait Ruled from Ruled until Citation
Subhansh Prakash 1095 1099
Mahe Prakash 1099 1117
Udit Prakash 1117 1127
Kaul Prakash 1127 1153
Sumer Prakash 1153 1188
Suraj Prakash 1188 1254
Bhagat Prakash I 1254 1336
Jagat Prakash 1336 1388
Bir Prakash 1388 1398
Naket Prakash 1398 1398
Ratna Prakash 1398 1413
Garv Prakash 1413 1432
Brahm Prakash 1432 1446
Hams Prakash 1446 1471
Bhagat Prakash II 1471 1538
Dharam Prakash 1538 1570
Deep Prakash 1570 1585
Budh Prakash 1605 1615
Bhagat Prakash III 1615 1620
Karam Prakash I 1621 1630
Mandhata Prakash 1630 1654
Sobhag Prakash 1654 1664
Budh Prakash 1664 1684 [1][5]
Mat Prakash 1684 1704 [1][5]
Hari Prakash 1704 1712 [5]
Bijay Prakash 1712 1736
Pratap Prakash 1736 1754
Kirat Prakash 1754 1770
Jagat Prakash 1770 1789
Dharam Prakash 1789 1793
Karam Prakash II (died 1820) 1793 1803
Ratan Prakash (installed by Gurkhas, hanged by the British in 1804) 1803 1804
Karma Prakash II (died 1820) 1804 1815
Fateh Prakash 1815 1850
Raghbir Prakash 1850 1856
Shamsher Prakash 1856 1898
Surendra Bikram Prakash 1898 1911
Amar Prakash 1911 1933
Rajendra Prakash 1933 1947
Lakshraj Prakash 2013 [6][7]

Demographics[edit | edit source]

Religious groups in Sirmur State (British Punjab province era)
Religious
group 		1901[8] 1911[9][10] 1921[11] 1931[12] 1941[13]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Hinduism [lower-alpha 1] 128,478 94.69% 130,276 94.05% 132,431 94.29% 139,031 93.58% 146,199 93.7%
Islam 6,414 4.73% 6,016 4.34% 6,449 4.59% 7,020 4.73% 7,374 4.73%
Sikhism 688 0.51% 2,142 1.55% 1,449 1.03% 2,413 1.62% 2,334 1.5%
Jainism 61 0.04% 49 0.04% 65 0.05% 52 0.04% 81 0.05%
Christianity 46 0.03% 37 0.03% 44 0.03% 52 0.04% 38 0.02%
Buddhism 0 0% 0 0% 10 0.01% 0 0% 0 0%
Zoroastrianism 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Judaism 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Others 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Total population 135,687 100% 138,520 100% 140,448 100% 148,568 100% 156,026 100%
Note: British Punjab province era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.

Artwork[edit | edit source]

Fresco depicting a Devi Mahatmya scene from Indic mythology from a Shiva temple located in Nahan, painted during the reign of Sirmur State

Not many paintings depicting the historical rajas of Sirmur State have survived due to the Gurkha occupation of the state between 1803 and 1814, which led to the loss and destruction of much artwork, including any portraits of earlier rulers produced in Sirmur itself.[14][15]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1931-1941: Including Ad-Dharmis

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Singh, Mian Goverdhan (1999). Wooden Temples of Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publishing. pp. 48–49. ISBN 9788173870941.
  2. ↑ Panikkar, Ayyappa (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. p. 72. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sen Negi, Thakur (1969). Himachal Pradesh District Gazetteers: Sirmur. Government of Himachal Pradesh. pp. 52–54.
  4. ↑ Sen Negi, Thakur (1969). Himachal Pradesh District Gazetteers: Sirmur. Government of Himachal Pradesh. pp. 55–57.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Archer, William George (1973). Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills. Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills: A Survey and History of Pahari Miniature Painting. Vol. 1. Sotheby Parke Bernet. p. 414. ISBN 9780856670022.
  6. ↑ Archives, Royal (26 July 2025). "Sirmur (Princely State)". Royal Archives. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  7. ↑ "9-year-old Jaipur prince becomes Maharaja of Sirmaur". India Today. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  8. ↑ "Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I–VIII, X–XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province". 1901. p. 34. JSTOR saoa.crl.25363739. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  9. ↑ "Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1911. p. 27. JSTOR saoa.crl.25393788. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  10. ↑ Kaul, Harikishan (1911). "Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II". p. 27. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  11. ↑ "Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables". 1921. p. 29. JSTOR saoa.crl.25430165. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  12. ↑ "Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1931. p. 277. JSTOR saoa.crl.25793242. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  13. ↑ "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab". 1941. p. 42. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215541. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  14. ↑ Plumbly, Sara (2020). "RAJA JAGAT PRAKASH OF SIRMUR (R.1770-89) WORSHIPPING RAMA AND SITA". Christie's. Retrieved 23 October 2024. Very few portraits of Sirmur rulers remain as the Gurkha occupation of the state in 1803-14 is thought to have destroyed any earlier paintings.
  15. ↑ Galloway, Francesca. Pahari Paintings From the Eva and Konrad Seitz Collection (PDF). www.francescagalloway.com. p. 48.

Further reading[edit | edit source]

  • Singh, Kanwar Ranjhor (1912). Tarikh-i-Riyasat Sirmaur [History of Sirmaur State] (in فارسی).
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