The history of Jeypore dates back to the 13th century and is rich with historical, religious, and cultural significance. Over the centuries, Jeypore has witnessed the rise and transformation of regional powers, dynasties, and traditions that have left a lasting impact on the region.
Present-day Jeypore city gradually evolved over time but began to take shape as an urban and administrative center during the mid-17th century. It was during the reign of Maharaja Veer Vikram Dev I, one of the most prominent rulers of the Jeypore/Nandapur Kingdom, that the city was formally established as the kingdom’s capital.
Jayapur Kingdom during Madras Presidency
(from Wikipedia)
To understand the deeper roots of Jeypore, one must look further back, before the 17th century, when it was part of a powerful dynasty that would later be known as the Jeypore/Nandapur Kingdom. At its zenith, the kingdom exerted control over a vast territory across eastern and central India. This included large parts of present-day southern Odisha—specifically the districts of Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, and Malkangiri—as well as regions in northern Andhra Pradesh, such as Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, and Visakhapatnam. The kingdom's influence also extended into parts of modern-day Chhattisgarh (notably the Bastar region) and even touched sections of present-day West Bengal.
The Jeypore Kingdom served as a significant regional power, strategically positioned between the Mughal Empire to the north and the Deccan Sultanates to the south. This location allowed it to function as a cultural and political buffer, preserving its autonomy while engaging in both resistance and diplomacy with larger empires.
- It was known as the Atavika Rajya in the 3rd century B.C. during the time of Asoka.
- In the 4th century AD, the Allahabad Pillar inscription of Samudragupta calls this place Mahakantara with a King called Vyaghraraja. Mahakantara means "Great Forest".
- From the 6th and 7th centuries, the land was ruled by Sailodvhavas and Silavamshis both meaning “rock dynasties,” i.e., of forest origin
Allahabad Pillar
(from Wikipedia)
Samudragupta's Inscriptions
(from Wikipedia)
Silavamsha Dynasty
There are not much information about the Silavamsha dynasty, but it is believed that they were a forest-dwelling tribe that rose to power in the region. There are mentions in the Allahabad Pillar inscription of Samudragupta, which refers to a King named Vyaghraraja, indicating that the region was significant even in ancient times. The Silavamsha dynasty is thought to have played a crucial role in the early history of Jeypore, establishing the foundations for later kingdoms and dynasties. We have some information about the last century of Silavamsha rule, during the 14th Century AD.
In the 14th century, the Silavamsa Dynasty ruled over the Jayapur Kingdom, with its capital at Nandapur. Ganga Raja is regarded as one of the earliest known rulers of the Silavamsa Dynasty who governed the kingdom from Nandapur. Smaller dynasties, such as the Matsya Dynasty, were integrated into the Silavamsa Dynasty through marital alliances.
The present-day Machkund River (formerly known as the Matsyakund River), also called the Sileru River in Andhra Pradesh, served as the boundary between the Jayapur Kingdom and Matsya territories.
Silavamsha rulers emulated the glory of Vikramaditya of Ujjain. We can find remnants of it in Nandapur even today.
Here is how Silavamshi's ruled the region in their last century around 14th Century AD:
- Ganga Raja (1353 - ??).
- Viswanadha Raja or Bhairava Raja
- Pratap Ganga Raja (?? - 1443)
- Vinayak Dev
He had no male heir, only a daughter named Lilavati. To ensure the continuity of the dynasty, he married his daughter to a Suryavansha descendant named Vinayak Dev, the ruler of Gudari, Rayagada. Pratap Ganga Raja died in 1443.
From this union, a new royal lineage began to rule the kingdom. This dynasty governed the region for several centuries. Around 25 rulers from this dynasty ruled over the land until the monarchy was retained only for ceremonial purposes, such as rituals and festivals.
He is believed to have been the last Silavamsha ruler, but after Pratap Ganga Raja's death, he chose to retain the Suryavamshi dynasty instead of continuing with the Silavamsha.
There after the Suryavamshi dynasty ruled over the region for several centuries, with a total of 25 rulers.
Suryavamshi(Jeypore) Dynasty
1443 - 1476 Vinayak Dev
- A general under the king of Kashmir, who later migrated south.
- Stopped at Varanasi to pray at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, then traveled to Nandapur.
- Ruler of Nandapur, before he became the ruler of the entire Jeypore Kingdom, after marrying Lilavati.
- Said to be the last Silavamsa King.
- Installed the seat of Vikramaditya in Jeypore, which refers to the 32-step throne, known as "Batrisa Singhasan" or "Vikramarka", located in Nandapur. This was to emulate the glory of Vikramaditya of Ujjain.
- Marked the transition from the Silavamsa to the Jeypore Dynasty.
1476 - 1510 Vijaya Chandra
1510 - 1527 Bhairava Dev
- Built the Bhairava Sagar reservoir in Bobbili.
- Witnessed the collapse of the Great Gajapati Power.
1527 - 1571 Vishwanath Dev Gajapati
- shifted his capital to Rayagada for better economic prospects in trade and agriculture
- constructed many temples along the Nagavali River, including the Majhighariani Temple.
