Sudarshan was captured by the invaders until British forces defeated Gorkhas and later freed him.

He was then crowned as the king of Tehri, where he began his reign under the influence of British forces.

Shah was married to the sister of Aniruddh Chand of Kangra in 1831; however, he died without having a son.

[7][8] Sudarshan was a wise ruler and he shifted his capital from Srinagar, Uttarakhand to Tehri; the latter is covered by the hills and rivers.

He constructed the first building called "Purana Durbar Hall", where he used to carry out administrative reforms.