The early 19th century was a period of turbulence in the western Himalayas. The fall of the Mughal Empire and the shifting balance of power in Punjab and the hills created a vacuum that ambitious rulers sought to exploit. In this backdrop, the Gorkha expansion from Nepal dramatically altered the political landscape of present-day Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The story of Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra and General Amar Singh Thapa of Nepal exemplifies this turbulent era where alliances, betrayals, and external interventions reshaped the destiny of the hill states.

The Rise of the Gorkhas in the Himalayas

By the late 18th century, the Gorkha kingdom of Nepal had embarked on an ambitious expansionist policy. After subduing the Kumaon hills in 1791 and annexing Garhwal by 1804, their eyes turned westwards. The fractured political environment of the Himachal hill states offered them both opportunity and invitation.

Two rulers extended a formal call for Gorkha intervention:

• Karm Prakash of Sirmaur, who sought to reclaim his lost throne.
• Mahan Chand of Bilaspur, who looked for protection against Sansar Chand of Kangra.

Amar Singh Thapa, the seasoned Gorkha general and administrator of Kumaon and Garhwal, seized the chance to extend Gorkha influence into the fertile and strategic western Himalayan region.

Gorkha Intervention in Sirmaur

Karm Prakash had inherited the throne of Sirmaur in 1796 after the deaths of his brothers, but his weak administration soon invited rebellion. His cousin, Kishan Singh, seized key territories like Naraingarh and Pinjore in the plains, while local resentment against Karm Prakash mounted. Matters worsened when a false rumor of his death spread, leading to the coronation of his brother Ratn Singh at Nahan.

Facing ouster, Karm Prakash turned to Amar Singh Thapa for support. In 1804–05, Thapa marched across the Yamuna, captured Paonta Sahib, reached Nahan, and reinstated Karm Prakash as Raja. Yet, this restoration was hollow—Karm Prakash functioned as a puppet ruler under the shadow of a permanent Gorkha garrison left behind by Thapa.

This foothold in Sirmaur was only a prelude to a larger confrontation brewing in Kangra.

Raja Sansar Chand: The Ambitious Katoch

Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra, who ascended the throne around 1786, was one of the most dynamic rulers of the western Himalayas. With the formidable Kangra Fort under his control, he compelled neighboring hill chiefs to accept his authority and even attempted expansion into Punjab’s Hoshiarpur.

But Sansar Chand’s ambitions brought him into conflict with neighboring states. In 1805, his invasion of Bilaspur alienated several hill rulers who, out of fear and resentment, invited Amar Singh Thapa to check his growing power.

The Battle of Mahal Morian(1806)

Amar Singh Thapa crossed the Satluj in 1805 with a large Gorkha force and confronted Sansar Chand in the Battle of Mahal Morian (1806). The Kangra forces were decisively defeated.

The Gorkhas then advanced deeper into Kangra, liberating the imprisoned Raja of Mandi and reaching Nadaun. Sansar Chand, left with dwindling options, retreated with his family into the formidable Kangra Fort, which had supplies sufficient for 12 years.

Unable to breach the fort, the Gorkhas laid a long siege, devastating the countryside. For nearly four years, the hills witnessed relentless plunder, forced migrations, and the ruin of agriculture.

Ranjit Singh’s Intervention and the Treaty of Jawalamukhi (1809)

By 1809, Sansar Chand’s position had become untenable. In desperation, he turned to Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore for help. The Sikh ruler, sensing an opportunity, intervened decisively. Ranjit Singh’s forces defeated the Gorkhas, ending their siege of Kangra.

However, the cost for Sansar Chand was immense. As per the Treaty of Jawalamukhi (1809):

• The Kangra Fort and 60 villages of the valley were ceded to Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
• Sansar Chand retained nominal authority but was effectively reduced to a subordinate of the Sikh Empire.

Consequences of the Gorkha Invasions

1. Plunder of Kangra
   The Gorkhas’ prolonged occupation devastated the region. Agriculture collapsed, farmers fled, and local populations endured harsh treatment.
2. Decline of Sansar Chand
   Once the most powerful ruler of the hills, Sansar Chand’s ambitions ended in humiliation. His reliance on external powers cost him the fort that symbolized Katoch glory.
3. Rise of the Sikhs in the Hills
   Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s foothold in Kangra marked the beginning of Sikh dominance in the region, altering its political trajectory.
4. Prelude to Anglo-Gorkha Conflict
   Though checked by Ranjit Singh, the Gorkhas retained influence in the western Himalayas, setting the stage for the Anglo-Gorkha War (1814–16) against the British.

Conclusion

The saga of Sansar Chand, Amar Singh Thapa, and the Gorkha invasions illustrates how fragile alliances and unchecked ambition could reshape entire regions. What began as invitations for assistance spiraled into prolonged conflict that devastated the hill states and permanently altered their political map.

The fall of Sansar Chand’s supremacy, the rise of Ranjit Singh, and the shadow of British intervention highlight how localized rivalries in Himachal’s hills intertwined with larger imperial struggles of the subcontinent. This chapter of Himalayan history stands as a reminder of how ambition, when unchecked, often paves the way for external domination.