Amar Singh Thapa
Encyclopedia
Amar Singh Thapa, also known as "Living lion of Nepal
", was the General
of the Nepalese forces of western front in the Anglo–Nepalese War. He is regarded as one of the National heroes of Nepal
.
His major achievement was the attack on several western states of India like Jumla
, Doti
, Kumaon
, Garhwal
, Dehradun
, Srinagar
and Kangra
, as well the Palpa
. Thapa served as the Nepalese care taker of the areas, until ousted by the British.
He carried out small wars, especially with the King of Punjab
, Ranjit Singh
. He also engaged in defending the western fronts of Nahan
, Chamba
, Almora
, Kangra
, Saharanpur
, Dehradun
against his British
counterpart, General David Ochterrlony. Although he lost these areas to British, he is praised for his bravery by both Nepalese and British personalities.
Thapa also built a temple of the goddess Ganga in the early 19th century. The town of Gangotri in Uttarakhand
, India
is centred around this temple. To this day, it is one of the four sites in the Char Dham
pilgrimage circuit, the most important Hindu
pilgrimage circuit in the India
n Himalayas
.
After losing the war, Thapa voluntarily retired and died on a pilgrimage to Gosaikunda
.
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
", was the General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
of the Nepalese forces of western front in the Anglo–Nepalese War. He is regarded as one of the National heroes of Nepal
National heroes of Nepal
National Heroes of Nepal is a list of Nepalese people, including those from ancient or medieval times, who were selected to their ranks posthumously by a commission headed by famous liteurate Bal Krishna Sum and appointed by the king Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, in 1955...
.
His major achievement was the attack on several western states of India like Jumla
Jumla
Jumla can refer to a number of subjects*Mir Jumla, a prominent subahdar of Bengal*Jumla District, one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal*Jumla - a town in Nepal....
, Doti
Doti
Farwestern region of Nepal is also known as Doti or Doti region. The name Dotigarh has been used in the Jagar . This region is situated between River Kali boarding to the Uttarakhand in the west and Karnali river on the east...
, Kumaon
Kumaon Division
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
, Garhwal
Garhwal Kingdom
Garhwal Kingdom was a princely state in north-western Uttarakhand, India, ruled by the Panwar dynasty. It was founded in 888 AD and existed until it was annexed by the Gorkhas in 1803...
, Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
, Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
and Kangra
Kangra district
Kangra is the most populous district of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Dharamsala is the administrative headquarters of the district.-Geography:Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh is situated in Western Himalayas between 31°2 to...
, as well the Palpa
Palpa
Palpa may refer to:In Peru:*Palpa, Peru, near the Nazca Lines*Palpa Province, in the Ica RegionIn Nepal:*Palpa District, a district of Nepal in the Lumbini Zone*Palpa language...
. Thapa served as the Nepalese care taker of the areas, until ousted by the British.
He carried out small wars, especially with the King of Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
, Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
. He also engaged in defending the western fronts of Nahan
Nahan
Nahan नाहन is a town in Himachal Pradesh in India and is the headquarters of the Sirmaur District.- Geography :Nahan is located at . It has an average elevation of 920 metre- Demographics :...
, Chamba
Chamba, Himachal Pradesh
Chamba is an ancient town in the Chamba district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, in northern India. According to the 2001 Indian census, Chamba has a population of 20,312 people...
, Almora
Almora
Almora is a municipal board, a cantonment town in the Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Almora was founded in 1568.It is a town bustling with activity and a rich cultural heritage and history. It is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of...
, Kangra
Kangra district
Kangra is the most populous district of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Dharamsala is the administrative headquarters of the district.-Geography:Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh is situated in Western Himalayas between 31°2 to...
, Saharanpur
Saharanpur
Saharanpur is a city and a Municipal Corporation in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Saharanpur District as well as Saharanpur Division...
, Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
against his British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
counterpart, General David Ochterrlony. Although he lost these areas to British, he is praised for his bravery by both Nepalese and British personalities.
Thapa also built a temple of the goddess Ganga in the early 19th century. The town of Gangotri in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
is centred around this temple. To this day, it is one of the four sites in the Char Dham
Char Dham
The Chota Char Dham , is an important Hindu pilgrimage circuit in the Indian Himalayas...
pilgrimage circuit, the most important Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
pilgrimage circuit in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
.
After losing the war, Thapa voluntarily retired and died on a pilgrimage to Gosaikunda
Gosaikunda
Gosaikunda, also spelled Gosainkunda and Gosain Kunda is an alpine freshwateroligotrophic lake in Nepal's Langtang National Park, located at an altitude of above sea level in the Rasuwa District with a surface of...
.