The modern town of Kashipur was founded by Kashinath Adhikari, the governor of Tarai under King Devi Chand of Champawat. Later Raja Mohan Chand; one the Kings of Kumaon's younger brother Lal Singh was given the estate Kashipur and Raja Guman Singh became its first King. Kashipur's last king Raja Hari Chand Raj Singh again got back the titular throne of Kumaon in British India as Raja Anand Singh (Raja of Almora) had no issues. The exact date of the foundation of the town is disputed, several historians having expressed their own views on the matter. Bishop Heber, in his book "Travels in India" wrote that Kashipur was founded by a deity named Kashi 5000 years back (approx 3176 BC). Sir Alexander Cunningham invalidated his views in his book, "The Ancient Geography of India", in which he wrote "the good bishop was grossly deceived by his informant, as it is well known that the town is a modern one, it having been built about AD 1718 by "kashi-nath", a follower of Raja Devi-Chandra of Champawat in Kumaon". Badri Datt Pandey in his book "Kumaun Ka Itihaas", contradicting Cunningham's views, claimed the town to be founded in 1639. Kashipur remained under the rule of Chand Kings until the latter half of eighteenth century until "Nand Ram" the governor of Kashipur became practically Independent and established his kingdom at Kashipur.