Thapa dynasty

At the end of 18th century, Thapas had extreme dominance over Nepalese Darbar politics alternatively contesting for central power against the Pande family.

[14] The Thapa family remained in power continuously even after the death of King Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah and even after the peace deal (Treaty of Sugauli) with the British East India Company done between the then ruling prime minister Bhimsen Thapa representative of Nepal and British.

It was no secret that Bhimsen was able to maintain his supremacy due to the large standing army under his and his family's command.

[19] Thus, King Rajendra of Nepal feared the Thapa faction as "...a race of men who for the last fifty-five years have dragged the country and its princes at the wheels of military car.

[22] Bhimsen went to his ancestral home in Gorkha for some time, making Ranabir Singh Thapa as Acting Mukhtiyar.

[25][26][28][29] Fatte Jang Shah, Rangnath Poudel, and the Junior Queen Rajya Laxmi Devi, the anti-Pande faction, obtained from the King the liberation of Bhimsen, Mathabar, and the rest of the party, about eight months after they were incarcerated for the poisoning case.

[36] Mathabar, the most senior Thapa, was requested to return to Nepal by then ruling Junior Queen Rajya Laxmi after six years of exile.

[38] He then re-opened the murder case of his uncle and godfather Bhimsen Thapa, and members of Pande faction and their supporters were executed.

[39] The murder of Mathabar Singh on 17 May 1845 by his nephew, Janga Bahadur Kunwar, on the orders of King Rajendra Bikram Shah and his Junior Queen, ended the Thapa family's rule in Nepal giving rise to Agnatic Rana dynasty.

[41] Bagh Durbar, which literally means The Tiger's Mansion, was built in 1805 A.D. by PM Bhimsen Thapa.

The building has a collection of bronze sculptures, paubha paintings, and weapons including the sword gifted by French Emperor Napoleon I.