Chand Dynasty

Chand Dynasty had a dominant presence in the Kumaon region in Uttaranchal. This dynasty was established in AD 700 by a king named Som Chand. Champawat was the first capital of this dynasty. The capital was later shifted to Almora in 1568 by a ruler named Raja Balo Kalyan Chand. Almora Fort served as their military bastion.

During their long rule, the Chand kings added great prosperity to the land. However, during the later parts of the 15th century their rule grew oppressive. They faced numerous threats from the neighboring kingdoms and feudal lords. Around 1790, this dynasty had a major setback by losing the Almora fort, which was captured by the Gorkhas of the neighboring region. The dynasty finally came to a decline in the 19th century during the British rule.