User:Nirmaljoshi/Visit of Jang Bahadur Rana to Britain

In 1850 Jung Bahadhur visited England and France with an intention to estimate the military power of European countries. He was the first high ranking peron from south east asia to pay such such visit to European countries, due to which he gained a lot of media attention in Europe. Through the visit, Jung was able to gain international recognition for Nepal. He also realized that raging war against British Empire could lead to losing benefit to Nepal and it would be wise to keep peace with them.

Travel from Nepal to Britain


The journey to Europe started in 4 Magh 1906 BS (January, 1850) from Kathmandu. They took the route of Chisapani to cross the border. On the way, Jung Bahadur had a small hunting sport and captured four elephants, killed four tigers and some deer. From Chisapani, they reached Kadarawana Gadhi where Jung Bahadur distributed gifts to the local peasants. From there, the territory of Nepal ended and British empire (current India) started. He camped in a village of Dhaka in the British territory. And on the seventh day they reached Patna.

Patna and Calcutta
While reaching Patna, Jung Bahadur received 19 gun salute by an English senior official. He stayed at Mahila Sahib. For the voyage, food and equipment were arranged. Using a steamer, they reached Calcutta via Sundarban in 11 days. On arrival at Calcutta, he was welcomed by a crowd of about 125,000 people and English civil officials. A band and gun salute were present at the event.

A feast was organized by the English governor general and in the following days, a sight seeing tour of Calcutta was arranged to see the army camp, gardens and markets. He also visited Sri Jagannath temple where he donated, NPR 1000. After few weeks, he took the SS Haddington steamship and set sail to Europe.

The ship was 300 ft loon and 75 ft wide. It carried about 1200 passengers. Each passenger has their bed. Three meals were provided each day. The musical band provided entertainment in board. There were four cannons in board to protect against pirate. Jung Bahadur listened to Englishman's conversation and watching the dance in the ship. For entertainment, he shot about 300 rounds from his rifle every day to hit the bottle hung from the mast. They even made a game of it with Englishmen. Jung Bahadur miked cow by himself to prevent impurity food to enter his body.

On the sixth day, they reached Chinapattan (modern Madras) where they refilled the board with supplies. He shortly visited various places with the local English governor and left to Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

Stop in Sri Lanka
The ship reached Sri Lanka in seven days. He was received by a gun salute and band. A parade was held in his honour. He visited the forest and market of Sri Lanka. He noticed that Sri Lanka is full of forest. People olds pots pans, cloths and vegetables. Gems such as diamond and ruby were also sold. After two days, they sailed to the island of Aden.

Stop in Egypt and Malta
After 8 days, they reached Aden (now in Yemen), where he was received by an English garrison, including a general and a colonel. He noticed Aden was a rocky island without any green vegetation. From there they reached Egypt in next eight days. From there had to travel by land. Using six-horsed carriages, they reached Cairo. At Cairo, they sailed along the Nile river from Faroja and reached Alexandria. He met the Emperor there. The emperor presented large quantity of food and dry food for further travel.

After sailing for seven days from Alexandria, they stopped at Malta in the Mediterranean Sea. After a brief stop, they reached Gibraltar (currently a British Overseas Territories) in three days. The ship stopped there for about five hours and then sailed to Britain.

In Britain
Jung Bahadur landed at Southampton (England). There a local custom officer asked him to open his bagage. Feeling insulted, Jung Bahadur threatened to take next steamer back to Alexandria. However, they settled down and accommodated in an office house of P and O Shipping Company. This mis-understing happened becuase although a message had been sent, no house had been secured for them in advance. . So Jung sent two persons (Lieutenant Lal Singh Khatri and an English man he hired at Calcutta) to London to check if proper arrangement has been made for the reception. The two men confirmed and telegraphed back. Jung then boarded the train and reached London. Jung arrived in London on Saturday at 6 am in 26 May 1850 (15 Jestha 1907 BS). Lord John Russell, the prime minister, commander in chief, member of parliament, came to welcome him. He was stationed at the Richmond Terrace, in the bank of Thames River.

They were invited by various nobles of Britain. Jung Bahadur and his team visited all the major state functionaries and made a detail account. They noted the duties and function of prime minister, commander in chief, the parliament and common people.

Meeting with the Queen Victoria
On 19th June, Jung Bahadur meet Queen Victoria at St. James' Palace. He handed the letter from the King of Nepal to the Queen.

On the following day of 20 June, which was also an anniversary of the Queen's accession, about 1500 nobel men gathered in the palace to welcome Jung Bahadur. Jung Bahadur presented his team to the Queen which included Major Rana Mehar Adhikari, Kaji Karbir Khatri, Khaji Hemdal Thapa, Kaji Dill1 Singh Basnet, Lieutenant Lal. Singh Khatri and Lieutenant Karbir Khatri.

On 23 June, Jung Bahadur again met the queen after the queen invitation to watch a dance by young women. Jung Bahadur also went to theatre Her Majesty's Theatre that was managed by Benjamin Lumley. They had to pay one Mohor NPR (equivalent to one shilling). After seeing the dance in the theatre, Jung Bahadur tipped the young girls a sum of NPR 1500 (Equivalent to 150 pound).

