List of Indian Princely States.html
 
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Hundreds of princely states in British India existed prior to the independence of India and Pakistan (including the present Bangladesh) in 1947, ruled by semi-independent potentates. Only four of the largest of these states were still directed by the British through Residencies—British advisors actually present in the states' capitals. Most of the states were grouped together into regional agencies or even governed indirectly, such as vassals of states in direct report with the viceroy.

The most important states are ranked among the salute states (see there for the details concerning ranks of precedence).

Some states only acceded to India and/or Pakistan after independence. States later annexed by India were Hyderabad (18 September 1948), Bhopal (1 May 1949), Indore (15 August 1947, the same day as Indian independence), Junagadh (7 November 1947 / February 1948), and Sikkim (16 May 1975). Pakistan re-captured the state of Kalat after the brother of the king tried to break-away on 31 March 1948. Siba was incorporated on 1 November 1956, and Bilaspur was annexed in 1948. Jammu and Kashmir, even though a Muslim majority state ruled by a Hindu king, was annexed by India on 27 October 1947. Kashmir is still disputed between India and Pakistan.

However, after British India was divided into India and Pakistan, the rulers of these Princely States lost their titles and status as monarchs and were equal in status with everyone else.

Indian Princely States at the time of independence on August 15, 1947

There have been various differences in organisation before, repeatedly quite significant, during the British Raj.

Individual residencies

Princely State Now part of Last Ruler
Hyderabad Flag of India Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra & Karnataka, India Asaf Jah VII
Kashmir and Jammu Flag of India Jammu and Kashmir, India and Flag of Pakistan Azad Kashmir & Northern Areas, Pakistan. Hari Singh
Mysore Flag of India Karnataka, India Jayachamaraja Wodeyar
Sikkim Flag of India Sikkim, India Palden Thondup Namgyal


Baluchistan Agency

Princely States of the Baluchistan Agency.

Princely State Now part of Last Ruler
Kalat Flag of Pakistan Balochistan, Pakistan Ahmad Yar Khan
Kharan Flag of Pakistan Balochistan, Pakistan Habibullah Khan
Las Bela Flag of Pakistan Balochistan, Pakistan Jam Ghulam Qadir Khan
Makran Flag of Pakistan Balochistan, Pakistan Bai Khan Baloch Gikchi


Deccan States Agency and Kolhapur Residency

Princely States of Deccan States Agency and Kolhapur Residency.

Princely State Now part of Last Ruler
Akalkot Flag of India Maharashtra, India Shrimant Rani Sumitra Bai Raje Bhonsle, Rani Saheb of Akalkot
Aundh Flag of India Maharashtra, India HH Meherban Shrimant Bhagwant Rao Shripat Rao, Pant Pratinidhi Of Aundh
Bhor Flag of India Maharashtra, India Raja Shrimant Sir Raghunathrao Shankarrao Babasaheb Pandit Pant Sachiv
Janjira Flag of India Maharashtra, India HH Nawab Sidi Muhammed Khan II Sidi Ahmad Khan, Nawab of Janjira
Jath Flag of India Maharashtra, India Lt. Shrimant Raja Vijaysinghrao Ramrao Babasaheb Dafle
Kolhapur Flag of India Maharashtra, India HH Shrimant Rajashri Shahu II Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kolhapur
Kurundwad Flag of India Maharashtra, India Meherban Raja Hariharrao Raghunathrao [Bapusaheb] Patwardhan, co-Raja of Kurundwad Jnr
Mudhol Flag of India Karnataka, India HH Shrimant Raja Bhairavsinhrao Malojirao Ghorpade II
Phaltan Flag of India Maharashtra, India Major HH Raja Bahadur Shrimant Malojirao Mudhojirao Nanasaheb Naik Nimbalkar IV
Sangli Flag of India Maharashtra, India Capt. HH Shrimant Raja Saheb Sir Chintamanrao II Dhundirajrao Appasaheb Patwardhan
Sawantvadi Flag of India Maharashtra, India Bhonsale clan
Savanur Flag of India Karnataka, India Nawab of Savanur, Abdul Majid Khan II


Gwalior Residency

Princely States of the Gwalior Residency.

