# Chamba State

Chamba State was one of the oldest princely states in present-day Republic of India, having been founded during the late 6th century. It was part of the States of the Punjab Hills of the Punjab Province in India from 1859 to 1947. Its last ruler signed the instrument of accession to the Indian Union of 15 April 1948.

## History

According to tradition, the ancient name of Chamba was Champa, and its predecessor state was known as Brahmpur. This site later became Bharmour around 550 AD when Raja Maru Verman came from Kalpagram to the Chamba Hills. Around 920 CE, the capital was shifted from Bharmour to present day Chamba Town. The rulers of Chamba State patronized artists of the Pahari painting style. Between 1809 and 1846 Chamba was tributary to Jammu. In 1821, Chamba annexed Bhadrawah State. On 9 Mar 1846, Chamba State became a British protectorate.

### Rajas

Raja Shahil Verman, around 920 AD, shifted his capital from Bharmaur to present-day Chamba Town. It is believed that King Shahil Varman ruled until 940 AD. From then onwards the State of Chamba continued to be ruled by different kings of the Mushana Rajput Dynasty from their capital at Champavati, which later came to be known as Chamba. Following are some of more famous kings of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh:
Rajas of Chamba State :
| Ruler | Timeline |
| Raja Maru | ~550 AD |
| Raja Jaistambh | After Maru’s death |
| Raja Shahil Varman | Beginning of 10th century AD |
| Raja Yugakar Verman | After 940 AD |
| Raja Vidagdha Verman | After Yugakar Verman |
| Raja Dodaka Verman | After Vidagdha Verman |
| Raja Vichitra Verman | After Dodaka Verman |
| Raja Dhariya Verman | After Vichitra Verman |
| Raja Salavahana Verman | After Dhariya Verman |
| Raja Soma Varman | After Salavahana Verman |
| Raja Asata Varman | After Soma Varman |
| Raja Jasata Verman | After Asata Varman |
| Raja Dhala Verman | After Jasata Verman |
| Raja Udayan Varman | After Dhala Verman |
| Raja Anand Verman | After Udayan Varman |
| Raja Ganesa Verman | After Anand Verman |
| Raja Pratap Singh Verman | 1559 to 1586 |
| Raja Vir Vahnu Verman | 1586 to 1589 |
| Raja Balbhadra Verman | 1589–1641 |
| Raja Prithvi Raj Singh | 1641–1664 |
| Raja Chattar Singh | 1664–1694 |
| Raja Udai Singh | 1694–1720 |
| Raja Ugar Singh | 1720–1735 |
| Raja Dalel Singh | 1735–1748 |
| Raja Umed Singh | 1748–1764 |
| Raja Raj Singh | 1764–1794 |
| Raja Jit Singh | 1794–1808 |

## Demographics

Religious groups in Chamba State (British Punjab province era) :
| Religious group | 1901 | 1901 | 1911 | 1911 | 1921 | 1921 | 1931 | 1931 | 1941 | 1941 |
| Religious group | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % |
| Hinduism | 119,327 | 93.35% | 126,269 | 92.93% | 130,489 | 91.98% | 135,254 | 92.09% | 155,910 | 92.3% |
| Islam | 8,332 | 6.52% | 8,750 | 6.44% | 10,529 | 7.42% | 10,839 | 7.38% | 12,318 | 7.29% |
| Sikhism | 80 | 0.06% | 141 | 0.1% | 242 | 0.17% | 112 | 0.08% | 107 | 0.06% |
| Christianity | 70 | 0.05% | 81 | 0.06% | 63 | 0.04% | 94 | 0.06% | 190 | 0.11% |
| Buddhism | 22 | 0.02% | 627 | 0.46% | 541 | 0.38% | 568 | 0.39% | 383 | 0.23% |
| Jainism | 3 | 0% | 5 | 0% | 3 | 0% | 3 | 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 | 127,834 | 100% | 135,873 | 100% | 141,867 | 100% | 146,870 | 100% | 168,908 | 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. |||||||||||