Balbhadra Kunwar

Shree Captain Kaji Balbhadra Kunwar
श्री कप्तान काजी बलभद्र कुँवर
young Balbhadra Kunwar around Anglo-Nepal war
Personal details
Born	30 January 1789 Bhanwarkot, Kavrepalanchok District, Nepal
Died	13 March 1823 Naushera, Panjab, British India
Father	Governor Chandra Bir Kunwar
Relatives	Bhimsen Thapa (uncle), Mathabarsingh Thapa (cousin), Jung Bahadur Rana (nephew)
Military service
Allegiance	Nepal
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	Anglo-Nepalese War

Balbhadra Kunwar (30 January 1789 – 13 March 1823) is a National Hero of Nepal. He is famous for his service in the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-1816).

Father Chandra Bir Kunwar home in Bhanwarkot, Dhulikhel. Subba of Garhwal 1808–1811, Subba of the Bhot Madhesh, and hill regions of Doti 1809, Sardar of Garhaun 1811–1812 and of Doti 1812–1814. He died at Garhwal, 1814, having had issue, three sons; Bir Bhadra Kunwar, Bal Bhadra Kunwor. His maternal grandfather was Amar Singh Thapa (Sardar).

As commander of the Gorkhali forces in Dheradun, Capt. Balbhadra Kunwar was handed the responsibility of defending the area. The expanding Nepali/Gorkhali State had since the mid-late 18th century expanded the nation's border on all sides, which eventually led to conflict with the British East India Company and a war followed.

Realizing he could not defend the town of Dehradun, Capt. Balbhadra Kunwar withdrew to the strategic hill fort of Khalanga with an army strength of 600 including women and children against the British East India Company British stronghold of 3000-3500 troops. He turned down an incentive proposal of the British who would make him Governor of the Western Garhwal should he surrender or leave Nepal.

In the month of October 1814, Major General Sir Rollo Gillespie of the British army had advanced along with 3,500 troops and eleven pieces of cannon to occupy the Nepali territories situated between the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in the Gharwal and Kumaon regions that had been occupied by the Nepali forces. Captain Balabhadra Kunwar had maintained his position at a 400 cubits high hill in a place called Nalapani, situated north-east of Dehradun, to check his advance.

On Kartik 8, 1871, Bikram Samvat (October 1814), British troops reached Dheradun. A battle took place between British and Nepali troops at Nalapani on Kartik 10, 1871 B. Samvat. The British were unsuccessful and withdrew to Dehradun. Another battle was fought between the two sides at Nalapani on Kartik 17, 1871 Samvat (ca. Oct 31, 1814). General Gillespie, the British Commander, lost his life in that battle along with Col. Alice.