Information

Dynasty

Mushana

State

Himachal Pradesh

Gun Salutes

11

Accession

15th April 1948

Area

8,099 Square Kilometers km²

Privy Purse

INR 138,000

Hindi Name

चम्बा

Last Updated

12th May, 2023

Present Head

HH Raja Saheb Shri PREM SINGH, Raja of Chamba since 20th May 1971. (The Palace, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh), born at Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, educated at the Mayo College, Ajmer, Rajasthan and graduated from the Government College in Chandigarh, married 24th June 1974 at Bangalore, Maharajkumari Divya Devi [HH Rani Divya Devi of Chamba], born at Bangalore, daughter of HH Maharana Sahib Shri Sahadevji Nahardevji of Dharampur, and his wife HH Maharani Bharti Devi, and has issue, two children.
  • Rajkumari Beejaksharee Devi, born at Bangalore.
  • Tikka Sahil Varman Singh, born at Bangalore.
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History

The ruling line belongs to the Surajbansi Rajput Clan. Founded in about 550AD by Raja Marut, who built Brahmapura. The state ranked 15th in precedence at the Punjab Darbar (1890).

Chamba came into British possession in 1846. The raja of Chamba maintains a military force of 12 cavalry, 200 infantry, and 3 guns and is entitled to a gun-salute of 11.

