The Nalagarh State of the Himalayas

Nalagarh state, also known as the former state of Hindur, was a princely state of the Himalayan foothills in the Solan and Shimla hills of what is now Himachal Pradesh, ruled by a house of Chandel Rajputs. Taking its name from its chief town and fort of Nalagarh, the state lay among the lower hills where the mountains meet the plains of the Punjab, a land of ridges, valleys and forests. The ruling house is remembered above all for the Nalagarh fort, a hill stronghold that in modern times has become a heritage hotel. As one of the hill principalities ruled by a Rajput line, its story belongs to the wider world of the clans described in our guide to the Rajputs, and this account keeps to broadly established history, treating descent and dates with caution given the limited records of the small hill states.

Key Takeaways

• Nalagarh state, also known as the former state of Hindur, was a princely state of the Himalayan foothills in present Himachal Pradesh.
• It was ruled by a house of Chandel Rajputs, with its seat at the town and fort of Nalagarh.
• The state lay in the Solan and Shimla hills, where the mountains meet the plains of the Punjab.
• The Nalagarh fort is the state’s most celebrated monument and has become a heritage hotel in modern times.
• The state was one of the many small hill principalities of the western Himalayas.
• Nalagarh acceded to the Indian Union after independence in 1947.

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

Quick Facts

Who Ruled the State of Nalagarh?

Nalagarh state was ruled by a house of Chandel Rajputs, a ruling line that governed the Himalayan foothills around the town and fort of Nalagarh in what is now Himachal Pradesh. The state was historically known as Hindur, and its Rajput rulers presided over a hill principality among the ridges and valleys where the mountains descend toward the plains of the Punjab. The dynasty upheld the martial traditions and sense of lineage associated with the Rajputs, adapted to the conditions of a small Himalayan hill state. Over many generations the ruling house maintained its authority over the surrounding hill country from its stronghold at Nalagarh. As one of the Rajput houses of the western Himalayan hills, the rulers held a recognised place among the hill principalities of the region. Their long rule gave the state its distinctive character, though the records of the small hill states are limited and are treated with appropriate caution.

Where Is Nalagarh Located?

Nalagarh is located in the Himalayan foothills of present-day Himachal Pradesh, in the Solan district in the lower hills of the Shimla region, where the mountains meet the plains of the Punjab. This is a land of lower ridges, valleys and forests, set below the higher ranges of the Himalayas and above the open plains, a transitional country of hills and streams. The town and fort of Nalagarh, from which the state took its name, lay as its chief seat amid this foothill landscape. The position of the state in the lower hills gave it a strategic importance, controlling routes between the plains and the mountain country. The terrain of ridges and valleys shaped the life, economy and history of the state. Nalagarh’s location in the Himalayan foothills, among the hills of present Himachal Pradesh, is central to understanding its identity as a small hill principality of the western Himalayas.

Why Was Nalagarh Also Called Hindur?

Nalagarh was also called Hindur because that was the historic name of the state ruled by the Chandel Rajput house in the Himalayan foothills, with Nalagarh serving as its chief town and fort. In the usage of the hill states of the western Himalayas, a principality was often known by an older or formal name as well as by the name of its principal seat, and so the state is referred to both as Hindur and as Nalagarh. This dual naming reflects the way the small hill states were identified, by their dynastic or territorial name and by their fort-capital. The name Hindur belongs to the older identity of the state, while Nalagarh is the name of the fort and town around which its rule centred. Both names are used in accounts of the state. The identification of Nalagarh with the former state of Hindur is an important point for understanding references to the principality in the history of the hill states.

Who Were the Chandel Rajputs of Nalagarh?

