The District of Solan
Solan district, in its present form, was assembled from several former princely states — Baghat, Bhagal, Kunihar, Kuthar, Mangal, Beja and Mahlog — along with parts of Keonthal and Kothi. These hill territories became part of Himachal Pradesh on 1 November 1966, when the composite state of Punjab was reorganised along linguistic lines. The district itself takes its name from Solan town, which grew up around a cantonment built there in the closing years of the 19th century.
The Princely States Behind the Name
Baghat
The name is thought to come from local hill words for "many" and "pass." Its capital moved to Solan once the cantonment was built there; the ruling line traced back to a Panwar Rajput chief from the Deccan.
Bhagal
Founded by a Panwar Rajput line from Ujjain. A revolt in 1905 was put down with help from the Superintendent of the Shimla Hill States; the state merged into Himachal Pradesh in 1948 under its last ruler.
Kunihar
Established around 1154 CE by a chieftain who had travelled from Akhnur in Jammu. Later rulers fought alongside Nalagarh and Bilaspur, though the state weakened under a later, less capable ruler.
Kuthar
Founded by conquest by a ruler originally from Kishtwar in Kashmir. Restored by the British after the Gorkha war, it merged into Himachal Pradesh in April 1948.
Mahlog
Its ruling family traced its line to a Raja of Ajodhya. Territory annexed during a regional conflict was later returned by the British, after which the state's rulers took the title "Rana" rather than "Raja."
Beja
Ruled by a Rajput family believed to have roots near Delhi, restored under the title "Thakur" once British authority was re-established after the Gorkha invasion.
Mangal
The most remote of the hill states — originally a tributary of Bilaspur before becoming independent after the Gorkha war. Its ruling family traced its lineage to the Atri clan.
About the Bank
The Baghat Urban Co‑operative Bank Ltd. was registered on 7 September 1970 by Sh. Pitamber Singh (IAS), then Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Shimla. Its opening ceremony was inaugurated by the late Raja Durga Singh, ruler of the former Baghat State.
The bank was brought under the Banking Regulation Act via Letter No. ACD–BR‑994/E‑2(20)‑70‑72, dated 27 March 1972, and was registered permanently under RBI License No. UBD HP 1410 P on 9 May 1997.