Raigarh estate was founded in 1625 by Madan Singh. He was descended from the Gond kings of Chanda.[3][4] In 1911 Raigarh estate was recognized as a state.[5]
The state had an area of 3,848 square km and a population of 174,929, according to the 1901 census. The capital of the state was the city of Raigarh, which had a population of 6,764 inhabitants in 1901.[4][6]
The Rajas of Raigarh also owned the Estate of Bargarh and so held the title of Chief of Bargarh.[4] Around 1625, the Raja of Sambalpur, created Daryo Singh as Raja of Raigarh.[4] However, under British, it became a princely state only in 1911, during the reign of Raja Bahadur Bhup Deo Singh.[2][4]
Among the notable rulers of State were Deonath Singh, who assisted the British in the Mutiny of 1857.[4] Other rulers were Raja Bahadur Bhup Deo Singh,[4]Raja Chakradhar Singh.[7]
Chakradhar Singh is noted for his contributions to Kathak and Hindustani music, especially for founding of Raigarh Gharana.[7] The last ruler was Lalit Kumar Singh, his son succeeded him to the throne of Raigarh and ruled briefly before the Raigarh State was merged into Union of India on 14 December 1947. The princely states of Jashpur, Raigarh, Sakti, Sarangarh and Udaipur were united later to form the Raigarh district in present Chhattisgarh.[8][9]
^Report on the Administration of the Feudatory States of the Central Provinces 1921 pp:37-38
^ abRaigarh darbar by P. D. Ashirwadam
Agam Kala Prakashan, 1990 On the contribution of Chakradhar Singh, Raja of Raigarh, 1905-1947, to Kathak dance and Hindustani music.
^Publication by Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics - 1973- Issue 61 - Page 346
