Anglo-Bhutanese and Anglo-Nepalese Relations
Modern History › Extension of British Paramountcy and Frontier Policy · Topic 8.5
The occupation of Assam in 1826 brought the British into contact with Bhutan, and after the mistreatment of an envoy in 1863-64 they annexed the Bhutanese passes and in 1865 paid an annual subsidy for them. The Anglo-Nepalese War ended in the Treaty of Sugauli (1816), under which Nepal ceded Garhwal and Kumaon and accepted a British Resident.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Extension of British Paramountcy
At a Glance
- What it is British relations with the Himalayan states of Bhutan and Nepal
- Nepal War with the Gorkhas ended in the Treaty of Sugauli, 1816
- Bhutan Passes surrendered in 1865 in return for an annual subsidy
- Result The British Empire reached the Himalayas
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Extension of British Paramountcy
Where Does It Fit?
This is the fifth topic of the category on the extension of British paramountcy. The previous topics told how the Company controlled states within India. This topic begins the study of its relations with neighbouring countries. The next topic covers Burma. Previous topic: Annexation of Awadh.
How Did the Conflict With Nepal Begin?
The desire of the British imperialists to consolidate their administrative and political power in the region led them into conflict with countries neighbouring India. The Gorkhas wrested control of Nepal from the successors of Ranjit Malla of Bhatgaon, a date given as 1760 in the chapter and later in other sources. They began to expand their dominion beyond the mountains. They found it easier to expand southwards, as the north was well defended by the Chinese.
In 1801 the English annexed Gorakhpur, which brought the Gorkhas’ boundary and the Company’s boundary together. The conflict started due to the Gorkhas’ capture of Butwal and Sheoraj in the period of Lord Hastings (1813-23). The Anglo-Nepalese War ran from November 1814 to March 1816.
What Were the Terms of the Treaty of Sugauli?
The war ended in the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816, which was in favour of the British. Some books spell the name Sagauli.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Resident | Nepal accepted a British Resident |
| Territory | Nepal ceded the districts of Garhwal and Kumaon and abandoned claims to the Terai |
| Sikkim | Nepal withdrew from Sikkim |
What Did the British Gain?
| Gain | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reach | The British empire now reached the Himalayas |
| Trade | Better facilities for trade with Central Asia |
| Hill stations | Sites for hill stations such as Shimla, Mussoorie and Nainital |
| Soldiers | The Gorkhas joined the British Indian Army in large numbers |
As an analytical point, the settlement turned a hard opponent into a long-term source of recruits, which is why the Gorkha regiments became a lasting part of the army.
How Did the British Come Into Contact With Bhutan?
The occupation of Assam in 1826 brought the British into close contact with the mountain state of Bhutan. Frequent raids by Bhutanese into adjoining territories in Assam and Bengal, and the bad treatment meted out to the British envoy in 1863-64, Ashley Eden, who was sent by Lord Elgin, led to British annexation of the passes leading to Assam and the stopping of the allowance paid to the Bhutanese.
The chapter adds that a treaty was imposed on the envoy under which the British were forced to surrender the passes, and the British responded by annexing the passes themselves. In 1865 the Bhutanese were forced to surrender the passes in return for an annual subsidy. The surrendered district became a productive area with tea gardens.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| British occupation of Assam | 1826 |
| Mistreatment of the British envoy | 1863-64 |
| Bhutan surrenders the passes for an annual subsidy | 1865 |
How Does This Fit the Larger Pattern?
The Himalayan settlements followed the policy described in The Policy of Ring-Fence and Subsidiary Alliance, with a Resident and ceded territory in Nepal and a subsidy in Bhutan. The Gorkha recruits also appear in the story of the Revolt of 1857 and in the Tibet mission of 1904, in Anglo-Tibetan and Anglo-Afghan Relations.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Direct facts The Treaty of Sugauli, its terms and its gains are standard Prelims items
- Link to hill stations The treaty explains the British hold on Shimla, Mussoorie and Nainital
- Link to recruitment It begins the Gorkha role in the British Indian Army
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the three Anglo-Burmese wars. Next topic: Anglo-Burmese Relations.
