Nilagiri State was one of the princely states of India during the British Raj. It belonged to the Orissa States Agency and its capital was at Raj Nilgiri, which later became the modern town of Nilagiri. The state was bounded in the north and west by the State of Mayurbhanj and in the south by Balasore District. As of 1940, Nilgiri State had a population of 73,109 and an area of 263 sqmi. In 1949 it was merged into Balasore District.

History

According to local traditions, Nilgiri state was founded by a mythical ancestor coming from the Chhota Nagpur region of the Nagabanshi dynasty. In 1525 Raja Narayan Singh distinguished himself by his service to Emperor Akbar in the battles against Afghan invaders. Between 1611 and 1797, there were seven successive rulers. Raja Krishnachandra Mardraj Harichandan, who ruled Nilgiri in 1850s, adopted the son of the Bhanj king of Mayurbhanj, Krishna Chandra Bhanj Deo, who succeeded as the ruler of Nilgiri as Raja Shyamchandra Mardraj Harichandan in 1893. During the time of the political integration of India freedom fighters such as Balaram Raj, Shyamsundar Parida, Kailashchandra Mohanty, Banamali Das, Baishnab Patnaik and Nanda Kishore Patnaik forced the last Raja of Nilgiri, Kishor Chandra, to surrender to the newly formed Indian National Government. The prince signed the instrument of accession to the Indian Union on 1 January 1948.

Rulers

The rulers of Nilgiri State. They bore the title of 'Raja', 'Rani' in the case of female ruler Chira Devi.

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