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Genealogy

  • Raja MERU VERMAN, 1st Raja of Chamba 670/-
  • ......
  • Raja SAHILA VERMAN, 20th Raja of Chamba 920/940, he built the town of Chamba named after his daughter around 920, married (amongst others) Rani Nenna Devi, and had issue.
    • Raja Yugakar Verman (qv)
    • Kumari Champavati Devi
  • Raja YUGAKAR VERMAN, 21st Raja of Chamba 940/-, married (a), Rani Tribhuvanarekha Devi, married (b), Rani Bhogamati Devi, and had issue.
    • Raja Vidagdha Verman (by 2nd wife) (qv)
  • Raja VIDAGDHA VERMAN, 22nd Raja of Chamba
  • Raja DODAKA VERMAN, 23rd Raja of Chamba
  • Raja VICHITAR VERMAN, 24th Raja of Chamba, his younger brother founded the Bandralta-Ramnagar estate in Jammu.
  • Raja DHAIRYA VERMAN, 25th Raja of Chamba
  • Raja SALAVAHANA VERMAN, 26th Raja of Chamba fl.1060, married and had issue.
    • Raja Soma Verman (qv)
    • Raja Asata Verman (qv)
    • Rani Bappika, married Raja Kalasa of Kashmir and had issue.
  • Raja SOMA VERMAN, 27th Raja of Chamba fl.1066
  • Raja ASATA VERMAN, 28th Raja of Chamba fl.1088, married and had issue.
    • Raja Jasata Verman (qv)
  • Raja JASATA VERMAN, 29th Raja of Chamba 1105/1118, married and had issue.
    • Raja Dhala Verman (qv)
  • Raja DHALA VERMAN, 30th Raja of Chamba 1118/1120
  • Raja UDAYA VERMAN, 31st Raja of Chamba 1120/-
  • ......
  • Raja ANAND VERMAN, Raja of Chamba ca1475/1512, married a daughter of the Raja of Kangra. He died ca1512.
  • Raja GANESA VERMAN, Raja of Chamba 1512/1559, married (amongst others), Rani Sahib Devi, and had issue. He died .
    • Raja Pratapsingh Verman (by Sahib Devi) (qv)
    • Mian Jit Singh
    • Mian Bhir Bahadur
    • Mian Hari Singh
    • Mian Satargun Singh
    • Mian Rupanand Singh
  • Raja PRATAPSINGH VERMAN, Raja of Chamba 1559/1586, married 3 wives from Kullu, and had issue. He died .
    • Raja Vir Vahnu Verman (qv)
  • Raja VIR VAHNU VERMAN, Raja of Chamba 1586/1589, married and had issue. He died .
    • Raja Balbhadra Verman (qv)
  • Raja BALBHADRA VERMAN, Raja of Chamba 1589/1641, deposed, with his son acting as Regent, married and had issue. He died .
    • Raja Janardan Verman, Regent of Chamba 1613/1623, married and had issue. He died about 1623 at Chamba.
      • Raja Prithvi Singh (qv)
    • Mian Bishambhar Verman, died .
    • Mian Man Singh
    • Mian Sudar Sen
  • Raja PRITHVI SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1641/1664, born , married (amongst others), a daughter of Raja Bhupat Pal of Basohli, and had issue. He died .
    • Raja Chhatar Singh (qv)
    • Mian Jai Singh, Wazir of Chamba 1664/1696
    • Mian Indar Singh
    • Mian Mahipat Singh, married and had issue.
      • Raja Ugar Singh (qv)
    • Mian Raghunath Singh, married and had issue.
      • Raja Dalel Singh (qv)
    • Mian Ram Singh
    • Mian Shakat Singh
    • Mian Raj Singh, Wazir of Chamba. He died shortly after 1690.
  • Raja CHHATAR SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1664/1690, married and had issue. He died .
    • Raja Udai Singh (qv)
    • Mian Lakshman Singh, died sp in 1720.
    • Kumari (name unknown), married 1680, Raja Bidhi Singh of Kullu.
  • Raja UDAI SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1690/1720, married and had issue. He died spm in 1720.
    • Kumari Sushil Kanwar, married Banda Singh Bahadur (Lachman Dev Minhas of Jammu).
  • Raja UGAR SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1720/1735 (deposed), Regent, married and had issue. He died .
    • Raja Umed Singh (qv)
    • Mian Sher Singh, married and had issue.
      • Kumari (name unknown), married into Jammu.
    • Kumari (name unknown), married Raja Shamsher Sen of Mandi. (cf. above)
  • Raja DALEL SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1735/1748 (abdicated), married a Princess of Jammu, and had issue. He died spm at Jwalamukhi.
    • Kumari (name unknown), married Raja Bajai Dev of Jammu.
  • Raja UMED SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1748/1764, born , married (a), a daughter of the Raja [?Kiral Dev] of Jasrota, married (b), a daughter of Raja Dhruv Dev of Jammu, died , and had issue. He died (13th of Baisakh, Vik.1820).
    • Rani Ananta Devi (by the Jammu Rani), married Raja Prakash Chand, Raja of Guler.
    • Raja Raj Singh (by the Jammu Rani) (qv)
  • Raja RAJ SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1764/1794, born in Rajnagar, married Rani Naginu Devi, daughter of Raja Sampat Pal of Bhadrawah, and had issue. He died (7th Har, Vik.1850).
    • Raja Jit Singh (qv)
    • Kumari (name unknown), born about 1772, married Raja Brijraj Dev of Jammu.
  • Raja JIT SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1794/1808, born , married Rani Sarda Devi of Jammu, died after 1825, and had issue. He died .
    • Raja Charhat Singh (qv)
    • Kumari (name unknown), married Raja Bir Singh of Nurpur, died .
    • Raja Zorawar Singh, raised to the dignity of Raja of Bhadrawah in 1833, married and had issue. He died .
      • Raja Parakam Singh, Raja of Bhadrawah in 1845. The state was annexed the same year by Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu; married and had issue. He died .
