The Chand Dynasty of Kumaon

The Chand dynasty ruled the kingdom of Kumaon in the central Himalaya of present-day Uttarakhand for many centuries. By tradition the line arose around the tenth or eleventh century, first based at Champawat and later moving its capital to Almora from the sixteenth century. The Chand rajas, as the rulers are known, were long-time rivals of the Panwar dynasty of neighbouring Garhwal, and their kingdom reached a cultural high point under rulers such as Baz Bahadur Chand and Jagat Chand. Like the martial houses described in our guide to the Rajputs, the Chands prized lineage and valour in the Himalayan hills. The dynasty weakened and was overthrown amid the Gorkha invasion in the late eighteenth century, after which the region of Kumaon passed under British control. This account keeps to broadly established history where particular dates and details are uncertain.

Key Takeaways

• The Chand dynasty ruled the kingdom of Kumaon in the central Himalaya of present-day Uttarakhand.
• By tradition the line arose around the tenth or eleventh century, first based at Champawat.
• The capital was later moved to Almora from the sixteenth century.
• The Chand rajas were long-time rivals of the Panwar dynasty of neighbouring Garhwal.
• The kingdom reached a cultural high point under rulers such as Baz Bahadur Chand and Jagat Chand.
• The dynasty was overthrown amid the Gorkha invasion in the late eighteenth century, after which Kumaon passed under British control.

Read on for the history, culture, and legacy in detail.

Quick Facts

Who Were the Chand Rulers of Kumaon?

The Chand rulers of Kumaon were the royal house that governed the kingdom of Kumaon in the central Himalaya of present-day Uttarakhand for many centuries. Known as the Chand rajas, the dynasty presided over a hill kingdom in the mountains to the east of neighbouring Garhwal, between the plains and the high Himalaya. By tradition the line arose around the tenth or eleventh century, first based at Champawat, and it ruled the region for a long span down to the late eighteenth century. Governing from capitals that shifted over time, the Chands upheld the martial traditions and sense of lineage characteristic of the Himalayan ruling houses. As the ruling dynasty of Kumaon, they held a distinctive place among the kingdoms of the mountains. Their long rule gave the kingdom its identity and shaped its culture, religion and heritage. The Chand dynasty thus stands at the centre of the history of Kumaon.

Where Is Kumaon Located?

Kumaon is located in the central Himalaya, in the eastern part of present-day Uttarakhand, a country of high mountains, forested ridges, river valleys and sacred shrines. The region lies between the plains of northern India to the south and the great ranges of the Himalaya to the north, and it adjoins the neighbouring region of Garhwal to the west. Revered as a land of pilgrimage and natural beauty, Kumaon is known for its temples, hill towns and the splendour of its mountain landscape. This rugged terrain gave the region its character as a hill kingdom distinct from the states of the plains. The land supported terraced cultivation, pastoral life and forests across its steep slopes. Its position in the central Himalaya made it a land of strategic routes and deep religious significance. The location of Kumaon in the mountains of present-day Uttarakhand is central to understanding its history and the kingdom of the Chand dynasty.

What Are the Other Names for the Chand Rajas?

The rulers of Kumaon are commonly known as the Chand rajas, or the Chand kings, and the dynasty is referred to simply as the Chands, names that identify the royal house of the kingdom. The term raja, meaning king, is joined to the dynastic name Chand to describe the rulers of the kingdom of Kumaon. These names refer to the same royal line that governed the central Himalayan region for many centuries. The usage of the names Chand raja and Chand dynasty reflects the way the ruling house is described in the history and tradition of Kumaon. Recognising these names helps to identify the dynasty in historical accounts of the region. The royal house is therefore known as the Chand dynasty, or the Chand rajas, of Kumaon. These names all refer to the same ruling line of the central Himalayan kingdom in present-day Uttarakhand.

When Did the Chand Dynasty Begin?

