Gurkha Ambition in the Hills

• Goal: To establish a Gurkha kingdom stretching from Nepal to Kashmir.
• gurkha expedition under Amar Singh Thapa set out in 1790 . they first occupied almora nd then focused on kumaon and garhwal

Sirmaur Succession & Gorkha Takeover (1793–1814)

• Background: Sirmaur’s Raja Karam Parkash (1793–1814) was “indolent and inexperienced”. Hindur’s Raja Ram Saran Singh meddled in Sirmaur’s affairs.
• The Siege: Officials Ajit Singh and Kishan Singh allied with the Raja’s brother, Kanwar Rattan Singh, besieging Karam Parkash at ‘Kangra’ fort (in Sirmaur Dun, 50 km from Nahan).
• Escape & Usurpation: A lookalike, Cholu Mian, was killed. Amidst false death rumors, Karam Parkash fled to Kalsi. Rattan Singh seized the throne.
• 1804 Gorkha Intervention: Karam Parkash sought Gorkha aid. Commander Amar Singh Thapa sent 700 men under Bhakti Thapa.
• Jamata Defeat: Hindur forces encircled Bhakti Thapa, defeating the Gorkhas at ‘Jamata’ (1804) and forcing their withdrawal.
• Gorkha Takeover: Karam Parkash invoked their treaty. Amar Singh Thapa intervened personally, expelled Rattan Singh, and subdued adjoining states.
• Betrayal: Amar Singh Thapa set up his own Gorkha government in Sirmaur, leaving Karam Parkash powerless.

Conflict with kangra

Hindur’s Expansion & The Kangra Alliance

• Rise of Hindur: Raja Ram Saran Singh of Hindur (Nalagarh) gained the loyalty of the ‘Bara Thakuraris‘ (12 Thakurais) in 1793, which were former vassals of Kahlur.
• Attack on Kahlur: Hindur allied with the powerful Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra. Together, they invaded Kahlur (Bilaspur), built the ‘Chattipur’ fort on Dhar Jhanjiar , sacked Bilaspur town, captured forests of fatehpur , bahadurpur , rattanpur and severely weakened Kahlur’s ruler, Raja Mahan Chand.

The Anti-Kangra Coalition & Gorkha Invitation (1804)

• The Coalition: Angered by Sansar Chand’s aggression, regional hill chiefs formed an anti-Kangra coalition and jointly invited Gorkha commander Amar Singh Thapa to invade Kangra.
• Gorkha Arrival (1804): Thapa reached the Shimla Hill States and first targeted Kangra’s ally, Hindur (Raja Ram Saran Singh).
• Defeat of Hindur: Gorkhas defeated Hindur troops at Ajamgarh and besieged the Ramgarh and Nalagarh forts. Raja Ram Saran Singh fled to the Palasi fort.
• Kahlur’s Plea: Witnessing the Gorkhas’ success, Raja Mahan Chand (Kahlur) requested Amar Singh Thapa to intervene in the Kahlur-Kangra territorial dispute over the ‘taluka of Bati’.

The Gorkha Invasion of Kangra (1805–1809)

• Allied Advance (1805): Gorkha commander Amar Singh Thapa crossed the Sutlej at Bilaspur and Jiuri (Suket). Joined by contingents from Bilaspur, Basholi, and Kangra-group states, he amassed an army of ~1 lakh men.
• Battle of Mahal Morian (1806): The Gorkhas, alongside Kahlur’s Raja Mahan Chand, defeated Sansar Chand’s army at Mahal Morian (present-day Hamirpur).
• The 4-Year Siege: Sansar Chand retreated to Tira-Sujanpur, then took refuge in Kangra Fort. The Gorkhas besieged the fort for four years. They failed to capture it but thoroughly plundered and ravaged the surrounding region, forcing locals to flee.At Nadaun , they released raja of Mandi , ishwari sen who had been held captive for 12 years by raja sansar chand .
• Internal Collapse: The fort initially had a 12-year grain supply, but it was exhausted quickly due to mismanagement and waste. During this crisis, Sansar Chand’s own kinsmen deserted him.

