Chhattisgarh Kalachuris of Ratanpur and Raipur

Kalachuris of Ratanpur and Raipur — Quick Revision

One-page CGPSC quick revision for the Kalachuris of Ratanpur and Raipur — every date, name and fact in tables for last-minute Prelims and Mains revision.

3 min read Updated Oct 2026 #quick revision#cgpsc

This one-page sheet covers the Kalachuri (Haihaya) dynasty of Chhattisgarh, c. 1000 CE to 1741. For explanations, read Origin and the Ratanpur Branch, The Raipur Branch, Administration and Revenue and Art, Architecture and Inscriptions.

How to use this sheet
Scan top to bottom the week before Prelims. Bold lines are the facts examiners return to most often.

Timeline / Key Facts

Ratanpur Branch (senior line)

FactDetail
Parent lineKalachuris of Tripuri (near Jabalpur); Kokalla I had 18 sons, the younger made lords of mandalas
Also calledHaihaya / Haihayavanshi
c. 1000 CEKalingaraja conquers Dakshin Kosala from the Somvanshis; capital Tummana (Tuman)
NextKamalaraja, son of Kalingaraja
Ratnadeva IFounds Ratnapura (Ratanpur); tradition credits him with the Mahamaya temple
Prithvideva I (c. 1065–1090)Sakala-Kosaladhipati; lord of 21,000 villages; Amoda plates, Kalachuri year 831 = 1079 CE
Jajalladeva I (c. 1090–1120)Founds Jajallapura (Janjgir); Ratanpur inscription, Kalachuri year 866 = 1114 CE; gold coins; asserts independence
Ratnadeva II (c. 1120–1135)Repulses Anantavarman Chodaganga (Eastern Ganga); widely credited with ending allegiance to Tripuri
Prithvideva II, Jajalladeva II, Jagaddeva, Ratnadeva III, Pratapamalla12th–early 13th century
Kalyan Sai16th century; tradition of a stay at the Mughal court (Akbar or Jahangir — sources differ); revenue records later seen by J. W. Chisholm
Rajasinghc. 1689–1712; poet Gopal Mishra (Khub Tamasha) at his court
1741 (variously 1740)Bhaskar Pant (for Raghuji Bhonsle I) takes Ratanpur from Raghunath Singh, the last independent king
1745–1758Mohan Singh as Maratha puppet; then Bimbaji Bhonsle rules directly

Raipur Branch (junior line)

FactDetail
NameLahuri shakha (junior branch)
Origin14th century; Lakshmideva sent to Khalvatika (Khalari); split placed after his son Singhana (won 18 garhs)
SeatKhalari → Raipur (Ramachandra, Brahmadeva)
Raipur inscriptionBrahmadeva, VS 1458, c. 1402 CE
Khalari inscriptionHaribrahmadeva, VS 1470, usually 1415 CE
Raipur cityNamed by tradition after Ray Brahmadeva
Last rulerAmar Singh; absorbed by the Marathas in the 1750s

Administration and Revenue

FactDetail
36 garhs18 north of the Shivnath (Ratanpur) + 18 south (Raipur), by tradition
GarhFort-district under a Diwan
BarhonAbout 12 villages under a Dau
VillageUnder a Gaontia
MahakshapatalikaHead of records
MahapramatriLand survey and assessment
MahasandhivigrahikaPeace and war
Mahapramattavara / MahasvasadhanikaElephant force / cavalry
Main incomeLand revenue; also trade dues, tribute, forest income

Art, Architecture and Inscriptions

FactDetail
StyleStone, Nagara; Shaiva and Vaishnava
JanjgirVishnu temple, “Nakta Mandir”, tower never completed
MalharPataleshwar (Kedareshwar) temple
ShivrinarayanNarayan temple
RatanpurMahamaya temple
TumanShiva temple at the first capital
PaliBuilt by the Banas, renovated in the Kalachuri period
Kalachuri (Chedi) eraBegins 248–249 CE (add 248)
Language / scriptSanskrit / Nagari
CorpusV. V. Mirashi, CII Vol. IV

Don’t Confuse

ThisvsThat
Tummana: Kalingaraja’s first capitalRatanpur: founded by Ratnadeva I
Ratnadeva I: founded RatanpurRatnadeva II: defeated Anantavarman Chodaganga
Jajalladeva I: Janjgir, 1114Jajalladeva II: Malhar inscription
Tummana: first seat of Ratanpur branchKhalari: first seat of Raipur branch
Raghunath Singh: last of Ratanpur (1741)Amar Singh: last of Raipur (1750s)
Diwan: garhDau: barhon; Gaontia: village
Kalachuri era: from 248–249 CEVikram Samvat: from 57 BCE
Janjgir, Malhar: KalachuriBhoramdeo: Phani Nagavanshi; Sirpur Lakshman temple: Pandu
Favourite MCQ trap
“Kalingaraja founded Ratanpur” and “Ratanpur was the first Kalachuri capital” are both false. The first capital was Tummana (Tuman); Ratanpur was founded by his grandson Ratnadeva I. A second favourite: the dividing river is the Shivnath, not the Mahanadi.
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