- Now, the kings of the Nandapur Kingdom started calling themselves “Nauna Gajapati”
1571 - 1597 Balaram Dev I
1597 - 1637 Yashasvan Dev
1637 - 1637 Krishna Raj Dev
1637 - 1669 Veer Vikram Dev
- Founded the city of Jeypore, and migrated the kingdom’s capital to this city. This was done because astrologers had determined that the reason each of the preceding six rulers had fathered only one son was that Nandapur was cursed
- Some say it was because of the influence of muslim invaders from coastal Andhra. But legend has it that a curse of Kali fell on the royal family at Nandapur.
1669 - 1672 Krishna Dev
1672 - 1676 Vishwambhar Dev
1676 - 1681 Malakimardhan Krishna Dev
1681 - 1684 Hari Dev
1684 - 1686 Balaram Dev II
1686 - 1708 Raghunath Krishna Dev
1708 - 1711 Ram Chandra Dev I
1711 - 1713 Balaram Dev III
- Shifted his capital to Narayanapatna
1713 - 1752 Vishwambhar Dev II
1752 - 1758 Lala Krishna Dev
1758 - 1781 Vikram Dev I
- Shifted his capital back to Jeypore again.
- military opposition to the British colonial influence led to an attack by the British in 1775, which destroyed the fort at Jeypore
- Built the Jagannath Temple
1781 - 1825 Ram Chandra Dev II
- Reversed the strategy, preferring co-operation to resistance, and was favoured by the British for that reason
- Puranagada near Naktidangar hill was the New Capital, which was destroyed by Capt. Mathews in 1781
- In 1795, a new fort, Surya Mahal, was built to the South by cooperating with the colonial rule
- The Jagannath Sagar was dug by Ramachandra Deo.
- Jeypore Zamindary Estate was the largest one of the Madras Presidency. Landlords like the Zamindar of Jeypore were required to pay a fixed annual amount (tribute) to the British government. Jeypore had to pay 16,000 rupees per year, starting in 1803.
1825 - 1860 Maharajah Vikram Dev II
1860 - 1889 Ram Chandra Dev III
- The British had taken over the direct administration of Jeypore in 1863.
1889 - 1920 Vikram Dev III
- He was married to the princess of Surguja State.
- Laid the foundation of the new palace known as Moti Mahal ( present day Raj Mahal )
- Funded the construction of bridges over the Kolab and Indravati rivers.
1920 - 1931 Ram Chandra Dev IV
- He received the rank of Lieutenant for his aid in the First World War by sending his navy's twelve ships and a small unit of his troops.
- Created the grand Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of Winds, on the beach of Visakhapatnam
1931 - 1951 Vikram Dev IV
- Uncle of Ram Chandra Dev IV
- known as Sahitya Samrat HH Maharajah Vikram Dev, was crowned as the last king of the kingdom in 1931
- He was a scholar, poet, playwright, and leader
- Being a prolific writer and proficient in five different languages—Telugu, Odia, Hindi, Sanskrit, and English—he earned the literary epithet of Sahitya Samrat, meaning the "Emperor of Literature", and a doctorate degree (D.Litt.) from Andhra University.
- He donated large amounts to Andhra University and served as the vice-chancellor of Andhra and Utkal universities.
- We can see his statue at Andhra University.
- Jeypore College was renamed to Vikram Deb College in honor of Maharaja Vikram Dev Verma.
1951 - 2006 Ram Krishna Dev (titular)
- Son of Vikram Dev IV
- He was the last king, as the kingdom merged into the newly formed Union of India.
- He married Rama Kumari Devi of Sitamau State, in Malwa, and had three children: a daughter, Maharajakumari Maya Vijay Lakshmi; and two sons, Yuvraj Shakti Vikram Dev and Rajkumar Vibhuti Bhusan Dev.
- The senior prince was married to Mayank Devi and had a daughter named Lalit Lavang Latika Devi; the junior prince was married to Sarika Devi of Nai Garhi royalty and had a son named Vishweshwar Chandrachud Dev. However, after the untimely deaths of both princes in 1997 and 2006, respectively, the right to the throne was disputed.
2013 Vishweshvar Dev (pretender)
- Crowned as the Pretending Maharaja of Jeypore. The coronation took place on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, and the royal rituals were performed by Bisweswar Nanda, a descendant of the early Raj Purohit lineage
- On days of cultural importance and festivals, Vishweshwar appears as the Maharaja and conducts the royal ceremonial duties at Dussehra and Ratha Yatra
Rama Kumari Devi died at the age of 90 on Jan 1, 2023
- Last Queen of Jeypore
- Former MLA at Madgul Legislative Assembly, present day situated in Andhra
Jeypore made a unique and significant contribution to Odisha’s cultural heritage by blending tribal, Brahmanical, Jaina, and Buddhist traditions. Due to its remote location, it maintained cultural independence, with a large tribal population that had distinct religious beliefs centered on fertility, harvest, and fear of natural disasters. Their deities were symbolized through natural objects like stones and pillars, and rituals included human sacrifice. Over time, both rulers and religious leaders gradually introduced Aryan and Hindu practices, integrating the tribal people into a broader Hindu socio-political and economic system. Earlier efforts to Aryanise the region had also been made by various sects and preachers.
Odisha is notable for having three important stupas containing Buddha’s relics, including the Keshastupa at Kesaribeda near Jeypore, which holds strands of his hair. Jaina scriptures indicate that Jaina preachers actively spread their faith among the hill tribes from Bihar to Vizagapatnam. The Jeypore region, especially places like Nandapur, Suai, Kachela, and several others, is rich in Jaina heritage, with numerous monuments, relics, and icons dating back to as early as the 7th century A.D.