Princely State Now part of Last Ruler
Gwalior Flag of India Madhya Pradesh, India George Jivajirao Scindia
Varanasi Flag of India Uttar Pradesh, India
Bhadaura Flag of India Madhya Pradesh, India
Garha Flag of India Madhya Pradesh, India
Khaniyadhana Flag of India Madhya Pradesh, India
Paron Flag of India Madhya Pradesh, India
Raghugarh Flag of India Madhya Pradesh, India
Rampur Flag of India Uttar Pradesh, India H.H. Nawab Syed Muhammad Kazim 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Rampur
Umri Flag of India Madhya Pradesh, India


Madras Presidency

Princely States of the Madras Presidency.

Princely State Now part of Last Ruler
Cochin Flag of India Kerala, India Kerala Varma
Banganapalle Flag of India Andhra Pradesh, India H.H. Nawab Sayyid Fazl-i-'Ali Khan IV Bahadur, Nawab of Banganapalle
Pudukkottai Flag of India Tamil Nadu, India H.H. Raja Sri Brahadamba Das Raja Sri Rajagopala Tondiman Bahadur, Raja of Pudukkottai
Sandur Flag of India Karnataka, India Shrimant Maharaj Shri Murarrao Yeshwantrao Ghorpade, Hindurao, Mamlukatmadar Senapati, Raja of Sandur
Travancore Flag of India Kerala, India Colonel H.H. Maharaja Raja Ramaraja Sri Patmanabha Dasa Vanchipala Martanda Varma III [Uthradom Tirunal], Maharaja of Travancore


North-West Frontier

Princely States of the North-West Frontier.

Princely State Now part of Last Ruler
Amb Flag of Pakistan North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan (Nawab) Salahuddin Saeed Khan
Chitral Flag of Pakistan North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan H.H. Mehtar Saif-ul-Mulk Nasir
Dir Flag of Pakistan North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan Muhammad Shah Khosru Khan
Phulra Flag of Pakistan North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan Ata Muhammed Khan
Swat Flag of Pakistan North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan Miangul Abdul-Haqq Jahanzib


States of the Punjab

States of the Punjab.

Princely State Now part of Last Ruler
Bahawalpur Flag of Pakistan Punjab, Pakistan Sadeq Mohammad Khan V
Bilaspur Flag of India Punjab, India H.H. Raja Kirti Chand, Raja of Bilaspur
Faridkot Flag of India Punjab, India Lt. H.H. Farzand-i-Sadaat Nishan Hazrat-i-Kaisar-i-Hind Raja Bharat Indar Singh Brar Bans Bahadur, Raja of Faridkot
Jind Flag of India Haryana, India H.H. Maharaja Satbir Singh ["Prince Sunny"], Maharaja of Jind''
Kalsia Flag of India Punjab, India Raja HIMMAT SHER SINGH Sahib Bahadur
Kapurthala Flag of India Punjab, India Brig. H.H. Maharaja Sri Sukhjit Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kapurthala
Loharu Flag of India Haryana, India H.H. Nawab Mirza Alauddin Ahmad Khan II (alias Parvez Mirza), Nawab of Loharu
Malerkotla Flag of India Punjab, India
Mandi Flag of India Himachal Pradesh, India H.H. Raja Sri Ashokpal Sen, Raja of Mandi
Flag of IndiaSiba Flag of India Himachal Pradesh, India H.H.Raja Dr.Ashok K.Thakur
Nabha State Flag of India Punjab, India H.H. Maharaja Hanuwant Singh Malvinder Bahadur, Maharaja of Nabha
Patiala Flag of India Punjab, India Capt. H.H. Maharajadhiraj Shri Amarinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala
Sirmur Flag of India Himachal Pradesh, India Lt. H.H. Maharaja RAJENDRA PRAKASH Bahadur
Suket / Surendernagar Flag of India Himachal Pradesh, India H.H. Raja Hari Sen, Raja of Suket"
Tehri Garhwal Flag of India Uttarakhand, India H.H. Maharaja Manujendra Shah Sahib Bahadur
Kangra Flag of India Himachal Pradesh, India H.H. Raja Adityadev Chand Katoch


States of the Rajputana Agency

States of the Rajputana Agency.

