Battle of Khurbura

Battle of Khurbura or Battle of Khudbuda occurred in May 1804 near modern-day village of Dehradun "Khurbura" 30.3256°N 78.0267°E / 30.3256; 78.0267. The battle is regarded as the first major attack in the history of Garhwal Kingdom that triggered between Gurkha forces and Maharaja Pradyumna Shah, and continued for 13 days until the Garhwal king was defeated. It is chiefly regarded the only defeat of his life and the victory of Gurkhas.[6][7]

Battle of Khurbura
Part of the Anglo-Nepalese War
Date14 May 1804 - 26 May 1804[1][2]
(13 days)
Location
Khurbura, Dehradun, India
30.3256°N 78.0267°E / 30.3256; 78.0267
Result Gurkha – led victory[3]
Commanders and leaders
Pradyumna Shah
(Garhwal Kingdom)		 Amar Singh Thapa
Balbhadra Kunwar (Gurkha)[4][5]
Strength
4,000 soldiers (Garhwal Kingdom) 10,000 men (Gurkha forces)

Background

With the beginning of this battle, the kingdom came under the rule of Gorkhas until 1814. Gurkha forces, loaded with guns entered in "Khurbura" to invade the territory. Since Garhwal's soldiers were fighting against the Great Nepalese invaders with swords, the kingdom was defeated heavily that led the opposition forces to begin their rule.[8][1]

Aftermath

The king accompanied by his 10,000 soldiers were carrying swords, while 4000 Gorkha forces were loaded with guns to carry out the war with territory-invading ambitions. Since the kingdom was already shattered and unstable due to 1803 earthquake and the entire kingdom was yet to reinstate. With great difficulty due to unstable circumstances caused by earthquake, Maharaja Pradyuman Shah first moved to Srinagar, Uttarakhand to Dehradun and then to Saharanpur arranging the forces to combat Gorkhas. The king succeeded arranging 10,000 soldiers. However, they were much untrained. Fighting alongside his army, he was killed in the battle. Soon after his death, his brother, Pritam Shah, was incarcerated by the Gorkhas where he passed his life under many hardships and poverty.[9][1]

Further reading

Khurbura was an important place in Garhwal kingdom and now its the only a small village that has left remarkable history behind. This area is now administered by the Dehradun authorities of Uttrakhand state.[8]

References
  1. "The story of Maharaja Pradyumna Shah of Garhwal princely state".
  2. "खुड़बुड़ा युद्ध के 83 शहीदों को यज्ञ आयोजित कर श्रद्धांजलि की गई अर्पित". June 27, 2017.
  3. "History | District Pauri Garhwal, Government of Uttarakhand | India".
  4. Pioneer, The. "Where history never gets old". The Pioneer.
  5. "Indians rage as some Nepalese chauvinists assert 'Greater Nepal'". January 26, 2019.
  6. Rawat, Ajay Singh (February 11, 1999). Forest Management in Kumaon Himalaya: Struggle of the Marginalised People. Indus Publishing. ISBN 9788173871016 – via Google Books.
  7. Hāṇḍā, Omacanda (February 11, 2002). History of Uttaranchal. Indus Publishing. ISBN 9788173871344 – via Google Books.
  8. Service, Tribune News. "King Pradyumna 'deserves' a memorial". Tribuneindia News Service.
  9. "Memorial of 54th Garhwal king in Dehradun lying desolate, forgotten | Dehradun News - Times of India". The Times of India.
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