Nepal Trip 2009 report

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Other blades of interest;
Sur Pratap Shah's khukuri

Captain Sambhir Sing Rayamajhi's weapons

A painting of Captain Sambhir Sing Rayamajhi in action;

Jung Bahadur Rana's large fighting khukuri

Chautariya Bom Shah's sword

General Jit Jung Ranas very long fighting khukuri

General Jagat Rana's khukuri

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Another very interesting point that the General showed me was the British influence on dress;
PM Deva Rana Shamsher JB Rana (1862-1914) PM 1901-1902, in Traditional Nepalese dress for a Rana.

PM Chandra Shamsher JB Rana (1863-1929) PM 1902-1929, note the huge influence the British had on their dress code.

Then the General Took us to the Nepal Army Museum, were we were handed over to
Lt Jaya Prabha, who took us around the Nepal army museum and who has a superb knowledge of Nepalese history;

First of, Jaya pointed out how in some circles of Nepalese historians the battle of LigLig Fort is considered the original starting point of the unification of Nepal.
Straight away I asked her about the the spelling Kora/Khora, according to her that is incorrect, the correct spellings are khuda and khunda. Was the khunda ever a Nepalese national weapon? no, Jaya pointed out that had it been it would be the Officers sword today, but the Khadga is. Once again the importance of the bow, spear, sword and khukuri were emphasised.
Below one of the few references in the Nepal Army museum picture wise to the khunda being used in battle;

Jaya also emphasised how important the Battle against Gurgin Khan was, for the future of Nepal;

After the tour we Lt Col Asha Bahadur Tamang (picture below), the current curator of the Nepal Army Museum, gave his input into the ancient weapons and historical value of them to the Nepalese as well, another very knowledgeable man, who re-emphasised what Jaya had said, both he and Jaya beleived the Khunda to be Nepalese;

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The next day we flew out to Pokhara to meet JP Cross a famous British Gurkha Officer and author, who is the only foreigner to be granted his own land and property in Nepal, from the Royal Family, and Buddhiman Gurung a well respected cultral figure in Nepal, and who family can be traced back to Bhakti Thapa. I can't thank enough for their outstanding hospitality.
I showed them the pictures of the Nepalese tribes that I showed General Malla (a close friend of JP)

Again I asked about the spelling Kora/Khora, and they also said that that was incorrect, that it could be spelt both Khuda and khunda. Did they feel it was a Nepalese weapon, both felt that it could well have come into Nepal when the Rajputs came into the region from the Muslim invasion in India. JP also pointed out that in 10,000 miles of walking in Nepal and having been in 65 of the 75 districts, the khunda was not very prevalant. Also Lt. Col Prem Singh Basnyat the former curator of the Nepal army museum agrees with the theory of the khunda comming from the south.
I then noticed a sword on the wall of John's house, which belonged to one of Buddhims ancestors Mansingh Dhingal, which would make it about 500yrs old, it is unusual for the Nepalese to have specifically handed down family weapons, as opposed to khukuri or whatever that happened to belong to their Father, Grandfather etc that just happen to be in the house when they pass over, pic below;

John has some 30 plus khukuri on his wall, which interestingly he has had all of them chromed, as per the one below, this appears to have been a reasonably common practice, one below;

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On one of the days John was not available, we sort out the local kami, who make god rough and ready blades for the local people;






We also took the opurtunity to them about the kora/khunda question, and they said the spelling was Khudha, and re-emphasised the point about the priority of weapons that had been said before.

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We then flew back to Kathmandu and embarked on a fact finding mission in the all the antique shops we could find (far to many).

At every opportunity I asked the shop owners and staff about the spelling of kora/Khora, and of their historical use, and they just confirmed what had been said before.
The first pic is of fighting khunda, but it was emphasized that they were also use for Sacraficing;

In this shop the owner said that the sword was the prefered weapon over the khunda and produced a couple swords for us as if to emphasize his point;

I then asked him (amongst many others) if they had specific names for the hilts below;

The shop owner just said sword hilts, which was the common theme with everyone we asked.
I did manage to pick up a very nice double handed fighting kukri whilst going around;

Ravi with the all important Nepalese traditional bow;

And a Dhal

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We found this very nice Khunda in Kathmandu;

Ravi with his Grandfathers Nepal Army khukuri by his house in Kirtipur, which is about 125 years old

He then took us to Kirtipur Palace, where there is a nice old temple;

Which had some old weapons hanging from near the top, possibly dating from the siege of Kirtipur, and donated to the temple.



And then we flew back the next day, I hope you enjoyed the pics

[CharlesS]

Thanks so much for these!!