Ranjit Singh’s Intervention & Sikh Supremacy (1809)

• The Appeal: After four years of the Gorkha siege, a desperate Sansar Chand sought help from Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
• Treaty of Jawalamukhi (July 20, 1809): Formalized after a month of negotiations at the Jawalamukhi Temple, securing Sikh military assistance.
• Expulsion of Gorkhas: The Sikh army advanced and defeated the Gorkha forces, which were already severely weakened by disease and mass desertion.
• Cession of Kangra Fort (Aug 24, 1809): Sansar Chand officially surrendered the Kangra Fort to Maharaja Ranjit Singh (the fort was kept by the Sikhs, not returned to Sansar Chand).
• The Aftermath: * Ranjit Singh appointed Desa Singh Majithia as the Nazim (Governor) of the fort and administrator of the Kangra Hills.
  • Kangra and all other hill states of the “Jalandhara group” became subjects and tributaries to the Sikh Empire.
  • With his power completely broken, Sansar Chand retired to Tira-Sujanpur to live as a vassal.

Gorkha Consolidation in the Hill States(1809–1813)

Post-Kangra Shifts (1809)

• Pressure on Hindur: Amar Singh Thapa targeted Hindur, but the 1809 arrival of British troops at Ludhiana saved Hindur’s ‘Palasi’ fort from capture.
• New Headquarters: Thapa established his base at Arki (capital of Baghal), forcing Baghal’s ruler, Rana Jagat Singh, into exile at Palasi.

Conquest of Sirmaur

• The Invasion: Thapa’s son, Ranzor Singh, led an attack on Sirmaur, defeating its ruler, Karam Prakash.
• Ruler’s Escape: Karam Prakash fled first to Subathu, then to ‘Buria’ (Ambala).
• Gorkha Strongholds: Nahan and Jythak (in Sirmaur) were converted into major Gorkha military posts.

Rapid Expansion (1810–1811)

• By 1810, the Gorkhas had successfully conquered: Hindur (Nalagarh), Jubbal, the Pundra area, and the ‘Nagana’ fort (in Balsan state).

The Bushahr Campaign (1811–1813)

• Bushahr’s Resistance: Threatened Shimla Hill States sought help from Bushahr. A strong force led by Bushahr’s Wazir marched against the Gorkhas.
• Thapa’s Counter-Offensive (May 1811): Amar Singh Thapa marched from Subathu, recaptured Nagana, and advanced toward Rampur (Bushahr’s capital).
• The Succession Crisis: Bushahr’s Raja Ugar Singh died during this period. The Wazir successfully smuggled the minor successor, Mohinder Singh, and the Rajmata into dense forests to evade capture.
• 1812 Treaty: Unable to capture the young Raja, Thapa agreed to let him retain territories North of the Sarahan mountains and beyond the Sutlej in exchange for an annual tribute of Rs. 12,000.
• Aftermath: Thapa occupied Rampur until 1813 before retiring to Arki.

Final Outcome

• Through these campaigns, the Gorkhas successfully consolidated complete control over the entire territory between the Yamuna and Sutlej rivers.

The Anglo-Gorkha War (1814–1815)

The Anglo-Gorkha War was a significant conflict between the Gorkha Kingdom of Nepal and the British East India Company, primarily fought over territorial disputes in the Himalayan foothills.

Causes of the Anglo-Gorkha War

• Territorial: Gorkhas seized Sirhind lowland villages. The British opposed this, wanting a neutral buffer zone.
• Economic: Gorkhas monopolized Himalayan passes (like Bushahr), blocking British merchants from the lucrative Tibet trade (wool, shawls, borax).
• Strategic: The British enacted the Himalayan Policy of 1814 to stop border incursions and break the Gorkha trade monopoly.
• Political: Displaced hill rulers, fed up with Gorkha control, allied with the British in exchange for guaranteed reinstatement.

Overview of the Conflict

• War Declared: November 1, 1814.
• Gorkha Surrender: November 28, 1815.

