Nahan

Nahan was the capital of Sirmur, a hill state in the Himalayan foothills. The ruling house traced its origins to the Bhati Rajputs, who established a new dynasty after a flood destroyed the earlier capital of Sirmaur-Tal. Raja Karm Prakash founded Nahan in 1621 and made it the seat of his kingdom.

Sirmur's rajas took part in the struggles of the surrounding hills. In 1685 Mat Prakash gave shelter to Guru Gobind Singh and allowed him to fortify Paonta; nearby, the Guru defeated a force led by the rajas of Kahlur and Garhwal. In the early nineteenth century a disputed succession brought Gurkha intervention. British forces expelled the Gurkhas and placed the young Fateh Prakash on the throne, while taking part of Sirmur's territory.