The aristrocracies of western Uttar Pradesh

There was a time when the Ganga-Yamuna doab area was divided into a large number small estates or riyasats ruled by the small rulers, but now the old world charm has faded away and it is difficult to find about any one of them.But today we have put forward some of them in front of you.

1.Pelkha (Dahiya family)

Pelkha is a small village situated in the present day Shamli district of Western Uttar Pradesh.This village was home to the Zamindar family of Chaudhary Nathu Singh Mukhiya and his sons Chaudhary Kallu Singh Mukhiya and Chaudhary Bhullan Singh Mukhiya who were the last rulers of the estate.Their estate was not as big as other Jat estates like Kuchesar and Maulaheri and was only restricted to five villages i.e Pelkha,Dhaulra,Majra, Malendhi and Badena.

The family owned a very beautiful 36 rooms old haveli in Pelkha which was known for it’s beauty.The haveli was made in Rajasthani and Mughal style with beautiful Jharokas, arches and gateways.

Arched entrance leading to the haveli.

Beautiful courtyard of the pelkha haveli.

Jharokha made out of Red sand stone in the haveli.

2. Maulaheri Jat family

Maulaheri was a small village in Muzaffarnagar district on the bank of western bank of Hindon river.The ruling family belongs to the Panwar clan of Jats.The family was one of the biggest landowners in the district of Shamli and Muzaffarnagar and was one of the five most powerful jat ruling family of North India.

The family used to own 9 villages in Muzaffarnagar, Baghra and khatauli. At one point of time the family owned over 36,000 acres of land in over 20 villages.

The family was having a very beautiful palace in Mulaheri, but now the palace is in the air of desolation.

Beautiful arched entrance with jharokhas leading to the palace

Courtyard in the palace

Diwan khana of the palace with beautiful inlay work

Chaudhary Ghasiram of this family was the cheif landlord of the area.He established the present day village of Ghasipura on the NH58 and a haveli is also there in the Ghasipura with another lineage of family living there.

Chaudhary Ghasiram was to be awarded the title of Raja but due to his untimely demise, the announcement was not formalised.

In mutiny of 1857 Chaudhary Mohar singh took actively part in it and was consequently hanged.

3. Sayyid family of Jansath

The Jansath area has one of the largest concentration of Sayyids in India.The influential sayyid brothers Sayyid Hassan Ali khan and Sayyid Hussain Ali khan were known as the king makers in the later Mughal empire.They controlled the Mughal emperors from 1713 to 1720.

The family built many historical monuments in Jansath. The monuments included Rang Mahal and the entrance is called Bada Darwaza,Moti Mahal,Badi and chotti haveli of Janattabad were amongst the others.

Rang Mahal of Jansath

This family was even having a house at Muzaffarnagar known as Jansath house which was later sold by the family.

Rang Mahal is now under the care of the descendants of Sayyid Saifuddin Ali Khan.

4. Jabhrera royal family

Jabhrera is a small village near Roorkee. It was once ruled by the Gurjar rulers and was the parent estate of the Landhaura estate.

Due to the conflict in the relation of father and son, the Jabhrera estate was divided into two estates. The first one was earlier existing Jabrera state ruled by the son Sawai Singh Jabhrera and the second daughter estate Laundhara was ruled by the father Ramdayal singh Landhaura.

5.Unchagaon royal family

Unchagaon is a small village in Bulandshahar district near the town of Garhmukteshwar. It was once ruled by the Jat rulers. It’s jat ruler can trace back their family tree to one of the several prestigious Jat zamindaris which came into prominence during the years of the decline of the Mughal empire.

Unchagaon Fort

The Jat rulers of Unchagaon originally belongs to Pilana in Rajasthan. Their ancestor Chaudhary Harbans singh with a group of followers migrated to Bahanpur in Bulandshahar district in 1740’s. However the unchagaon fort come into their possession in 1859 from a Rajput zamindar. The fort was originally made of mud but it was later on renovated and converted into semi-colonial fort in 1930’s.

The present head of the family is Raja Surendra Pal singh and the fort has been converted to a heritage hotel.
6. Karnal royal family
This royal family was having a landholding of 300 villages, 30 of which lies in karnal and the rest lies in the Muzaffarnagar and Shamli district of western Uttar Pradesh.
This family was a Jat Muslim ruling family and was one of the few landlord family whose property expanded across both Eastern Punjab and Muzaffarnagar of the United Provinces.

Bunglow of Nawab Liaquat Ali khan in Muzaffarnagar city.
Nawab Liaquat Ali khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan was the last ruling Nawab of the family and he was having a beautiful bunglow ‘kehkashan’ in Muzaffarnagar city.

This is our second series about the royal familes of western Uttar Pradesh and we have came across these families so far.