District Bilaspur
Lakes in Bilaspur
1. Govind Sagar Lake:-
- Bhakra Dam project was constructed on the Gobind Sagar Lake.
- The suggestion for Bhakra Dam was given by Sir Louis Dane, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab.
- 17th November 1955:- Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation of this project by pouring the first concrete bucket.
- 1963:- Bhakra Dam was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru.
Facts About Bhakra Dam: (Bhakra Beas Management Board- BBMB)
- Bhakra Dam is also referred to as the “Temple of Resurgent India”.
- Height: 226 meters
- Capacity: 1325 MW
- It is the highest gravity dam in Asia. Bhakra Dam was India’s highest dam, but now it is second after Tehri Dam (260 meters) in Uttarakhand.
Facts about Bilaspur
- In Bilaspur, the Kehluhi (Kehluhi dialect) is spoken.
- Language expert G.A. Grierson classified Kehluhi as part of the Rudi Punjabi dialect, which is also spoken in Hoshiarpur.
- Deoli Fish Breeding Farm: Established in 1961-62. Asia’s largest fish breeding farm. Located at Ali Khad.
- Bilaspur’s Barmana:- Known for high deposits of limestone. Houses the second cement factory of Himachal Pradesh. ACC Cement, established in 1984.
- Kandror Bridge: Was Asia’s highest bridge. Construction tenure: 1959-1964. Height: 80 meters from the Satluj riverbed. Connects Ghumarwin with Hamirpur.
- Slapper Bridge: Construction started in 1960 and completed in 1964. Connects:- Koldam to Dekar Project. Koldam Project: 800 MW capacity. Satluj Project: 800 MW capacity. Construction assistance: Russia’s help.
- AIIMS: First AIIMS Institute in Himachal Pradesh located at Bilaspur.
Additional Points
- First Glass Bridge: Located at Naina Devi.
- First Maha Shakti Peeth Museum of India: Located at Naina Devi.
- Paragliding: Available in Bandla.
- Hydro Engineering College: Located at Bandla.
- Natural Gas: Mentioned but no further details provided.
- First Floating Solar Plant: Located in Naila, with a capacity of 15 MW (STVN).
- Naval National Cadet Corps Unit: Established in March 1963.
- First Bank in Bilaspur: Known as the Bank of Bilaspur, established in 1944.
- Sports Authority of India (SAI): Located in Bilaspur.
History of Bilaspur
1.Bir Chand (697 AD): Tenure: 697–730 AD.
- Founded his capital at Naina Devi.
- Constructed the temple of Naina Devi. Tenure: 697–730 AD.
- He belonged to the family of Raja Venu Verma.
2. Kahal Chand:
- The son of Vijay Chand.
- Shifted his capital to Hindur (now Nalagarh).
3. Megh Chand:
- To strengthen governance, he ordered strict discipline in the kingdom.
- He fought against invaders for his kingdom’s protection and died during a battle.
4. Abhisand Chand:
- He was a contemporary of Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
- Abhisand Chand fought a war with the Raja of North Bengal and was killed in battle.
5. Sambhuxan Chand (1380 AD):
- The youngest son of his mother.
- Killed his brother for gaining power over the throne.
6. Ratan Chand (1400 AD):
- Constructed Bachhrethu Fort on Cot Range.
- Maintained good relations with the king of Delhi.
- Delhi sent 1.5 lakh rupees annually as a gift and in taxes.
7. Kalyan Chand / Gyan Chand (1570):
- Contemporary of Akbar.
- Adopted Islamic customs during Kasim Khan’s rule in Saharanpur province.
- Adopted Islamic items (customs) like “Mehboob,” but his son Vikram Chand reverted to Hindu religion.
8. Bikram Chand (Biboo):
- Shifted his capital from Miana Devi to Sunhal (on the banks of the Sutlej River).
- Dated: 23/08/22 (probably a note indicating reference or writing date).
9. Kalyan Chand (around 1630):
- Established boundaries to protect Hindu areas.
- Built a fort in Handur (modern Kullu) to protect against invasions.
- Fought a battle in Handur against Narayan Chand’s army of Kahlur.
- Kalyan Chand married the daughter of the king of Suket, Shyam Sen.
- In Suket, a place called “Mahadeo” (Mahadev) was established, which caused Kalyan Chand to be defeated by the king of Mandi, Suraj Sen.
- After this, Kalyan Chand fled from the battlefield with his troops to Suket under the protection of Shyam Sen.
- Shyam Sen arranged for Kalyan Chand to live in a nearby forested area to raise his forces. This place is still known as Kalyan Chand’s hiding spot.
- Guru Govind Singh, the sixth Sikh Guru, was invited by Raja Kalyan Chand to Kiratpur (or Kalyangarh). The Guru visited Kiratpur and preached his teachings to the people.
10. Tara Chand (1645):
- Was considered a weak ruler.
- Constructed Taragarh Fort.
11. Raja Dip Chand (1650–56):
- 1654:- Established a town named Vyaspur, which later came to be known as Bilaspur.
- Shifted his capital→ Sunhal to Bilaspur near the Sutlej River.
- Constructed a palace (Mehal) for himself in Bilaspur.
- Basalpur Khara → Dev Bhati Temple Dhaka → Baba Nathal Singh Temple (Both temples were constructed by Dip Chand.)
- Dip Chand was a contemporary of Aurangzeb.
- Raja Jai Dev of Kangra appointed Dip Chand to manage the state.
- He was given the title of “Anivaran Nayak” (meaning “Undisputed Leader”) and the privilege of receiving salutes.
- The king of Kangra, Charakot Bhan Chand, conspired and arranged Dip Chand’s assassination at Nadon.
12. Raja Bhim Chand (1677–1712):
- Became a ruler at a very young age.
- His mother, Jalam Devi, and uncle, Manak Chand, managed the state during his early years. Later, he took over the administration independently.
- Manak Chand was exiled by the seven courtiers, which led Bhim Chand to marry his widow.
- 1687: Battle of Nadon→ Miya Khan of Jammu invaded Kehloor.
- Bhim Chand negotiated with him, paying tribute in return for peace.
- Battle of Nodaun (नदौन) Bhim Chand+ Guru vs Muslims → defeated
- Bhim Chand spent the later part of his life as a hermit(सन्यासी).
13. Ajmer Chand 1712:
- Ajmergarh fort constructed by him on the border of Handut.
14. Devi Chand 1741-1787:
- After the death of his son, the king did not sit on the throne himself at the insistence of the people, but made Gaje Singh the king. राजा ने बेटे की मृत्यु के बाद जनता के आग्रह करने पर स्वयं गद्दी ना बैठकर गजे सिंह को राजा बनाया।