The Chand dynasty of Kumaon is traditionally held to have begun around the tenth or eleventh century, when the line established itself in the hill country of the central Himalaya, first based at Champawat. According to the accounts of the dynasty, the Chands rose to rule the region and gradually extended their authority over the Kumaon hills. The early history of the dynasty rests largely on tradition and genealogy and is treated by historians with appropriate caution, so that precise dates are uncertain. What is generally accepted is that the Chand line was long established in Kumaon and ruled there for many centuries down to the late eighteenth century. The founding of the dynasty, placed by tradition around the tenth or eleventh century, marks the beginning of the royal house of Kumaon. The dynasty grew from these early beginnings into the ruling power of the kingdom in the central Himalaya.

Why Was Champawat the First Capital?

Champawat served as the first capital of the Chand dynasty because it was from this hill town that the line established and extended its early rule over the kingdom of Kumaon. Set in the eastern hills of the region, Champawat was the cradle of the dynasty, associated with its early history and its rise to power. The town held an honoured place as the original seat of the Chand rajas, adorned with temples and structures of the early kingdom. Its position in the hills made it a natural centre for the dynasty in its formative period. From Champawat the Chands governed and expanded their realm before the later shift of the capital. The town thus holds a special place in the history of the kingdom as its first seat. Champawat remains associated with the early heritage of the Chand dynasty and with the beginnings of the kingdom of Kumaon in the central Himalaya.

When Did Almora Become the Capital?

Almora became the capital of the Chand kingdom from around the sixteenth century, when the ruling house moved its principal seat to this hill town, which grew into the chief centre of Kumaon. Set on a ridge amid the hills of the region, Almora developed as the political, administrative and cultural heart of the kingdom under the later Chand rajas. The shift of the capital from Champawat to Almora reflected the growth and consolidation of the kingdom and the search for a more central and suitable seat. Almora became the seat of the court, adorned with the palace, temples and residences of the ruling house. The town flourished as the centre of the kingdom in its later history. The establishment of Almora as the capital marked an important stage in the development of the Chand realm. Almora remains closely identified with the heritage of the Chand dynasty of Kumaon.

What Was Almora Like?

Almora, set on a ridge amid the hills of Kumaon, was the chief town and later capital of the Chand kingdom, a centre of court life, religion, trade and culture. As the seat of the later Chand rajas, the town was adorned with the palace and residences of the ruling house, as well as temples and shrines that reflected the devotional life of the kingdom. Its position on a hill ridge gave it a commanding and attractive setting in the central Himalaya. The town grew as the political and cultural heart of Kumaon, a gathering place for the court, the nobility and the people of the region. Its heritage reflected the status and patronage of the Chand dynasty. As the capital, Almora was the focus of the life of the kingdom in its later centuries. The hill town of Almora remains an enduring centre associated with the heritage of the Chand rajas of Kumaon.

Why Were the Chands and Garhwal Panwars Rivals?

The Chands of Kumaon and the Panwars of Garhwal were long-standing rivals because the two hill kingdoms shared the central Himalaya and contended over the centuries for influence and territory. While the Chand dynasty ruled Kumaon in the east, the Panwar dynasty ruled Garhwal to the west, and the two powers were neighbours whose histories were closely intertwined. Their rivalry was a recurring theme in the history of the region, punctuated by conflict as well as by the ordinary dealings of neighbouring states along their mountain frontier. The two kingdoms shared a common Himalayan setting and devotional culture, yet they remained distinct rival powers. This contest shaped the politics of the central Himalaya for generations. The rivalry of Kumaon and Garhwal is one of the defining strands of the region’s history. The long competition between the Chands and the Panwars illustrates the divided political landscape of the central Himalayan hills.

Who Was Baz Bahadur Chand?

