Battle of Sindhuli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Sindhuli
Part of the Unification of Nepal
The ruins of Sindhuli Gadhi
Date 6 November 1767 Location Sindhuli Gadhi, Kingdom of Nepal (present day Sindhuli District, Bagmati Province, Nepal) 27°16′50″N 85°57′18″E / 27.2806°N 85.95501°E / 27.2806; 85.95501 Result Gorkhali victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Gorkha	East India Company Kingdom of Kantipur
Commanders and leaders
Prithvi Narayan Shah	Jaya Prakash Malla Captain Kinloch

The Battle of Sindhuli was a big fight that happened on November 6, 1767. It took place near a place called Sindhuli Gadhi in what is now Nepal. This battle was an important part of the unification of Nepal. This was a time when Prithvi Narayan Shah, the King of Gorkha, was working to unite many small kingdoms into one large country.

Why the Battle Happened

Uniting the Kingdoms

Before Prithvi Narayan Shah, the area we now call Nepal was split into many small kingdoms. Imagine lots of tiny countries, each with its own king! There were kingdoms like the Baise rajyas and Chaubisi Rajyas in the west. The Malla Kingdoms were in the Kathmandu Valley, where cities like Kathmandu are today.

Prithvi Narayan Shah became the King of Gorkha in 1743. He had a big dream: to unite all these small kingdoms into one strong nation. His father, King Nara Bhupal Shah, had tried to capture a place called Nuwakot but failed. Prithvi Narayan Shah also lost his first attempt to take Nuwakot.

He learned from these defeats. He realized he needed better weapons and more soldiers. So, he got weapons from a city called Banaras and made friends with other kingdoms. In 1744, he attacked Nuwakot again, and this time, he won! This victory was a huge step in his plan to unite Nepal.

As the Gorkha army grew stronger, they started taking over more areas. The King of Kantipur, Jaya Prakash Malla, became worried. He didn't know how to stop Prithvi Narayan Shah. So, he asked for help from the East India Company. This company was a powerful British trading group. They had a base in India.

The East India Company told Prithvi Narayan Shah to stop blocking Kantipur. They warned him that if he didn't, it could lead to a war. Since Prithvi Narayan Shah didn't stop, the Battle of Sindhuli began.

Important Trade Routes

Trade was very important back then. Goods traveled between India and Tibet across the Himalayas. Kings who controlled these trade routes became very rich. They could tax the traders and even make their own coins.

Both the Gorkha Kingdom and the Kantipur Kingdom had control over parts of these important trade routes. Prithvi Narayan Shah's army started blocking the city of Kantipur. This blockade stopped goods from moving.

The East India Company used these same routes for their trade with Tibet and China. When Prithvi Narayan Shah blocked Kantipur, it hurt their business. This made the East India Company decide to get involved in the conflict.

The Battle Location

Sindhuli Gadhi is a place located high up in the mountains. It's about 4,648 feet above sea level. This location is about 150 kilometers away from Kathmandu. Its high position made it a strategic place for a battle.

The Battle Itself

The Battle of Sindhuli was fought on November 6, 1767. The Gorkha army, led by Prithvi Narayan Shah, faced off against the forces of the East India Company and the Kingdom of Kantipur. The Gorkhalis fought bravely and won the battle. This victory was a major success for Prithvi Narayan Shah's plan to unite Nepal.