Treaty of Sugauli ratified, ending the Gurkha War

Background. The Anglo-Nepalese War (1 November 1814 – 4 March 1816) was a major military conflict fought between the Kingdom of Nepal and the East India Company. In May 1814, a small Nepalese force attacked EIC police outposts in the disputed Butwal region, killing 18 EIC officials; citing this attack as a casus belli, Governor-General Lord Hastings formally declared war on 1 November 1814. The war concluded with the Treaty of Sugauli, under which Nepal was required to surrender its far western provinces.

Negotiations. A draft treaty was initialled at Sagauli in December 1815, requiring Nepal to cede territories west and east of its borders, surrender the entire Tarai, and accept a British resident. The Nepalese government initially resisted these terms. However, following the British occupation of the Makwanpur Valley, just thirty miles from the capital, Nepal agreed to ratify the treaty in March 1816, ending the conflict.

Territorial Terms. The Treaty of Sugauli established the boundary line of Nepal. It required the surrender of the entire Tarai and territories west and east of present-day borders, including the far western provinces. After ratification, the Terai lands proved difficult for the British to govern, and some of them were returned to the kingdom later in 1816, with the annual payments accordingly abolished. British interest in the region had earlier included commercial considerations: in 1814 David Ochterlony contemplated annexing Garhwal for the security of commercial communications with the country where shawl wool is produced.