        • Kanwar Solan Singh, married and had issue. He died .
          • Kanwar Kartar Singh born , married 1stly, Kanwarani Rattan Dei of Tilokpur (see Bhadu), married 2ndly, Kanwarani Laxmi Devi of Ladori, married 3rdly, Kanwarani Himgula Devi of Lilh, and had issue.
            • Kanwar Gori Singh, married Kanwarani Brahmi Devi of Dunera, and had issue.
              • Kanwar Narendra Singh
          • Kanwar Amar Singh, born .
        • Kanwar Dhian Singh, born .
  • Raja CHARHAT SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1808/1844, born , married 1stly, 1825, a daughter of the Raja of Chenani, she committed sati in 1844, married 2ndly, 1836, Rani (name unknown), she committed sati in 1844, married 3rdly, 1838, Rani Katochni of Kangra, and had issue. He died , when two Ranis and six concubines committed sati.
    • Raja Sri Singh (by 3rd wife) (qv)
    • Raja Gopal Singh (by 2nd wife) (qv)
    • Mian Suchet Singh (by 3rd wife), born , died spm in August 1896 in London.
  • Raja SRI SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1844/1870, born , granted a sanad confirming his possession of the state in 1848, a sanad of 1862 confirms the right of adoption, married (amongst other) Rani Sarda Devi, daughter of Raja Ugar Sen of Suket, and had issue. He died . (11th Assuj).
    • Mian (name unknown), died in infancy.
    • Kumari (name unknown), married 10th February 1862, HH Maharaja Pratap Singhji of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Raja GOPAL SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1870/1873 (abdicated), born , after abdicating he was granted a jagir at Manjir for his maintenance where he lived in retirement until his death; married 1stly, Rani Raj Dei, daughter of Mian Ishwari Singh of Reh (see Nurpur), married 2ndly, a daughter of Raja Shamsher Singh of Guler, and had issue. He died in at Manjir.
    • HH Raja Saheb Shri Shyam Singh (by Rani Raj Dei) (qv)
    • HH Raja Saheb Shri Sir Bhuri Singh (by Rani Raj Dei) (qv)
    • Mian Pratap Singh (by Rani Guleriya), born after 1873, married Kanwarani Amar Dei, daughter of Mian Jagroop Chand of Kangra, and had issue. He died before 1919.
      • Kanwar Dharam Singh, married Kanwarani Sushila Kumari, daughter of Mian Sarup Singh of Reh (see Nurpur), and his wife, Kumari Sahib Dei, and had issue, five daughters.
        • Kumari Randhir Dei
        • Kumari Asha Dei
        • Kumari Kunver Dei
        • Kumari Sushma Dei
        • Kumari Kiran Dei
      • Kumari Pramila Dei
    • Kumari (name unknown), married the Raja of Tilokpur (see Bhadu).
  • HH Raja Saheb Shri SHYAM SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1873/1904 (abdicated), born , installed as Raja on 7th October 1873, married eleven wives, including, (a), February 1883, a grand-daughter of Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jammu and Kashmir, married (b), 1883, cousin of the Raja of Sirmur, married (c), Rani Sansar Dei of Tilokpur (see Bhadu), married (d), a daughter of the Rana of Bhadrawah, and had issue. He died .
    • Kanwar Saheb Shri Devi Singh, born , he died vpspl.
    • Kanwar Saheb Shri Tej Singh, born .
    • Kanwar Saheb Shri Nihal Singhji (by 4th wife), born , educated at Aitchison Chiefs' College, Lahore, married 1stly, 1917, Kanwarani Leela Devi, daughter of Kanwar Surinder Singh of Sirmur, married 2ndly, 1943, Kanwarani Kanchan Devi of Bhawarna, and had issue.
      • Kumari Uttam Dei, married Kanwar Inder Singh of Jaswan, and had issue, one son and four daughters.
        • Kumari Neeru Kumari, married Kanwar Vijay Singh of Sirmur, and has issue.
      • Kumari Suraj Dei, born , married 1948, Kanwar Pritam Singh, and had issue.
        • Kanwar Surinder Singh, married Kanwarani Asha Devi, daughter of Thakur Narendra Singh of Dhadi, and his wife, Thakurani Lakshmi Devi, and has issues, 3 children.
          • Chandni Jandrotia married to Harit Jamwal of Chamba.
          • Shelly Jandrotia
          • Gopal Krishan Singh Jandrotia
      • Rani Saheb Shrimati Kamal Deiji, born in Palampur, married 8th December 1964, Raja Saheb Shri Mahendra Palji Bahadur of Kutlehar.
      • Kanwar Maharaj Singh, born , married and had issue.
    • Rajkumari Laxmi Dei, died unmarried in 1965.
  • HH Raja Saheb Shri Sir BHURI SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1904/1919, born K.C.S.I. [cr.1906], C.I.E. [cr.1901], married and had issue, two sons and two daughters. He died .
    • HH Raja Saheb Shri Ram Singh (qv)
    • Kanwar Sahib Kesari Singh, educated at Aitchison's Chiefs College, Lahore; Wazir of Chamba 1920/1922, Regent of Chamba [xx.6.1922] - [21.9.1923], married 1stly, 1914, Kanwarani Champa Devi, daughter of Raja Jai Singh of Dada-Siba, and had issue, as well as further issue by a secondary liaison. He died O ctober 1949 in Chamba.
      • Kumari Uttam Devi, born in .
      • Kumari Suraj Devi, born , married 1949, Raja Harmahendra Singh of Dada-Siba, and had issue, one son and two daughters.
      • Kumari Kamal Devi, born , married and had issue.
      • Kanwar Sahib Gulab Singh, born in Chamba, married 1945, Kanwarani Padma Devi, and had issue, one son and three daughters. He died in Delhi.