British Military Strategy: The Four Divisions

The British employed a multi-pronged strategy to strike different regions of the Gorkha Empire:

The Western Campaign: Division under Gillespie

Major-General Gillespie led the campaign into the Dun valley, facing fierce resistance.

• Battle of Nalapani: Bal Bhadra Thapa occupied Dehradun and later withdrew to Kalunga/Nalapani Fort.
• Outcomes: * General Gillespie was killed in action.
  • The British eventually captured Nalapani Fort.
  • Bal Bhadra Thapa escaped .
• The Struggle for Nahan: Ranjor Thapa occupied Nahan; later fled to Jaitak Fort .Following Gillespie’s death, the British continued the battle under the command of Martindell.

The Jubbal and Bushahr Operations

In early 1815, British forces moved deeper into the hill states with the assistance of local rulers.

• March 12, 1815: British forces under Fraser crossed the Churdhar peak and reached Jubbal.
• Victory at Sarahan: The Gorkhas were defeated at Sarahan (near Chaupal) with the assistance of Dangi Wazir and Primu of Jubbal.
• Capture of Rawingarh: The British seized Rawingarh Fort, which had been under the control of Ranjor Thapa.
• Bushahr Campaign (March 17, 1815): Forces led by Badri and Tikam Das joined the British, leading to the evacuation of Bushahr Fort.
• Kirti Rana’s Defeat: A contingent from Kullu joined the effort, defeating Kirti Rana at the Hattu Range.
  • Kirti Rana was besieged at Nawagarh.
  • He attempted to flee to Rawingarh but surrendered to the Bushahr Wazirs at Sarahan-ke-TIbba and was handed over to the British.

Division under Ochterlony

David Ochterlony’s campaign focused on the Satluj region and the strongholds of Amar Singh Thapa.

• Initial Maneuvers: Ochterlony advanced via Ropar to the foothills, forcing the Gorkhas to evacuate Jajori, Nalagarh, and Taragarh Forts.
• Strategic Shifts: The Rajas of Kehlur and Hindur switched sides to support the British.
• Conflict at Ramgarh: Amar Singh Thapa initially held Ramgarh Fort at Arki, even managing to defeat Major McLeod and Colonel Thompson.
• The Malaon Siege: * On January 16, 1815, Ochterlony attacked Ramgarh Fort, causing Amar Singh Thapa to flee to Malaon Fort.
• During the siege of Malaon, the legendary Gorkha commander Bhakti Thapa died in battle.

The Surrender

• Collapse of Resistance: News of the Fall of Kumaon reached Amar Singh Thapa, further demoralizing his forces.
• Final Surrender: Amar Singh Thapa formally surrendered on November 28, 1815
• Legacy: In April 1815, while the war was still ongoing, Ochterlony established the Nasiri Regiment (under Lt. Ross), recruiting Gorkhas who had entered British service.

Treaty of Sugauli (1815)

• Date of Signature: December 2, 1815.
• Date of Ratification: March 4, 1816.
• Signatories:
  • East India Company (EIC): Paris Bradshaw.
  • Nepal: Rajguru Gajraj Mishra, aided by Chandra Shekhar Upadhyay.
• Approving Authorities:
  • Nepal: King Girvan Yuddha Vikram Shah.
  • British: David Ochterlony (on the ground); approved by Lord Hastings.

Territories Ceded to the EIC in Perpetuity

Under the treaty, Nepal ceded several low-land and hill regions to the East India Company:

Article III: The Terai and Eastern Hills

• This article dealt primarily with the fertile lowlands (Terai) and the eastern frontier.
• Region 1: The whole of the lowlands between the Rivers Kali and Rapti.
• Region 2: The whole of the lowlands lying between the Rapti and the Gandak, with the exception of Butwal Khass.
• Region 3 : The whole of the lowlands between the Gandak and Kosi, in which the authority of the British Government had been introduced, or was in the actual course of introduction.
• Region 4: All the lowlands between the Rivers Mechi and the Teesta.
• Region 5: All the territories within the hills eastward of the River Mechi

Article V: The Western Hills

• Region 6 (West of the Kali River): The King of Nepal renounced all claims to the territories lying to the west of the River Kali.

