Kalhans

The Kalhans are a Rajput clan found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.

According to their traditions, the clan gets its name on account of their ancestor, who has a pet black swan or kala hans in Hindi. The tribe claims descent from Sahaj Sah, who sometime in the 14th century took service with Malik Ainuddin, the Muslim governor of Awadh, and was given Gonda as an estate. At that time Gonda was ruled by a Dom Rajah called Ugrasen, who demanded the hand of Sahaj Sah's daughter. The Kalhans chief is then said to have murdered the Dom, and the Kalhans replaced the Doms as rulers of the Gonda region. They remained in this position till the 16th century, after which their power declined.

The Kalhans are found mainly in Gonda, Bahraich, Balrampur, Shravasti and Basti districts. Their customs are similar to other Rajput clains of Awadh, and they practice exogamy. The Gorchha caste of Lakhimpur Kheri District also claims to be Kalhans by origin.