        • Kanwar Arvind Singh, born on in Chamba Himachal Pradesh, married to Kunwarani Ramola Rajeshwari Thapa Singh (born on in Kathmandu Nepal), daughter of Late His Excellency Shri Nara Pratap Thapa Nepalese Ambassador to India from 1960 to 1961 and Rani Smt. Kamla Thapa at The Oberoi Hotel New Delhi on 30th June 1982. They have two children.
          • Nandita Singh, born on in New Delhi.
          • Pashupati M.K.Singh, born on in New Delhi.
      • Kanwar Sahib Sher Singh, born , married married 30th November 1953, Kanwarani Bijaya Kumari, daughter of Raja Shri Panch Mohan Bikram Shah II [alias Rama Raja], Raja of Ramnagar, and his wife, Rani Sita Rajya Lakshmi Devi, and had issue.
        • Kanwar Kameleshwar Singh, born , married (his cousin) 23rd December 1978 in Varanasi, Kanwarani Sangita Shah, daughter of Shri Manmohan Bikram Shah [Manmohan Raja] of Ramnagar, and has issue.
        • Thakurani Hemant Kanwar, born , married 9th April 1979, Thakur Pradyuman Singh of Mandawa-Junior, and has issue, two sons.
      • Kumari Sheela Devi (by a secondary wife), born , married 1945, Kanwar Upendra Chand, born , third son of Raja Mahendra Chand of Nadaun, by his second wife, and had issue. She died .
      • Kumari Prakash Devi (by a secondary wife), born , married 1949, Kanwar Devinder Singh of Sirmur, and has issue.
      • Kanwar Bhawani Singh (by a secondary wife), born , married and has issue.
    • Rani Saheb Shrimati Rattan Deiji Saheba, married Raja Saheb Shri Brijmohan Palji Bahadur of Kutlehar, and had issue.
    • HH Maharani Dhan Deiji Saheba, married 1915, HH Shri Maharaja Hari Singhji Bahadur of Jammu & Kashmir. She died .
  • HH Raja Saheb Shri RAM SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1919/1935, born , educated at Aitchison Chiefs' College, Lahore, installed on 24th April 1920, married HH Rani Dharam Deiji Saheba, daughter of Raja Raghunath Singh of Jaswan, and his wife, a daughter of HH Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jammu and Kashmir, and had issue. He died .
    • HH Raja Saheb Shri Lakshman Singh (qv)
    • Rajkumari Asha Devi, born , died unmarried 1961.
    • Rajkumar Narayan Singh, born , married 4th February 1957 in Chamba, Rajkumar Rani Shakuntala Kumari, daughter of HH Maharaja Sir Brijnath Singh Ju Deo Bahadur of Maihar, and his wife, HH Maharani Brinda Devi, and has issue.
      • Kanwar Jitendra Singh, born in Chamba.
      • Kanwar Harmahendra Singh, born in Chamba.
    • Rajkumari Vidya Devi, born .
  • HH Raja Saheb Shri LAKSHMAN SINGH, Raja of Chamba 1935/1971, born , educated at Aitchison Chiefs' College, Lahore, married 3rd May 1944, HH Rani Devendra Kumari, daughter of HH Maharawat Sir Ram Singhji II Bahadur of Pratapgarh, and his first wife, HH Maharani Raj Kunwari, and had issue, five children. He died .
    • Rajkumari Durga Kumari [Princess Pinky], born at Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, married 11th December 1969 (div.1971), HH Maharao Ranjit Singhji of Bundi. She died sp on 8th April 1978 in Chamba.
    • HH Raja Saheb Shri Prem Singh (qv)
    • Rajkumar Brijendra Singhji [Prince Tutu Chamba], born at Pune, Maharashtra, educated at the Mayo College, Ajmer, Rajasthan, finishing his schooling in 1966, graduated in 1970, from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University (History Honours), married 19th April 1979, Rajkumari Asha Kumari, daughter of Maharaja Madaneshwar Singh Deo of Surguja, and his second wife, Maharani Devendra Kumari, and had issue. He died at Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi due to a burst ulcer.
      • Kumari Ravinandini Kumari, born in Bhopal, educated at the Sacred Heart School, Dalhousie and at Mayo Girls' College, Ajmer, married 9th May 2006 at The Palace, Jandrighat, Dalhousie Town, District Chamba, Mr. Mathew Ashley John Westlake, son of Mr. and Mrs. John and Wendy Westlake of Vancouver, Canada.
    • Rajkumar Hem Singh, born at Pune, Maharashtra, educated at the Mayo College, Ajmer, Rajasthan; graduated from the Government College, Chandigarh; married February 1976 in New Delhi, Kumari Jagdishwari Kumari, born at Bangalore, South India, daughter of Kumar Shri Bharat Sinhji of Vana, Gujarat, and his wife, Kumarani Jagat Kumari of Sangana (?Sanganwa), and has issue, two children.
      • Kunwar Manav Singh Varman, born at Bangalore, married 6th February 2011 in Surguja, to Rajkumari Abha Singh Deo, daughter of Rajkumar Someshwar Saran Singh Deo of Surguja, and his wife, Kanwarani Manju Singh.
      • Kumari Japakshri Kumari, born at Bangalore.
    • Rajkumari Padma Kumari [HH Maharani Padma Kumari of Bikaner], born at Chamba, educated at the Sacred Heart School at Dalhousie, District Chamba, and at Auckland House, Simla; married 27th April 1971 at New Delhi, Yuvaraj Narendra Singh [later HH Maharajadhiraj Raj Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharajah Sri Narendra Singhji Bahadur of Bikaner] and has issue, three daughters.
  • HH Raja Saheb Shri PREM SINGH, Raja of Chamba (see above)
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Chamba map
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