The Chandel Rajputs were the ruling house of Nalagarh, a Rajput line that, according to the traditions of the hill states, governed the principality of Hindur in the Himalayan foothills. As Rajputs, the Chandels upheld the martial values, customs and strong sense of lineage characteristic of the Rajput clans, here established as the ruling family of a small Himalayan hill state. The traditions of the hill dynasties link the house to the wider world of the Rajputs, though the precise descent of the small hill lines is treated by historians as tradition rather than firmly documented history, given the limited records. The Chandel rulers established and maintained their authority around the fort of Nalagarh over many generations. Their identity as a Rajput house gave the dynasty a recognised standing among the hill principalities. The Chandel heritage thus forms the ancestral foundation of the ruling house of Nalagarh, connecting it to the wider Rajput world.

How Did Nalagarh State Originate?

Nalagarh state, the former principality of Hindur, originated according to the traditions of its ruling house as a hill state established by the Chandel Rajputs in the Himalayan foothills of what is now Himachal Pradesh. The dynasty traced its rule in the region to the settlement of its line in the hills and the founding of its authority around the fort and town of Nalagarh. The precise details of the state’s early history are drawn from the traditions of the hill dynasties and are treated with appropriate caution, since firm records of the earliest period are limited for the small hill states. What is clear is that the Chandel house established an enduring principality in the lower hills where the mountains meet the plains. The origin of Nalagarh connects it to the wider pattern of Rajput rule in the hill states of the western Himalayas. The state thus took shape as a Rajput hill principality centred on its fort.

What Is the Nalagarh Fort?

The Nalagarh fort is the most celebrated monument of the state, a hill stronghold built by the ruling house on a height commanding the surrounding foothill country. Serving as the chief seat of the Chandel rulers, the fort combined the functions of a stronghold and a residence, with its ramparts, gateways, courtyards and chambers set upon the hill. Its position gave it command over the routes and country of the lower hills, reflecting the strategic importance of the state in the transitional land between the plains and the mountains. The fort reflects the building traditions of the hill states of the western Himalayas, adapted to the terrain of ridges and valleys. As the principal seat of the dynasty, the Nalagarh fort was the centre of the life, governance and ceremony of the state. It remains the defining heritage landmark of Nalagarh and an enduring emblem of its ruling house.

How Did the Nalagarh Fort Become a Heritage Hotel?

The Nalagarh fort became a heritage hotel in modern times, when the historic fort-residence of the Chandel rulers was adapted to welcome visitors while preserving its character as a monument of the hill state. Like a number of the forts and palaces of the former princely houses, the Nalagarh fort has been maintained and opened as a heritage property, allowing its architecture, setting and atmosphere to be experienced by travellers. This adaptation has helped to conserve the fort and to keep alive the memory of the state and its rulers in the hills of present Himachal Pradesh. The conversion of such forts and palaces into heritage hotels has become a notable means of preserving the built heritage of the princely era. For Nalagarh, this has given the historic fort a new role while honouring its past. The fort as a heritage property remains the principal way in which the heritage of the state is encountered today.

What Were the Shimla Hill States?

The Shimla Hill States were a group of small Rajput-ruled principalities of the western Himalayan foothills, in the region around Shimla and Solan in what is now Himachal Pradesh, among which Nalagarh, under its historic name of Hindur, was counted. These were numerous small states, each governed by its own ruling house, set among the ridges, valleys and forests of the lower hills where the mountains meet the plains. The hill states shared a common character as compact principalities ruled by Rajput lines, with their fort-capitals and their hill temples, and they were brought together under British paramountcy in the arrangements of the region. The Shimla Hill States form the broader political and cultural setting of Nalagarh. Their shared traditions, terrain and history link the principality to its neighbours in the western Himalayas. The grouping of the Shimla Hill States is therefore an important framework for understanding the place of Nalagarh among the hill principalities.

What Was the Capital Town of Nalagarh Like?

