Chahal , Chahl ,Chahar , Chahal ,Chail, Chahil ,is a clan Jats are found in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.Chahals from Punjab are pronounced as Chāhal ..They are found in high numbers Pakistan.and this clan is One of the largest Jat tribes in tlie Punjab. They arc found in greatest numbers in Patiala, but are very numerous in Ambala and Ludhiana, Amritsar and Gurdaspur, and extend all along under the hills as far west as Gujranwala and Sialkot. It is SHid that Raja Agarsen Surajbansi had four sons, Chahil, Chhina, Chima, and Sahi, and that the four Jat tribes who bear these names are sprung from them : (yet they intermarry). Their original home was Malwa, whence they migrated to the Punjab. According to another story their ancestor was a Tunwar(Tomar) Jats called Raja Rikh, who came from the Deccan and settled at Kahlur. His son Birsi married a hindu Jat woman, settled at Matti in the Malwa about the time of Akbar, and founded the tribe.
In Amritsar the Chahil say that Chahal was a son of Raja Khang, who once saw some fairies bathing in a tank. He seized their clothes and only restored them on condition that one of theni became his bride. One Ichhran was given him, on condition that he never abused her, and she bore him a son, but one day he spoke harshly to her and she disappeared.* But to this day no Chahil ever abuses his daughter ! Settled first at Kot Gadana near Delhi, the Chahil migrated to Pakhi Chahilan near Ambala and there founded Rala Joga or Jogarla in the Malwa.
The Chahal affect Jogi Pir, originally Joga, son of Rajpal, who is said to have been killed, after fighting with the Mughals even when he had been decapitated. Jogi Pir is their Charra {jathera), and a fair is held in his honour on the 4th “nauratra” in Asauj. In Jind the Chahil worship Khera Bhumia.They are probably, says Mr. Pagan, Bagris, originally settled in Bikaner.Later in 1740s Sardar Nihal Singh Chahal made there own Chahal estate and serve under the Bhangi Misl later under the Lahore Empire of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Of Lahore.
- Distribution in Haryana :–
Villages in Jind district
Anoopgarh Jind, Alewa, Badanpur, Baroda, Barodi, Budha Khera, Dablain,Frain Kalan, Darya Wala, Gatauli, Kheri Bulanwali, Mohal Khera, Ponkar Kheri, Radhana, Ujhana,
Villages in Kaithal district
Bhaini Majra, Kurar, Narar,Sangatpur,Guhna,Kithana
Villages in Karnal district
Bibipur Jattan, Garhi Gujran
Villages in Sonipat district
Gangana, Gharwal, Jauli, Mahmudpur (Gohana), Rukhi
Villages in Bhiwani district
Nimri,
Villages in Hisar district
Bobua, Khanda Kheri, Mahazat, Pali, Rajli
Villages in Kurukshetra district
Berthala, Bhootmajra,
Villages in Yamunanagar district
Sankhera, Pabni Kalan, Bamboli
Villages in Ambala district
Chahal Majara
- Distribution in Punjab:-
Villages in Mansa district
Biroke Kalan, Kanakwal Chahlan,
Villages in Amritsar district
Ajnala, Sathiala,
Villages in Moga district
Ramu Wala,
Villages in Faridkot district
Chahal village in Faridkot Tahsil of Faridkot district in Punjab.
Bir Chahal village in Faridkot Tahsil of Faridkot district in Punjab.
Villages in Gurdaspur district
Chahal(चहल) village in Batala Tahsil of Gurdaspur district in Punjab.
Chahal Khurd village in Batala Tahsil of Gurdaspur district in Punjab.
Villages in Hoshiarpur district
Chahal is village in Dasua tahsil in Hoshiarpur district in Punjab
Villages in Nawanshahr district
Chahal is village in Balachaur tahsil in Nawanshahr district in Punjab.
Chahal Kalan, Chahal Khurd village in Nawanshahr tahsil in Nawanshahr district in Punjab.
Villages in Patiala district
Chahal is village in Nabha tahsil in Patiala district in Punjab.
Villages in Sangrur district
Gulahri,Saraud
Kheri Chahalan is Village in Dhuri tahsil of Sangrur district in Punjab.
- Distribution in Uttar Pradesh
Villages in Bijnor district
Mukrandpur, Bhawanipur Gagairan
Villages in Jyotiba Phuley Nagar district
Khad Gujar, Khandsal,
Villages in Moradabad district
Ismailpur, Madhuva Khalsa, Mundha Kheri, Phoolpur, Pota, Hazibada sattupura Saidpur Gangu
Villages in Sambhal district
Bada Tajuddin, Bhadraola, Bhartal Sirsi, Bhatawalii, Chandawli, Echowara Dingar, Gelua, Gurudwara Baba Joga Singh Chahal (Sambhal), Haji Bera, Lakhori Jalalpur (Sambhal), Manni Khera (Sambhal), Mehmoodpur Kunj (Sambhal), Mehrana, Saidpur Jaskoli, Sainda (Sambhal), SalaKhana, Sharifpur, Singhpur, Sirshanal, Sondhan, Turtipur Enayatpur,
Villages in Hapur district
Hasanpur,
Villages in Bulandsahar district
Salabad Dhamaira
Villages in Meerut district
Ramraj,
- Distribution in Rajasthan :-
Villages in Bharatpur district
Chahal Bayana
References :-
- A glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province By H.A. Rose.
- Dr Ompal Singh Tugania: Jat Samuday ke Pramukh Adhar Bindu, p.37, sn-719.
- Dr Pema Ram:Rajasthan Ke Jaton Ka Itihas, p.300