Kutlehar

Kutlehar was a hill kingdom in the foothills of the Himalayas. Tradition attributes its foundation to Raja Gopal; under Raja Jas Pal, its rulers are said to have commanded lands between the Sutlej and Beas. The small state endured among the competing powers of the Punjab and the mountain country.

The Mughal emperor Akbar demanded tribute from Kutlehar in money and gifts, and a prince of the ruling family attended the imperial court. In 1700 Guru Gobind Singh crossed the state during the fighting around Anandpur. According to local tradition, the raja refused Mughal orders to attack him and lost much of his territory as a result. Gurkha forces occupied Kutlehar between 1805 and 1809; the state was later absorbed into Ranjit Singh's Punjab.