Thapa dynasty

Thapa (नेपाली: थापा) is a historic martial title and family name borne by members of multiple Nepali communities—most prominently the Chhetri and the Magar —and denotes a tradition of military leadership and regional governance from the late medieval period through the 19th century. Its earliest attestations lie in the Magarat confederations of western Nepal, where Thapa-titled chieftains governed hill principalities before and during the unification campaigns of Prithvi Narayan Shah. Over time, distinct lineages of Thapas—both Magar and Chhetri—rose to prominence in the royal court of Kathmandu, served as commanders in the growing Gurkha forces, and played key roles in Nepal’s administration and on global battlefields.

The Thapa family gave rise to the Rana dynasty of Jung Bahadur Kunwar Rana whose father Bal Narsingh Kunwar was the son-in-law of Kaji Nain Singh Thapa. Similarly, this dynasty was connected to the Pande aristocratic family through Nain Singh Thapa who was the son-in-law of once Mulkaji Ranajit Pande