List of princely states of British India (by region)


Before the Partition of India in 1947, about 584 Princely States, also called Native States, existed in India, which were not fully and formally part of British India, the parts of the Indian subcontinent which had not been conquered or annexed by the British but under indirect rule, subject to subsidiary alliances.
Things moved quickly after the partition of British India in 1947. By the end of 1949, all of the states had chosen to accede to one of the newly independent states of India or Pakistan or else had been conquered and annexed.

Outline

In principle, the princely states had internal autonomy, while by treaty the British Crown had suzerainty and was responsible for the states' external affairs. In practice, while the states were indeed ruled by potentates with a variety of titles, such as Maharaja, Raja, Nizam, Raje, Deshmukh, Nawab, Mirza, Baig, Chhatrapati, Khan, Thakur Sahab, Darbar saheb or specially Jam for Jadeja/Samma, the British still had considerable influence.
By the time of the departure of the British in 1947, only four of the largest of the states still had their own British Resident, a diplomatic title for advisors present in the states' capitals, while most of the others were grouped together into Agencies, such as the Central India Agency, the Deccan States Agency, and the Rajputana Agency.
From 1920, the states were represented in the Chamber of Princes, which held its meetings in New Delhi.
The most important states were ranked as salute states, whose rulers were entitled to a given number of salute guns.
By the Indian Independence Act 1947, the British gave up their suzerainty of the states and left each of them free to choose whether to join one of the newly independent countries of India and Pakistan or to remain outside them. For a short time, some of the rulers explored the possibility of a federation of the states separate from either, but this came to nothing. Most of the states then decided to accede to India or to Pakistan, such as Junagadh, Hyderabad on 18 September 1948, Bilaspur on 12 October 1948, and Bhopal on 1 May 1949. Travancore also chose to remain an independent country.
In Jammu and Kashmir, a state with a Muslim majority but a Hindu ruler, the Maharaja hoped to remain independent but acceded to India on 27 October 1947 at the outset of the invasion of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan — leading to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.
On 31 March 1948, Kalat acceded to Pakistan, although the brother of the Khan led a rebellion against this decision.

Princely States at the time of independence on 14 August 1947

Individual residencies

Name of stateBritish ResidentNow part ofLast or present ruler
HyderabadIndividual residency Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka, IndiaMukarram Jah
Jammu and KashmirIndividual residency Jammu and Kashmir, India
Ladakh, India;

Azad Kashmir, Pakistan
Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan;

Aksai Chin, China
Trans-Karakoram Tract, China		Shriman Rajrajeshwar Maharajadhiraj Sri Sir Hari Singh Indar Mahindar Bahadur, Sipar-i-Sultanat-e-Inglisia, Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir
MysoreIndividual residency Karnataka, IndiaShri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar
BenaresIndividual residency Uttar Pradesh, IndiaUdit Narayan Singh, Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh, Aditya Narayan Singh, Vibhuti Narayan Singh
TravancoreIndividual residency Kerala and 5 taluks of Tamil Nadu, IndiaShri Padmanabha Dasa Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma Vanchi Pala Maharaja Martanda Varma V Shri Uthradom Thirunal Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharaja Raja Ramaraja Bahadur Shamsher Jung, Maharaja of Travancore

Baluchistan Agency

Princely States of the Baluchistan Agency.
Name of stateBritish Resident or AgentNow part ofLast or present ruler
KalatPrincely StateBalochistan, PakistanBeglar Begi Mir Agha Suleiman Jan, Khan of Kalat
KharanPrincely StateBalochistan, PakistanHabibullah Khan
Las BelaPrincely StateBalochistan, PakistanMir Muhammad Yusuf Khan, The Amir and Jam of Las Bela
MakranPrincely StateBalochistan, PakistanBai Khan Baloch Gikchi

Deccan States Agency and Kolhapur Residency (Maratha)

Princely States of Deccan States Agency and Kolhapur Residency.
Name of stateBritish Resident or AgentNow part ofLast or present ruler
AkalkotPrincely StateMaharashtra, IndiaShrimant Rani Sumitra Bai Raje Bhonsle, Rani Saheb of Akalkot
AundhPrincely StateMaharashtra, IndiaMeherban Shrimant Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi
BhorPrincely StateMaharashtra, IndiaRaja Shrimant Sir Raghunathrao Shankarrao Pandit Pant Sachiv, Raja of Bhor
JamkhandiPrincely StateKarnataka, IndiaRaja Saheb Shrimant Raja Pranay Rao Parshuram Rao Patwardhan
JanjiraPrincely StateMaharashtra, IndiaNawab Sidi Muhammed Khan II Sidi Ahmad Khan, Nawab of Janjira
JathPrincely StateMaharashtra, IndiaLt. Shrimant Raja Vijaysinghrao Ramrao Babasaheb Dafle
KolhapurPrincely StateMaharashtra, IndiaShrimant Rajashri Shahu II Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kolhapur
Kurundvad SeniorPrincely StateMaharashtra, IndiaRaja Shrimant Bhalchandrarao Chintamanrao Patwardhan, Raja of Kurundwad Sr.
Kurundvad JuniorPrincely StateMaharashtra, IndiaRaja Shrimant Hariharrao Raghunathrao Patwardhan, Raja of Kurundwad Jr.
Miraj JuniorPrincely StateMaharashtra, IndiaRaja Meherban Shrimant Sir Madhavrao Hariharrao Patwardhan
Miraj SeniorPrincely StateMaharashtra, IndiaNarayan Rao Jatya Sahib Patwardhan
MudholPrincely StateKarnataka, IndiaShrimant Raja Bhairavsinhrao Malojirao Ghorpade II
PhaltanPrincely StateMaharashtra, IndiaMajor Raja Bahadur Shrimant Ram raje Naik Nimbalkar
SangliPrincely StateMaharashtra, IndiaCapt. Shrimant Raja Saheb Sir Chintamanrao II Dhundirajrao Appasaheb Patwardhan
SavanurPrincely StateKarnataka, IndiaNawab of Savanur, Abdul Majid Khan II
SawantvadiPrincely StateMaharashtra, IndiaBhonsale clan

