Sundergarh

Sundergarh stands near the Ib River in the wooded country between the Chotanagpur plateau and western Odisha. It became the seat of the rulers of Gangpur, one of the small states whose territories included forest, hills and river valleys. Gangpur was once subject to Sambalpur and, through it, to the Maratha rulers of Nagpur.

During the struggles between the Marathas and the East India Company, Gangpur was ceded in 1803, restored to Nagpur in 1806 and again brought under British authority after 1818. In 1821 the Company ended Sambalpur’s feudal supremacy over Gangpur and granted its chief a new sanad. The change altered relations among the neighbouring rulers while leaving the local chiefship in place. A further sanad followed in 1827 after the permanent cession.