Palanpur

Palanpur lies in the dry country of northern Gujarat near the approaches to the Aravalli hills. It became the seat of a ruling family of Lohani Afghan origin, known as the Jhaloris after their earlier connection with Jalore. Their territory stood between Gujarat and Rajasthan, where local chiefs negotiated their place under larger states.

During the Mughal period the Palanpur chiefs held office and lands in the region; Aurangzeb confirmed a chief in possession of Palanpur and neighbouring districts in the late seventeenth century. As Mughal authority weakened, Maratha pressure affected the state. In 1817 its ruler entered an agreement with the British East India Company, placing Palanpur under British protection while retaining a local ruling house and its authority within the state.