Bilaspur

Bilaspur is one of the major historic cities of Chhattisgarh, and its growth reflects the wider story of central India—ancient kingdoms, Maratha expansion, British administration, and modern railway-led development. Local tradition strongly connects the city’s name with “Bilasa”, a fisherwoman after whom Bilaspur is said to have been named. The official district history portal also repeats this origin story and notes the city’s age as roughly about 400 years.

Long before Bilaspur rose as an urban centre, the surrounding region was closely linked with Ratanpur, the historic capital of the Kalachuri (Haihaiyavanshi) rulers of Chhattisgarh. Many accounts describe Bilaspur’s area as being influenced by the Kalachuris for centuries, with Ratanpur remaining the main political and cultural focus. Bilaspur itself gained greater prominence later—especially when larger powers began reorganising the region.

A major turning point came in the 18th century. Historical summaries state that Bilaspur came into prominence around 1741, during the period of Maratha rule, when a Maratha official established his base here to manage affairs connected with the Ratanpur area. This shift helped the settlement expand beyond a small riverside/market hamlet into an emerging administrative town.

After the Third Anglo-Maratha War, British control spread across central India. Bilaspur district-level accounts note that the British East India Company took over management of the area in 1818, bringing new administrative systems and a more formal district structure.

In the later 19th century, Bilaspur’s civic identity became clearer. Standard historical references record that Bilaspur district was constituted in 1861, and Bilaspur municipality was formed in 1867, indicating the town’s growing importance as a local administrative headquarters.

Railways then transformed Bilaspur into a key junction of central India. Early railway history notes that the main line passing through the district was extended and connected onward (including completion toward Raigarh by 1890), strengthening Bilaspur’s role as a transport and trade hub. In modern times, this railway legacy continues at the highest level: the South East Central Railway (SECR) zone was inaugurated with headquarters at Bilaspur on 20 Sept 1998 and later dedicated to the nation on 1 April 2003.