princely state · Indian princely states

Mandi State

1290 CE – 1948 CE (approx.) · capital Mandi

A Sen dynasty hill state on the Beas, known for its rock-salt mines, its temples and the Shanan hydroelectric scheme built under its last Rajas.

Origins

Mandi was founded by a junior branch of the Sen dynasty of Suket State; tradition places the split around 1290. In 1527 Raja Ajbar Sen founded the town of Mandi on the Beas as his capital.

Rule and society

The state's revenue came largely from its rock-salt mines at Guma and Drang. Raja Sidh Sen (r. about 1684–1727) expanded its territory, and the town's many temples earned it the name 'Varanasi of the hills'. Mandi became a tributary of the Sikh Empire and passed under British protection in 1846. Under Raja Joginder Sen, the Shanan power station opened in 1932.

Decline and legacy

Mandi merged into Himachal Pradesh in April 1948 and is now a district of Himachal Pradesh. The International Shivratri fair at Mandi continues the old royal festival.

Lineage

Mandi StateDominion of India 1947 CE – 1950 CE

Connections (3)

Mandi State was a vassal of Sikh Empire1839 CE – 1846 CE
Mandi State was a protectorate of Company rule in India1846 CE – 1858 CE
Mandi State was a protectorate of British Raj1858 CE – 1947 CE

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Cite this page

APA: The Epoch Institute. (2026). Mandi State. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/mandi-state
MLA: “Mandi State.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/mandi-state. Accessed .
Chicago: The Epoch Institute. “Mandi State.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/mandi-state.
Harvard: The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Mandi State’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/mandi-state (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