Baz Bahadur Chand was one of the notable rulers of the Chand dynasty of Kumaon, remembered as a king under whom the kingdom flourished. He belonged to the line of Chand rajas who governed Kumaon from Almora, and his reign is associated with the strength and cultural achievements of the kingdom in its later history. As one of the prominent rulers of the dynasty, he is counted among the kings who contributed to the standing and prosperity of Kumaon. The details of his reign belong to the broadly recorded history and tradition of the kingdom and are treated with appropriate caution. What is generally remembered is his place among the distinguished rulers of the Chand line. As a notable Chand raja, Baz Bahadur Chand holds an honoured place in the history of Kumaon. His reign is associated with a flourishing period of the kingdom under the Chand dynasty in the central Himalaya.

Who Was Jagat Chand?

Jagat Chand was another of the notable rulers of the Chand dynasty of Kumaon, remembered among the kings under whom the kingdom reached a cultural and political high point. He belonged to the line of Chand rajas who ruled from Almora, and his reign is associated with the prominence and achievements of the kingdom in its later history. As one of the distinguished rulers of the dynasty, he is counted among the kings who strengthened the standing of Kumaon. The details of his reign belong to the broadly recorded history and tradition of the kingdom and are treated with appropriate caution. What is generally remembered is his place among the prominent rulers of the Chand line. As a notable Chand raja, Jagat Chand holds an honoured place in the history of Kumaon. His reign is associated with a flourishing period of the kingdom under the Chand dynasty in the central Himalaya.

What Was the Cultural High Point of the Chand Kingdom?

The cultural high point of the Chand kingdom came in its later centuries, when, under rulers such as Baz Bahadur Chand and Jagat Chand, Kumaon flourished as a centre of Himalayan culture, religion and art. During this period the kingdom, ruled from Almora, saw the patronage of temples, the growth of its hill towns and the flowering of the distinctive culture of the region. The Chand rajas supported religious institutions and the devotional life of the people, and the kingdom developed a rich heritage of temples, shrines and traditions. The Kumaoni language, folk culture, music and customs flourished in the hills. This cultural achievement gave the kingdom a lasting legacy in the central Himalaya. The period is remembered as a high point in the history of Kumaon. The cultural flowering under the later Chand rajas remains one of the most distinctive and cherished aspects of the heritage of the kingdom.

What Was the Religion of the Kumaon Kingdom?

The religion of the Kumaon kingdom was rooted in the Hindu devotional traditions of the central Himalaya, a region revered for its sacred shrines, temples and places of pilgrimage. The kingdom lay in a holy land of the mountains, and the Chand rajas were patrons of temples and religious institutions throughout the region. Kumaon is known for its many temples and shrines, which reflect the deep devotional life of the people and the religious heritage of the kingdom. The sacred geography of the Himalaya, with its revered sites and traditions, shaped the religious culture of Kumaon. The devotion of the people and the patronage of the rulers were woven together in the life of the kingdom. This religious heritage distinguished Kumaon as a devout Himalayan realm. The religion of the Kumaon kingdom, centred on its Himalayan temples and devotional traditions, remains among the most distinctive aspects of the heritage of the Chand dynasty.

How Was the Kumaon Kingdom Governed?

The Kumaon kingdom was governed by its Chand ruling house through a system in which royal authority was joined with the service of nobles, officials and local chiefs who managed the affairs of the hill realm. At the head stood the Chand raja, supported by ministers and functionaries responsible for revenue, justice and administration across the valleys and settlements of the mountains. The kingdom retained a structure in which local chiefs and nobles held responsibilities within the wider realm, a common pattern among the hill kingdoms. Revenue came chiefly from the land and the produce of the hill country, in keeping with its agrarian and pastoral character. The temples and religious institutions held an important place in the life of the kingdom. This system allowed the Chand dynasty to maintain its rule over Kumaon for many generations. The governance of Kumaon reflected the character of a Himalayan hill kingdom in present-day Uttarakhand.

How Did the Gorkha Invasion Affect Kumaon?

