Mandi State was a princely state within the Union of India from 1950 to 1956 with Bilaspur as its capital. The state of Mandi (the name means 'market' in Hindi); which includes two towns and 3;625 villages; was in the Himalayan range; bordering to the west; north; and east on the British Punjabi district of Kangra; to the south; on Suket; and to the southwest; on Bilaspur.