princely state · Indian princely states
Chitral State
Origins
The Katur dynasty took power in Chitral in the later 16th century, ruling the high valleys of the Kunar (Chitral) river beneath Tirich Mir. The rulers took the title Mehtar and contended with neighbouring Badakhshan, the Kushwaqt rulers of upper Chitral and the Dards of Gilgit.
Rule and society
The Mehtar ruled through a hierarchy of nobles over a population of farmers and herders speaking Khowar, with Sunni and Ismaili Muslim communities. Aman ul-Mulk, who died in 1892, united upper and lower Chitral. The succession war after his death led to the siege of the British garrison in Chitral fort in 1895, its relief, and closer British control.
Decline and legacy
Chitral acceded to Pakistan in 1947 under Muzaffar ul-Mulk. Its princely status was abolished in 1969, when it became a district of Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province, now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
On the connections map
Open the full map →Connections (3)
- Chitral State was a vassal of Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)1878 CE – 1895 CE
- Chitral State was a protectorate of British Raj1895 CE – 1947 CE
- Chitral State was part of Dominion of Pakistan1947 CE – 1956 CE
More states of Indian princely states →
Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Chitral State. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/chitral-state
- MLA
- “Chitral State.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/chitral-state. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Chitral State.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/chitral-state.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Chitral State’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/chitral-state (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