<Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> Official website </Td> </Tr> <P> Bilaspur is a district of Himachal Pradesh state, India . It contains the manmade Govind Sagar Lake on the Sutlej River which acts as the reservoir for the Bhakra and Nangal Dam project . The road bridge on this lake at Kandraur is highest of its kind in Asia (second highest bridge). Its headquarters are in the town of Bilaspur . The district has an area of 1,167 km, and a population of 382,056 (2011 census). As of 2011 it is the third least populous district of Himachal Pradesh (out of 12), after Lahul and Spiti and Kinnaur . </P> <P> The area that is now Bilaspur District was formerly known as Kahlur, a princely state of British India . The ruler acceded to the Government of India on 12 October 1948, and Bilaspur was made an Indian state under a chief commissioner . The state of Bilaspur was merged with Himachal Pradesh on 1 July 1954, and became Bilaspur District . </P> <P> Bilaspur was the capital of a state founded in the 7th century, and known as Kahlur after its earlier capital, or as Bilaspur after its later capital . The ruling dynasty were Chandela Rajputs, who claimed descent from the rulers of Chanderi in present - day Madhya Pradesh . The town of Bilaspur was founded in 1663 . The state later became a princely state of British India, and was under the authority of the British province of Punjab . </P>

Before merger with himachal pradesh on 1st july 1954 bilaspur was a