They also went to Vauxhall Gardens where they were received with a gun salute. Jung Bahadur attracted a crowd there due to his attire and gems in his jewellery. Many females also touched him, which was considered to be non-holy in Hindu tradition.

Visit around Britain
Jung Bahadur also took part in Epsom races in 29 May, where he was invited to attend a demonstration of balloon fly. They saw such demonstration in Vauxhall between 22 June and 5 July. On 6 July he attended a regatta, a boat race, on the Thames river.

On 29 July, Jung Bahadur visited Plymouth by a train. A garrison of four regiments greeted him with a 19 gun salute. There they attended a dance event in the city centre. They also observed ship construction. Jung Bahadur also opened an acount for purchasing guns and on the same day purchased 23 rifles and guns to arm the high ranking team members. Later, he went there again to purchase more guns. The total gun purchase amounted to 2,330 pound (about 295,000 pound in current value). Some of these guns were used in Nepal-Tibet war.

On August 1 and 2, they reached Birmingham, where they observed metal industry and weapon factory.

The British media reported the ritual of bathing in the open with a loin cloth tied, and their refusal to eat cooked food of any kind at the functions they were invited. They used to cook and eat with great care so that they could loose their caste by intermixing with the foreigners.

Farewell at England
On 14 August 1850 (6 Bhadra 1907) sailed to France. The queen, commander in chief and other high ranking officials set goodbye to the crew. The queen also reminded to write a letter after he reached Nepal. She also assured that his tour will be taken care by the British officials on the way.

In France
The sea was rough when they sailed from England to France. They landed in France on the night of 14 August 1850. They spent the night in a hotel near the coast. The next day, they boarded a train to Paris. They were stationed at Hotel Sinet on rue Faubourg Saint Honore. The team was escorted by Prince Bacchicochi, the nephew of Louis Napoleon's cousin. Next day, Prince Bacchicochi drove Jung Bahadur in a carriage for sightseeing of Paris. Jung Bahadur bought various artefacts and in Paris worth 50,000 NPR.

On 30 August, Jung Bahadur met with the President Louis Napoleon, and they had an official reception. In the meeting, the Jung Bahadur inquired about the army strength of France and its policies.

In the next few days, they were invited to various palaces. On the suggestion of the Louis Napoleon, Jung Bahadur visited Fontainebleau about 45 miles from Paris, where they observed the newly restored palace. They also went to Versailles which was recently turned into a museum by Louis-Philippe in 1837.

Louis Napoleon asked Jung Bahadur if he had any request. Jung Bahadur asked if he can see a parade of 900,000 troops. After discussing with the French Nobles, calling 900,000 could cause a problem, instead a parade of 50,000 was arranged. Calvary and infantry were brought from nearby barracks, which paid gun salute to Jung Bahadur.

A sword was presented by Napoleon to Jung as a souvineur.

Jung Bahadur left Paris on 1 October 1850. They reached seaport city of Marseilles on 4 August and set sail to Egypt on 8 August.

Return to India and Sri Lanka
They travelled across the Suez isthmus and Aden and reached Bombay. On the way, they also observed some volcanos.

On reaching Bombay, they were received by the British governor. There they rested for 8 days then left on 14 November and reached Dwarka on the 16 November. Jung Bahadur prayed for the god and announced he would make a large donation. He made the donation in promissory notes which could be indirectly paid by the British government. He returned back to Bombay from Dwarka on 21 November.

Next they went to Ramnath via rough water along the gulf of Mannar. It is believed that Kaji Dilli Singh Basnet got seriously sick due to rough sea. On route, they stopped at Colombo, where they were received by Sir George Anderson, the governor of Sri Lanka. The ship they sailed to Colombo was damaged due to rough sea. So, a new ship was arranged to travel to Ramnath. The main reason to visit Ramnath was for purification which would free Jung Bahadur from impurities and contamination gathered at the foreign land. At Ramnath he donated 5000 NPR. The next day, they returned to Colombo. On 8th December, they embarked to Calcutta and reached Calcutta on 19 December.

Laurence Oliphant joined with Jung Bahadur at Sri Lanka while returning to Nepal, he later published his diary describing Nepal.

Stop at Benaras
They stayed in Benaras for 10 days. They bought essential items and horses. Jung Bahadur married with a daughter of the Kutuk Maharaja and then left for Nepal.

Back to Nepal
They reached Nepal border on 29 January 1851 and, after a brief hunting at Terai, reached Kathmandu on 6 February 1851. Jang Bahadur was received by a large crowd in Nepal. All major civil and miliary officials were present to receive him at the banks of the Bagmati river. For the ocassion, Jung was wearing robe of white silk.

Accompanying memebers

 * Colonel Jagat Shamsher
 * Colonel Dhir Sbamsher
 * Major Rana Mehar Adhikari
 * Kaji Karbir Khatri
 * Kaji Hemdal Thapa
 * Kaji Dill1 Singh Basnet
 * Lieutenant Lal Singh Khatri
 * Lieutenant Karbir Khat
 * Lieutenant Bheem Sen Rana