Impact on the Kingdom of Nepal

The treaty significantly reduced the size of the Gorkha Empire, with Nepal losing one-third of its total territory and all conquests made in the preceding 25 years.

Specific Territorial Losses

• East Side: Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Teesta.
• West Side: Kumaon, Garhwal, and Bushahr.
• South: Terai lands and Nainital.

Financial Indemnity

• The EIC agreed to provide 2 Lakh per year to Nepal.
• The King of Nepal was responsible for deciding the compensation for chiefs and sardars whose territories were ceded.

Diplomatic and Military Clauses

• Perpetual Peace: Established through the exchange of residents.
• British Residency: A British Resident was established at Kathmandu.
  • The first British Resident was Edward Gardner, who resided at Lazimpat.
• Foreign Employment: Nepal agreed not to employ any American or European citizens without consent.
• Military Recruitment: Official recruitment of Gorkhas into the British Army was established.
• Sikkim Relations:
  • Nepal agreed to no further interference in Sikkim.
  • Any disputes between Sikkim and Nepal were to be arbitrated by the EIC.

Note: The Treaty of Sugauli was later amended by the Ochterlony Memorandum in December 1816.

Ochterlony’s Memorandum (December 1816)

1. Context & Purpose

• Date: 8 December 1816.
• Author: D.D. Ochterlony, Agent to the Governor-General.
• Objective: To modify the Treaty of Sugauli by suppressing the execution of its harsher articles. The British aimed to show “amity and confidence” and pacify the Raja of Nepal.

2. Territorial Restorations (Return of the Terai) To gratify the Raja, the British agreed to restore massive chunks of the Terai region that had recently been ceded, provided these lands belonged to Nepal before the war.

• Tract 1: The Terai lying between the Rivers Rapti and Gandak .
• Tract 2: The Terai lands lying between the Rivers Gandak and Kosi .
• Key Inclusions: Butwal and Sheeraj were specifically restored to Nepal.

3. Retained Lands & The 1812 Settlement

• Exceptions: The British kept disputed lands in Tirhoot and Saran, plus estates belonging to specific landlords.
• The 1812 Border: The previously contested 1812 boundary was enforced as absolute, voiding all other claims.

4. Establishing the Border

• The Straight Line: Joint commissioners from both sides surveyed a straight, definitive boundary separating Nepal (north) from British territory (south).
• Land Swaps: Commissioners exchanged land parcels to ensure individual estates were not split across the new border.

5. The Financial Trade-Off

• Cancellation of the Pension: The massive territorial restoration came with a major financial catch. In exchange for the Terai, the Raja of Nepal ceased to require the 2 Lakh Rupees per annum pension.
• Context: This was the exact sum the British originally agreed to advance in the Sugauli Treaty for the maintenance of the Bhardars (chiefs) of the Nepali Government.

6. Amnesty for British Sympathizers

• No Retaliation: The Raja agreed not to prosecute Terai inhabitants who favored the British cause during the recent war.
• Right of Migration: Sympathizers were allowed to freely quit their estates and migrate to British East India Company territory.
• The Exception: Cultivators of the soil were explicitly excluded from this right to migrate and were forced to stay.

Successor Treaties & Restorations

• 1860 (Restoration of Naya Muluk): The British returned the Western Terai (modern-day Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, and Kanchanpur) to Nepal as a reward for Jung Bahadur Rana providing military aid during the 1857 Indian Rebellion.
• 1923 (Nepal-Britain Treaty of Peace and Friendship): Britain formally recognized Nepal’s absolute sovereignty and independence, upgrading the British representative in Kathmandu from a “Resident” to an “Envoy.”
• 1950 (Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship): Established the modern diplomatic framework with newly independent India, officially cementing the open border and mutual treatment of each other’s citizens.

Reorganisation after Anglo Gorkha war:

The British gave territories of kings back to them with certain conditions by mentioning conditions in Sanads.Hence British captured most of territories to south of SUTLEJ river .The detailed notes on expansion of British after anglo gorkha war can be found here : British Reorganisation after Anglo-Gorkhas war