The capital of Nalagarh was the town and fort of Nalagarh, set in the Himalayan foothills of present Himachal Pradesh, which served as the chief seat of the Chandel ruling house. Dominated by its hill fort, the town was the political, administrative and ceremonial centre of the state, with the fort-residence of the rulers at its heart and the dwellings, temples and bazaars of the hill town around it. Its setting among the lower ridges and valleys, where the mountains descend toward the plains, gave it a distinctive character among the capitals of the hill states. The town was the focus of court life, governance and the gathering of the people of the hill country. The architecture and heritage of the town centred on the fort and the hill temples of the region. As the capital, Nalagarh was the heart of the state. The town remains the enduring centre of the state’s heritage and identity in the western Himalayas.

What Was the Architecture and Heritage of Nalagarh Like?

The architecture and heritage of Nalagarh centre on its hill fort and the temples and traditions of the Himalayan foothills, reflecting the building styles of the hill states of the western Himalayas. The Nalagarh fort, with its ramparts, courtyards and chambers set upon a height, is the principal monument, combining the functions of stronghold and residence in the manner of the hill principalities. The region is also known for its hill temples, built in the timber and stone traditions of the western Himalayas, which express the devotion of the people and the patronage of the ruling house. The heritage of Nalagarh is closely tied to its setting among the ridges, valleys and forests of the foothills. The building traditions drew on the distinctive styles of the hill country, adapted to the terrain and climate. This combination of fort, temple and natural setting gives Nalagarh a distinctive character. Its architecture and heritage remain among the most attractive aspects of the hill state.

How Was Nalagarh Governed?

Nalagarh was governed by its Chandel ruling house through a system suited to a small Himalayan hill state, combining the authority of the ruler with the service of officials and local functionaries. At the head stood the ruler, supported by officers responsible for the revenue, justice and general administration of the hill territory. The state comprised the fort-capital of Nalagarh and the surrounding country of ridges, valleys and villages in the foothills, whose people lived by the agriculture and resources of the hill land. Revenue came chiefly from the land and the produce of the hill country, in keeping with the character of a small mountain state. Within the framework of British paramountcy, the administration of the state was carried on under the recognised authority of its ruling house. This system allowed the dynasty to maintain its rule over the hill country for many generations. The governance of Nalagarh reflected the traditions of a Rajput hill principality of the western Himalayas.

What Were Nalagarh's Relations with the Great Powers?

Nalagarh, as a hill state of the western Himalayan foothills, engaged over its history with the larger powers that affected the hill country, including the mountain kingdoms, the forces that swept through the region, and later the British. In the turbulent politics of the hills, the small states navigated pressures from stronger neighbours and from the powers contending for influence in the Himalayan foothills and the adjoining plains. The Gurkha expansion into the western Himalayan hills and its reversal by the British were among the great events that shaped the fortunes of the hill states in the early nineteenth century. Within this setting, Nalagarh managed its relations to preserve its authority over its hill territory. These engagements were shaped by the wider politics of the Himalayan region. Through such dealings, the dynasty maintained its rule over the state. The relations of Nalagarh with the great powers form an important strand in the history of the hill principalities.

How Did Nalagarh Become a Princely State under the British?

Nalagarh became a princely state within the framework of British paramountcy that took shape across India, a status arranged in the settlement of the western Himalayan hill states in the nineteenth century. After the upheavals of the Gurkha expansion and its reversal, the hill states of the region, including Nalagarh under its historic name of Hindur, were confirmed in their rule under the paramountcy of the British crown. Under this system Nalagarh retained its own ruler, administration and internal governance as one of the Shimla Hill States. This status allowed the Chandel dynasty to continue governing its hill country under the overarching authority of the British. The princely-state framework shaped the modern history of Nalagarh until the independence of India. Within this arrangement the state preserved its traditions and its distinct identity as a hill principality. Nalagarh’s standing as one of the hill states under British paramountcy is an important part of its story before independence.

How Did Nalagarh Join Independent India?

