During the rule of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the naval fleet which constituted a fleet of 200 ships, was commanded by two admirals who bore the titles of Mai Nayak (Water Leader), who was a Bhandari from Rajapur and Daria Sarang (Sea Captain)- a Muslim.
Bhandari Ram was born in 1919 at Village Serunia, which was part of Bilaspur State, now District Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh.
•
Sepoy Bhandari Ram VC (24 July 1919 – 19 May 2002) was an Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
One theory suggests Bhandari comes from Sanskrit bhạ̄ṇdā(gā)rika ‘treasurer’, ‘keeper of a storehouse’, from bhạ̄ṇdā(gā)ra ‘treasury’ or ‘storehouse’.
Gangotri Bhandari (born August 13, 1956) in Garhwal, is a former player for the Indian Women's Hockey Team.
In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, they are variously known as Edigas, Goud, Billava, Bhandari, Srisayana, or Setti Balijas and Nadar, Illathu Pillaimar in Tamil Nadu and Jaiswal, Poojary in Maharastra and Nalavar, Durave in Sri Lanka and also spread over in different cstes name in all over India.
Bhandari was critically wounded during the operation to flush out the terrorists from the Akshardham temple complex on September 24, 2002.