Princely State Now part of Last Ruler
Alwar Flag of India Rajasthan, India HH Maharaja Tej Singh
Banswara Flag of India Rajasthan, India H.H. Rai Rayan Mahimahendra Maharajadhiraj Maharawalji Sahib Shri Jagmalji II Sahib Bahadur, Naresh Rajya, Maharawal of Banswara.
Bikaner Flag of India Rajasthan, India H.H. Sri Raj Rajeshwar Maharajadhiraj Narendra Sawai Maharaja Shiromani Ravi Raj Singhji Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner and Head of the Royal House of Bikaner.
Bundi Flag of India Rajasthan, India Col. HH Maharao Raja Shri BAHADUR SINGHJI Bahadur
Dholpur Flag of India Rajasthan, India H.H. Rais ud-Daula, Sipahdar ul-Mulk, Saramad Rajha-i-Hind, Maharajadhiraja Shri Sawai Maharaj Rana Shri Hemant Singh, Lokendra Bahadur, Diler Jang Jai Deo, Maharaj Rana of Dholpur.
Dungarpur Flag of India Rajasthan, India H.H. Rai-i-Rayan, Mahimahendra, Maharajadhiraj Maharawal Shri Mahipal Singhji II Sahib Bahadur, Maharawal of Dungarpur.
Jaipur Flag of India Rajasthan, India Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II
Jaisalmer Flag of India Rajasthan, India HH Maharajadhiraj Maharawal Sir JAWAHIR SINGH Bahadur
Jhalawar Flag of India Rajasthan, India H. Maharajadhiraj Maharaj Rana Shri Chandrajit Singh Dev Bahadur, Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar.
Jodhpur Flag of India Rajasthan, India H.H. Raj Rajeshwar Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Hindustan Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Shri Gaj Singhji II Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Jodhpur.
Karauli Flag of India Rajasthan, India HH Maharaja Shri GANESH PAL Deo Bahadur Yadakul Chandra Bhal
Kishangarh Flag of India Rajasthan, India HH Umdae Rajhae Buland Makan Maharajadhiraja Maharaja SUMER SINGHJI Bahadur
Kotah Flag of India Rajasthan, India HH Maharao Shri BHIM SINGH II Bahadur
Kushalgarh Flag of India Rajasthan, India Rao HARENDRA SINGH
Palanpur Flag of India Gujarat, India Maharajkumar Edward Man Sing
Pratabgarh Flag of India Rajasthan, India Raja AJIT PRATAP SINGH
Shahpura Flag of India Rajasthan, India HH Rajadhiraj SUDERSHAN SINGH
Sirohi Flag of India Rajasthan, India HH Maharani Gulab Kanwar Bai
Tonk Flag of India Rajasthan, India Nawab Muhammad Faruq Ali Khan
Mewar Flag of India Rajasthan, India Maharana Sir Bhupal Singh
Lawa Flag of India Rajasthan, India
Vallabhpur Flag of India Rajasthan, India HRH Maharana Sir Jagdish Singh

State of Sindh

Princely State Now part of Last Ruler
Khairpur Flag of Pakistan Sindh, Pakistan George Ali Murad Khan


Gujarat States Agency and Baroda Residency

Districts of Gujarat
Districts of Gujarat
Laxmi Vilas Palace, Baroda
Laxmi Vilas Palace, Baroda

States of Central India Agency

Map of British India, 1909
Map of British India, 1909
Subhash Marg, Indore
Subhash Marg, Indore
Bhil tribe girls in Jhabua
Bhil tribe girls in Jhabua
Orchha Palace, Madhya Pradesh
Orchha Palace, Madhya Pradesh

States of the Eastern States Agency

Ujjayanta Palace in Tripura
Ujjayanta Palace in Tripura
Palace in Cooch Behar
Palace in Cooch Behar
The 19th century Ujjayanta Palace, now used as the meeting place of Tripura's State Legislative Assembly
The 19th century Ujjayanta Palace, now used as the meeting place of Tripura's State Legislative Assembly

Alphabetical list of former British India's princely states

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Geographical and administrative assigning is indicative, as various names and borders have changed significantly, even entities (provinces, principalities) split, merged, renamed et cetera.

Furthermore, criteria of statehood (used for inclusion) differ between sources.

In some cases, several name variations or completely different names are included.

A

B

C

D