Key People and Terms
- Gorkhas The ruling people of Nepal who expanded their territory in the 18th century
- Treaty of Sugauli The 1816 treaty ending the Anglo-Nepalese War
- Terai The low-lying strip of land at the foot of the Himalayas
- Garhwal and Kumaon Hill districts ceded by Nepal
- Duars The passes at the foot of Bhutan leading to Assam
- Hill station A town in the hills used by the British as a summer retreat
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Treaty of Sugauli (also Sagauli), 1816.
- Nepal ceded Garhwal and Kumaon, gave up the Terai, left Sikkim, took a Resident.
- Gains: Himalayan frontier, Central Asian trade, hill stations, Gorkha soldiers.
- Bhutan: Assam occupied 1826; passes surrendered 1865 for a subsidy.
- Hastings was Governor-General when the war began.
Do Not Confuse With
- Nepal and Bhutan Nepal fought a war and ceded land; Bhutan surrendered passes for a subsidy
- Sugauli and Sinchula Sugauli: Nepal 1816; Sinchula: Bhutan 1865
- Hastings the Governor-General and Warren Hastings The Nepal war was under Lord Hastings (1813-23)
Memory Hook
Sugauli gave Shimla and the Gorkhas.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the causes and consequences of the Anglo-Nepalese War. These points add depth.
- Border friction The annexation of Gorakhpur brought the two boundaries together
- Lasting benefits Hill stations and Gorkha recruitment outlasted the war
- Pattern Force first, then a treaty with a Resident or subsidy
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the causes and consequences of the Anglo-Nepalese War, 1814-16.”
How to Answer
- Cause Gorkha expansion and the capture of Butwal and Sheoraj.
- Treaty The terms of Sugauli.
- Gains Himalayan frontier, trade, hill stations, Gorkha soldiers.
- Conclude Add Bhutan briefly as a related case.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Treaty of Sugauli?
The Treaty of Sugauli, signed in 1816, ended the Anglo-Nepalese War in favour of the British. Under its terms Nepal accepted a British Resident, ceded Garhwal and Kumaon, gave up claims to the Terai and withdrew from Sikkim.
Why did the Anglo-Nepalese War break out?
The Gorkhas expanded southwards, and the English annexation of Gorakhpur in 1801 brought the two boundaries together. The conflict started when the Gorkhas captured Butwal and Sheoraj during the period of Lord Hastings, and war followed.
What did the British gain from the Nepal war?
The British empire reached the Himalayas and got better trade facilities with Central Asia. It acquired sites for hill stations such as Shimla, Mussoorie and Nainital, and the Gorkhas joined the British Indian Army in large numbers.
How did the British come into contact with Bhutan?
The occupation of Assam in 1826 brought the British close to Bhutan. Bhutanese raids into Assam and Bengal, and the treatment of the British envoy in 1863-64, led to the annexation of the passes and the stopping of the Bhutanese allowance.
What happened to Bhutan in 1865?
In 1865 the Bhutanese were forced to surrender the passes in return for an annual subsidy. The surrendered district later became a productive area with tea gardens, and Bhutan lost its hold on the routes leading into Assam.
Which hill stations did the British acquire after the Nepal war?
The chapter names Shimla, Mussoorie and Nainital as sites for hill stations acquired through the Treaty of Sugauli. They gave the British cool summer retreats in the Himalayan foothills and consolidated their hold on the newly ceded hill districts.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Treaty of Sugauli was signed in 1816.
It ended the Anglo-Nepalese War.
2 Under the Treaty of Sugauli, Nepal ceded Garhwal and Kumaon.
It also abandoned claims to the Terai.
3 Nepal was forced to accept a British Resident at Kathmandu in 1801.
The Resident was accepted by the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816.
4 Gorkhas joined the British Indian Army in large numbers after the war.
This was one of the benefits of the treaty.
5 The Bhutanese passes to Assam were surrendered in 1826.
Assam was occupied in 1826; the passes were surrendered in 1865.
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