Gwalior Residency (Maratha)

Princely States of the Gwalior Residency.
Name of stateBritish Resident or AgentNow part ofLast or present ruler
GwaliorPrincely StateMadhya Pradesh, IndiaMaharaja Jivaji Rao Scindia
GarhaPrincely StateMadhya Pradesh, India
KhaniyadhanaPrincely StateMadhya Pradesh, India
RamgadiPrincely StateUttar Pradesh, IndiaDiwan Mahadev Mishra
RajgarhPrincely StateMadhya Pradesh, IndiaMaharani Shushila Sinha Rudrani
RampurPrincely StateUttar Pradesh, IndiaRaza Ali Khan of Rampur

Madras Presidency

Princely States of the Madras Presidency.
Name of stateBritish Resident or AgentNow part ofLast or present ruler
BanganapallePrincely StateAndhra Pradesh, IndiaNawab Sayyid Fazl-i-'Ali Khan IV Bahadur, Nawab of Banganapalle
CochinPrincely StateKerala, IndiaRama Varma Pareekshit Thampuran, Maharaja of Cochin
PudukkottaiPrincely StateTamil Nadu, IndiaRajagopala Tondaiman, Maharaja of Pudukkottai
SandurPrincely StateKarnataka, IndiaYeshwantrao Ghorpade

North-west Frontier States Agency

Princely States of the North-West Frontier States Agency.
Agencies included the Dir Swat and Chitral Agency and the Deputy Commissioner of Hazara acting as the Political Agent for Amb and Phulra.
Name of stateBritish Resident or AgentNow part ofLast or present ruler
AmbPrincely StateKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, PakistanNawab Muhammad Saeed Khan Tanoli
ChitralPrincely StateKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, PakistanMehtar Saif-ul-Mulk Nasir
DirPrincely StateKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, PakistanMuhammad Shah Khosru Khan
PhulraPrincely StateKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, PakistanKhan Ata Muhammed Khan
SwatPrincely StateKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, PakistanMiangul Abdul-Haqq Jahanzib

Gilgit Agency

The States of Hunza and Nagar and many feudal Jagirs in the Gilgit Agency were tributary to the Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir.
Name of stateBritish Resident or AgentNow part ofLast or present ruler
HunzaGilgit AgencyGilgit–Baltistan, PakistanMohammad Jamal Khan
NagarGilgit AgencyGilgit–Baltistan, PakistanShowkat Ali Khan

Province of Sind

Name of stateBritish Resident or AgentNow part ofLast or present ruler
KhairpurPrincely StateSindh, PakistanGeorge Ali Murad Khan
UmerkotPrincely StateSindh, PakistanRana Hamir Singh

Punjab state agency

States of the Punjab States Agency.
Name of stateBritish Resident or AgentNow part ofLast or present ruler
BahawalpurPrincely StatePunjab, PakistanNawab Sadeq Mohammad Khan V
BilaspurPrincely StateHimachal Pradesh, IndiaRaja Kirti Chand, Raja of Bilaspur
FaridkotPrincely StatePunjab, IndiaColonel H.H. Farzand-i-Saadat-i-Nishan-i-Hazrat-i-Kaiser-i-Hind Maharaja Sir Harinder Singh Brar Bans Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Faridkot
JindPrincely StatePunjab and Haryana, IndiaMaharaja Satbir Singh , Maharaja of Jind
Kalsia.Princely StateHaryana, IndiaRaja Himmat Sher Singh Sahib Bahadur
KangraPrincely StateHimachal Pradesh, IndiaRaja Aditya Dev Chand Katoch
KapurthalaPrincely StatePunjab, IndiaBrig. Maharaja Sri Sukhjit Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kapurthala

