The Gorkhali defeat of Kirtipur opened the Kathmandu Valley to Prithvi Narayan Shah's conquest and ended Newar political rule.
Key Facts
- Year of battle
- 1767
- Town size
- 800 houses
- Conflict context
- Gorkha conquest of Nepal
- Location type
- Walled town on a ridge in Kathmandu Valley
- Former kingdom
- Kingdom of Lalitpur
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Prithvi Narayan Shah, king of the Gorkhali state, launched an expansionist campaign to subjugate the Kathmandu Valley. Kirtipur, a fortified Newar town of 800 houses perched on a ridge and belonging to the kingdom of Lalitpur, stood as a strategic obstacle to full Gorkhali control of the valley.
In 1767, Gorkhali forces engaged the Newar defenders of Kirtipur in battle. The town's elevated ridge position made it a formidable target, and the clash between the Newars of the valley and the invading Gorkhalis became a significant engagement in the broader war of expansion.
The battle marked a turning point in the Gorkha conquest of Nepal. Gorkhali success at Kirtipur allowed Prithvi Narayan Shah to proceed with the subjugation of the remaining Kathmandu Valley towns, ultimately bringing Newar political rule across the valley to an end.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Prithvi Narayan Shah.
Side B
1 belligerent