page_title: History of Palanpur
section_title: Palanpur State
hierarchical_section_title: History of Palanpur / History / Jhalori rule / Palanpur State
caption_attribution_description: English: Map of the Palanpur region Deutsch: Karte Region der Palanpur Agency
context_page_description: The history of Palanpur starts with its relation to historic city of Chandravati ruled by Parmar dynasty. The town was re-peopled and ruled by Chauhans around thirteenth century. At the start of the seventeenth century, the Palanpur State was taken over by Jhalori dynasty of Pashtun Lohani tribe which was founded in 1373 and ruled from Jhalor. The dynasty came into historical prominence during the period of instability that followed the demise of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the early 18th century. It was overrun soon afterwards by the Marathas; the Lohanis followed the trend of seeking recourse in the British East India Company against them and finally entered the subsidiary alliance system in 1817, along with all other neighbouring states, becoming a British protectorate governed by Palanpur Agency. After independence of India in 1947, Palanpur State was dissolved in 1949 and merged with India as a part of Bombay State. Subsequently, Palanpur became the capital of Banaskantha district of Gujarat.
context_section_description: During his rule Ghazni Khan's brother, Malik Firoz Khan took Palanpur and Deesa, establishing himself at Palanpur. Ghazni Khan, dying in 1614 (1023 H.), was succeeded by his son Pahar Khan, who, found guilty of matricide, was, in 1616, by the Emperor's orders, trampled to death by an elephant. After Pahar Khan came his uncle Malik Firoz Khan, also called Kamal Khan, a distinguished soldier, who, and his son Malik Mujahid Khan, greatly enlarged the family estate, and, it is said, obtained the title of Nawab. He constructed Mansarovar, a lake dedicated to his queen Manbai Jadeja in 1628.
  Under Mughal prince Murad Baksh, Mujahid Khan was, in 1654, appointed governor, faujdar, of Anhilwad Patan. Twenty years later (1674) his father Kamal Khan, who had been removed from the government of Palanpur, was restored to his former post. In 1697, Mujahid Khan was sent to levy the capitation tax from the Hindus of Palanpur and Jhalor, and, in 1699, the government of Jhalor and Sachor was taken from him and given to Ajitsing Rathod of Jodhpur ; Jhalor was never recovered, and from that time the headquarters of the family had been at Palanpur. Rajgadhi, the residence of queens, was built in 1697. Dying without male issue, Mujahid was succeeded by his brother Salim Khan, and he, in 1700, by his son Kamal Khan. Kamal Khan conducted the affairs of the chiefdom prosperously, and was succeeded in 1708 by his son Firoz Khan also called Ghazni Khan.
  About eight years later (1716) Ajitsing Rathod of Jodhpur was chosen Viceroy of Gujarat, and, as he passed from Jhalor to Ahmedabad, Firoz Khan went to meet him, and in return for an offer of service, received the Sirohi district of Dantavada. In the anarchy that prevailed about this time (1720), the Jhaloris turned their thoughts to gain independence. On the death of Firoz Khan (about 1722) his two sons Kamal Khan and Karimdad Khan struggled for the chiefship. Karimdad Khan won in the end and put his brother to death. During his viceroyalty of Gujarat, Karimdad accompanied Rathod Abhaysing, Maharaja of Jodhpur, in his expedition against Sirohi, and won Palanpur, Dhanera, Malana, Surbakri, Dabela, Roh, and Sarotra from Sirohi. Dying about 1730 he was succeeded by his son Pahar Khan, who ruled until about 1744, when he died without male issue.
  During Pahar Khan's rule, in 1736, Kantaji Kadam and Malhar Rao Holkar made a sudden attack on north Gujarat and plundered Palanpur, when the chief agreed to pay a tribute of £10,000 (Rs. 1,00,000). On Pahar Khan's death his uncle Bahadur Khan, son of Firoz Khan, succeeded and continued in the chiefship till 1768. In 1753 Bahadur Khan was forced by Patel Vithal Sakdev to agree to a yearly payment of £1000 (Rs. 10,000), and five years later (1758), the Peshwa's deputy, Sadashiv Ramchandra, compelled him to pay a tribute of £3500 (Rs. 35,000). In 1750 (Samvat 1806), Bahadur Khan built a brick and mortar city-wall, the Nagarkot of Palanpur. It was 3 miles round, 17 to 20 feet high and 6 feet broad with seven bastioned gateways,and, at the corners, round towers armed with guns. The gateways of the city-walls were Delhi Darwaja, Gathaman Darwaja, Malan Darwaja, Mira Darwaja, Virbai Darwaja, Salempura Darwaja, Sadarpur Darwaja or Shimla Darwaja. Only Mira Darwaja survives today.
  He was succeeded by his son Salim Khan. Bahadur Khan drove Chauhan Jetmalji of Dhema out of Tharad and held this estate until dispossessed by Nawab Kamal-ud-din Khan Babi, commonly known as Jawan Mard Khan II of Radhanpur State. Salim Khan ruled till 1781, when he died and was succeeded by his son Sher Khan, who killed his brothers fearing that they might compete with him for the chiefship. Sher Khan died without male issue in 1788 or 1791. He was probably poisoned by his sister. On his death his sister Sona Bubu, who had married into the Babi family, raised her son Mubariz Khan to the chiefship. The nobles displeased at her conduct, revolted and dethroning Mubariz Khan placed Shamsher Khan on the throne. Firoz Khan, son of Fateh Khan, the grandson of Firoz Khan, now preferred his claim, and
caption: Map of Palanpur State area in 1922
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