Banaili

Banaili was a zamindari estate based in the Indian state of Bihar. They were considered one of the ruling dynasties of the Mithila region. All the rulers and holders of this estate were Maithil Brahmins. The name of the estate derives from a village Banaili in the then Purnia district of Bihar.

The main centres of residences of Rajas of Banaili are Banaili, Ramnagar, Champanagar, Srinagar, Garh Banaili, and Sultanganj. Bhagalpur was the centre from where administration of the estate was carried out.

One of the centres of Banaili Raj located in Sultanganj is believed to have ancient historical or mythical association. The Krishnagarh palace built by Kumar Krishnanand Singh on Sultanganj is in the Karnagarh area, which is believed to be place where the Castle of King Karna of Mahabharata was located.

Though the roots of the family can be traced to 11th - 12 th century as done ably by Girijanand Sinha in his book, Banaili - Roots to Raj, the family achieved its famed eminence only in the 19th century during the reign of Raja Bahadur Dular Singh Chowdhry. It was Raja Dular Singh who fixed the family residence at Banaili and gave the family its current name. He was an enterprising Raja and added to the family's wealth using the opportunities afforded by the Permanent Settlement implemented by Lord Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis in the then state of Bengal. He received the title of Raja Bahadur from the British Government for his services during the Anglo-Nepalese War. Raja Dular Singh died in 1821.

The expansion of the Banaili Raj continued under his able son, Raja Bahadur Bedanand Sinha. He was born in 1778 and succeeded his father at an advanced age of 43. He died in 1851. He is credited for the creation of much of the family's wealth which he did during a period of 30 years while he was at the helm of affairs of the estate. He received his title of Raja Bahadur with his succession in continuation of the title given to his father. He continued his residence in the village of Banaili, and expanded the palace there during his tenure. He extended the Banaili Raj through acquisitions of estates that were located in the-then districts of Munger, Bhagalpur, Santhal Paraganas and Purnea. With these acquisitions, the size of the Banaili estate expanded around four to five times during his reign. He was interested in wrestling and sponsored many wrestling competitions in which he also took part. He also wrote a book on Ayurveda named Bedanand Vinod.

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