Raikut

The Raikat family was a princely family that controlled large estates in what is now West Bengal, India, first as subjects to the state of Koch Bihar, later as Zamindars to the Mughal rulers of Bengal, and then to British Raj. Their story parallels that of the Bardhaman Raj, from the same region.

The Raikat Family was established by Siswa Singh, after defeating the King of Bhutan and Gour in 1522. His first capital was at built in Siliaeguri (Siliguri), in the village of Dabgram, in the present Rajganj, Jalpaiguri. The capital was called Niz-Baikunthopur. It was shifted to the present site in Jalpaiguri City by Jayanto Deb Raikat, who ruled during the years 1793–1800. The big pond which exits today near the palace was excavated at the time of Sarva Dev, who ruled from 1800 to 1847.

Baikunthopur Estate was not included in any Sarkar of Muslim division of the country. Although some accounts say that it transferred its allegiance to tem and agreed to pay a nominal tribute. This is said to have signed in 1682 at the time of Svja Khan. After the Battle of Plassey, the Dewani of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha came under East India Company in 1765. This estate was then temporarily included in the Dewani, placed under Rangpur District and received the benefit of permanent settlement.

The Raikat family is descended from the Koch dynasty, who took control of the Kamata Kingdom in 1515. The family founder was Sisya Singha, elder brother of Viswa Singha, the second Koch Maharajah. At Viswa Singha's coronation in 1523, Sisya Singha held the royal umbrella atop the crown, a sign of vassalage. Sisya Singha was given the title "Raikat" or "family guardian", and his descendants were hereditary prime ministers of the Koch Bihar successor state to the Kamata kingdom. They were given the land of Baikunthopur in the present Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal.

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