The Gorkha invasion of the late eighteenth century brought the rule of the Chand dynasty over Kumaon to an end, when the expanding power of the Gorkha state swept westward across the Himalaya. Advancing into the central hills, the Gorkha forces overran the kingdom of Kumaon, and the Chand dynasty, already weakened, was overthrown amid this conquest. The Gorkha expansion was a major upheaval in the history of the central Himalaya, affecting both Kumaon and the neighbouring kingdom of Garhwal. The long rule of the Chand rajas over Kumaon was thus ended by the invasion. The period of Gorkha dominance belongs to the broadly recorded history of the region in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. This conquest set the stage for the later involvement of the British in the affairs of the hills. The Gorkha invasion was the decisive event that ended the Chand kingdom of Kumaon.

How Did Kumaon Pass Under British Control?

Kumaon passed under British control in the early nineteenth century, when the Anglo-Nepalese War brought an end to Gorkha rule in the central Himalaya and the region was brought under British administration. In this conflict between the British and the Gorkha state, the British prevailed and the Gorkha power was pushed back from the hill country it had conquered, including Kumaon. In the settlement that followed, Kumaon was brought under direct British administration rather than being restored as an independent kingdom. The former dynasty, overthrown in the Gorkha invasion, did not return to power over the region. The transfer of Kumaon to British control reshaped the political order of the central Himalaya. This transition belongs to the broadly recorded history of the region in the early nineteenth century. The passing of Kumaon under British control marked the close of the era of the independent hill kingdom and the beginning of a new chapter in its history.

The Chand Legacy Today

The legacy of the Chand dynasty endures today in the heritage, culture and sacred landscape of Kumaon, now part of the state of Uttarakhand in the central Himalaya. The former capitals of the kingdom, Champawat and Almora, preserve the memory of the dynasty and its long rule, with their temples and historic structures. The temples, shrines and devotional traditions patronised by the Chand rajas remain central to the religious life of the region, which is celebrated as a land of pilgrimage. The Kumaoni language, folk culture and customs continue to express the identity nurtured under the kingdom. For readers of Indian history, the Chand dynasty offers a vivid example of a Himalayan hill kingdom and its long royal tradition. Its legacy endures in the heritage of Kumaon, in the hill towns of Champawat and Almora, and in the enduring culture of the Uttarakhand Himalaya.

Sources & Further Reading

• Archaeological Survey of India (asi.nic.in).
• Department of Tourism, Government of Uttarakhand (uttarakhandtourism.gov.in).
• Ministry of Culture, Government of India (indiaculture.gov.in).

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Chand dynasty of Kumaon?

The Chand dynasty was the royal house that ruled the kingdom of Kumaon in the central Himalaya of present-day Uttarakhand for many centuries. By tradition it arose around the tenth or eleventh century, first based at Champawat and later ruling from Almora, and it was overthrown amid the Gorkha invasion of the late eighteenth century.

Where were the capitals of the Chand kingdom?

The Chand dynasty was first based at Champawat, the cradle of the line, and later moved its capital to Almora from around the sixteenth century. Almora became the chief political and cultural centre of the kingdom under the later Chand rajas.

Who were the notable rulers of the Chand dynasty?

The kingdom of Kumaon reached a cultural high point under rulers such as Baz Bahadur Chand and Jagat Chand. These Chand rajas are remembered among the distinguished kings under whom the kingdom flourished in its later history.

Why were the Chands and the Garhwal Panwars rivals?

The Chands of Kumaon and the Panwars of Garhwal were long-standing rivals because the two neighbouring hill kingdoms shared the central Himalaya and contended for influence and territory over the centuries. Their rivalry was a recurring theme in the history of the region.

How did the rule of the Chand dynasty end?

The rule of the Chand dynasty ended amid the Gorkha invasion of the late eighteenth century, when the expanding Gorkha power overran Kumaon and overthrew the already weakened dynasty. The region later passed under British control after the Anglo-Nepalese War.

How did Kumaon come under British control?

Kumaon passed under British control in the early nineteenth century, when the Anglo-Nepalese War ended Gorkha rule in the central Himalaya. In the settlement that followed, Kumaon was brought under direct British administration rather than restored as an independent kingdom.