Nalagarh, like the other princely and hill states, acceded to the Indian Union after the independence of India in 1947, when the states were integrated into the new nation. With the end of British paramountcy, the rulers of the hill states joined India, and their territories were brought into the republic through the great process of integration that reshaped the political map of the subcontinent. Nalagarh became part of independent India, and the hill states of the region were in time brought together within the structure that became the state of Himachal Pradesh. This transition ended the era of Nalagarh as a separately governed principality, though the ruling family retained its historical standing and heritage. The integration of the states was one of the defining achievements of the early years of independent India. Nalagarh thus became part of the modern nation and of the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, closing the long history of the hill principality of Hindur.

Why Is Nalagarh Significant?

Nalagarh is significant as a Chandel Rajput hill state of the western Himalayan foothills, the former principality of Hindur, remembered above all for its hill fort, now a heritage hotel. As one of the many small hill states of the Shimla and Solan region, it illustrates the life of the Rajput principalities that governed the foothill country between the mountains and the plains. Its strategic position in the lower hills gave it a role in the routes and politics of the region. The Nalagarh fort, preserved and adapted as a heritage property, keeps alive the memory of the state and its rulers. The history of Nalagarh illustrates the broader story of the hill states of the western Himalayas, from their Rajput traditions to their accession to independent India. For students of Indian history, Nalagarh offers a vivid example of a Himalayan hill principality, and its significance rests on this heritage, treated with due caution given the limited records of the small hill states.

Nalagarh Today

Nalagarh is remembered today chiefly through its historic hill fort, now a heritage hotel, and through the beautiful foothill country of present Himachal Pradesh in which the former state lay. The fort and the hill temples of the region draw visitors interested in the heritage of the hill states and the scenery of the western Himalayas. The former ruling family retains its historical association with the state and its heritage. The setting among the ridges, valleys and forests of the Solan and Shimla hills continues to give the region its distinctive character. For readers of Indian history, Nalagarh offers a vivid example of a Chandel Rajput hill state, the former principality of Hindur, among the many small states of the western Himalayas. Its legacy endures in the Nalagarh fort, in the hill temples of the region and in the enduring heritage of the foothill country of Himachal Pradesh.

Sources & Further Reading

• Archaeological Survey of India (asi.nic.in).
• Ministry of Culture, Government of India (indiaculture.gov.in).
• Department of Tourism, Government of Himachal Pradesh (himachaltourism.gov.in).

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Nalagarh state?

Nalagarh state, also known as the former state of Hindur, was a princely state of the Himalayan foothills in the Solan and Shimla hills of present Himachal Pradesh, ruled by a house of Chandel Rajputs. Its chief seat was the town and fort of Nalagarh.

Who ruled Nalagarh?

Nalagarh was ruled by a house of Chandel Rajputs, who governed the former state of Hindur in the Himalayan foothills. According to the traditions of the hill states, this Rajput line held authority around the fort of Nalagarh over many generations.

Why was Nalagarh also called Hindur?

Hindur was the historic name of the state ruled by the Chandel Rajputs, with Nalagarh as its chief town and fort. The hill states were often known both by an older or dynastic name and by the name of their fort-capital, so the principality is called both Hindur and Nalagarh.

What is the Nalagarh fort?

The Nalagarh fort is the most celebrated monument of the state, a hill stronghold and residence built by the Chandel rulers on a height commanding the foothill country. In modern times it has been adapted as a heritage hotel, preserving its character as a monument of the hill state.

What were the Shimla Hill States?

The Shimla Hill States were a group of small Rajput-ruled principalities of the western Himalayan foothills around Shimla and Solan, in present Himachal Pradesh. Nalagarh, under its historic name of Hindur, was counted among them, sharing their traditions, terrain and history.

What happened to Nalagarh after independence?

Nalagarh acceded to the Indian Union after independence in 1947 and, with the other hill states, was in time brought within the state of Himachal Pradesh. This ended its era as a separately governed principality, though the ruling family retained its historical heritage.