Kumharsain		Princely StateHimachal Pradesh, IndiaRana Surendra Singh
Loharu StatePrincely StateHaryana, IndiaNawab Mirza Alauddin Ahmad Khan II, Nawab of Loharu
MalerkotlaPrincely StatePunjab, IndiaH.H. Nawab Muhammad Iftikhar 'Ali Khan Bahadur
MandiPrincely StateHimachal Pradesh, India-
NabhaPrincely StatePunjab, IndiaSir Pratap Singh Sir Hira Singh
PatialaPrincely StatePunjab, IndiaMaharajadhiraj Sir Yadavindra Singh Mahendra Bahadur
RajgarhPrincely StateHimachal Pradesh, IndiaMaharani Sushila Sinha
SirmurPrincely StateHimachal Pradesh, IndiaLt. Maharaja Rajendra Prakash Bahadur
Suket/ SundernagarPrincely StateHimachal Pradesh, IndiaRaja Hari Sen, Raja of Suket
SibaPrincely StateHimachal Pradesh, IndiaRaja Dr.Ashok K. Thakur, Raja of Siba & Tantpalan
Tehri GarhwalPrincely State Uttarakhand, IndiaMaharaja Manabendra Shah Sahib Bahadur

States of the Rajputana Agency

States of the Rajputana Agency.
Name of stateBritish Resident or AgentNow part ofLast or present ruler
AlwarPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaRaj Rishi Shri Sawai Maharaja Jitendra Pratap Singhji Veerendra Shiromani Dev Bharat Prabhakar Bahadur Jitendra Singh, Maharaja of Alwar.
BanswaraPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaRai Rayan Mahimahendra Maharajadhiraj Maharawalji Sahib Shri Jagmalji II Sahib Bahadur, Naresh Rajya, Maharawal of Banswara.
BharatpurPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaMaharaja Brijendra Singh
BikanerPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaSri Raj Rajeshwar Maharajadhiraj Narendra Sawai Maharaja Shiromani Ravi Raj Singhji Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner and Head of the Royal House of Bikaner.
BundiPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaCol. Maharao Raja Shri Bahadur Singhji Bahadur
DholpurPrincely StateRajastsan, IndiaHis Highness Maharajadhiraja
Shri Sawai Maharaj Rana Shri Hemant
Singh, Lokendra Bahadur, Diler Jang Jai
Deo, Maharaj Rana of Dholpur
DungarpurPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaRai-i-Rayan, Mahimahendra, Maharajadhiraj Maharawal Shri Mahipal Singhji II Sahib Bahadur, Maharawal of Dungarpur.
JaipurPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaHH Saramad-i-Rajahai Hindustan Raj Rajendra Shri Maharajadhiraj Sir Sawai Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II
JaisalmerPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaMaharajadhiraj Maharawal Sir Jawahir Singh Bahadur
JhalawarPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaMaharajadhiraj Maharaj Rana Shri Chandrajit Singh Dev Bahadur, Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar.
JodhpurPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaRaj Rajeshwar Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Hindustan Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Shri Gaj Singhji II Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Jodhpur.
KarauliPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaMaharaja Shri Ganesh Pal Deo Bahadur Yadakul Chandra Bhal
KishangarhPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaUmdae Rajhae Buland Makan Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Sumer Singhji Bahadur
KotahPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaMaharao Shri Bhim Singh II Bahadur
KushalgarhPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaRao Harendra Singh
Sardargarh, thikana in UdaipurPrincely StateRajasthan, India
MewarPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaMaharana Sir Bhupal Singh
Patan, RajasthanPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaRao Bir Bikram Singh
PratabgarhPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaRaja Ajit Pratap Singh

Shekhawati		Princely StateRajasthan, IndiaShri Maharao Sheoraj Singh
ShahpuraPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaRajadhiraj Sudershan Singh
SirohiPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaMaharao Raghubir Singh
TonkPrincely StateRajasthan, IndiaNawab Muhammad Faruq Ali Khan

Gujarat States Agency and Baroda Residency

Kathiawar Agency

Princely states of Kathiawar in Saurashtra
Name of stateBritish Resident or AgentNow part ofLast or present ruler
Dhrol StatePrincely StateKathiawar, India Thakor Saheb Shri Shri Chandrasinhji Jadeja
Nawanagar StatePrincely StateKathiawar, India Jam saheb shri Shatrushaylsinhji Digvijaysinhji Jadeja

Makaji Meghpar		JagirKathiawar, IndiaHardhrol Bhayats

Rajkot State		Princely stateKathiawar, India Thakor saheb Shri Pradhyumansinhji Jadeja
Gondal StatePrincely stateKathiawar, India Thakor Saheb Shri Bhagvatsinhji Jadeja
Morvi StatePrincely stateKathiawar, India Thakor Saheb Shri Lakhdhirsinhji Jadeja
Porbandar StatePrincely stateKathiawar, India Maharana Shri Natwarsinhji Jethwa
Bhavnagar StatePrincely stateKathiawar, India Maharaja Raol Shri Krishnakumarsinhji Gohil
Wadhwan StatePrincely stateKathiawar, India Maharaja Shri Suredrasinhji Jhala
Junagadh StatePrincely stateKathiawar, India Nawab sahib Mahabatkhanji 3rd.
Jafarabad StatePrincely stateKathiawar, India Mohammad Khan 2nd.

'' districts: Halar, Jhalavad, Sorath and Gohelwad.

States of [Central India Agency]

Orissa States Agency