Nepal Trip 2008

[Simon Hengle]

After arriving at Kathmandu a quick scout around for antique kukri



Dave holding up one of the kukri

[Simon Hengle]

Then we were invited to the Army Museum by Lt. Col. (now a Brigadier) Prem Singh Basnyat
Prem

View from the museum


Prem taking us around the museum

[Simon Hengle]

More from the army museum

[Mark McMorrow]

Interesting pics... What's with the big white blob spots on the gunstocks?

[Simon Hengle]

Then off to Pokhara

Just outside of Pokhara



Major Yambahadur Gurung, who showed Dave and I great hospitality at the Gurkha Museum in Pokhara

The Major's personnel kukri

[Simon Hengle]

Hi Mark just their way of marking the guns, I have a way to go on this thread yet!!

[Mark McMorrow]

interesting to see a Winchester 95 managed to find its way there!

[Simon Hengle]

More from the Gurkha Museum in Pokhara





View from the top of the museum

A lady using her Aansi

Gurkha Recruits

[Simon Hengle]

Sure is, they have a right hodge podge of stuff there

[Simon Hengle]

Then off to Dharan
Our security guard at the hotel





Dave and I were invited into the Indian Army Gorkha contingent in Dharan, we were very well looked after, but we were not allowed to take pictures

[Simon Hengle]

Then off to Chitwan






A Mahout sharpening his kukri

[Simon Hengle]

Back to Kathmandu, where we were taken for a tour of the National Museum by the curator Bhess

Drabya Shah's weapons, circa 1559

[Simon Hengle]

Still at the National Museum
Ranajit Malla's weapons circa 1722


Some of Prithvi Narayan Shah's weapons circa 1723




Sardar Ram Krishna Kunwar circa 1728




Jaya Prakash Malla's weapons circa 1736

[Simon Hengle]

Still at the museum
Chautariya Krishna Shah's weapons, who was the nephew of Prithvi Narayan Shah







Kaji Damodar Pandey's weapons circa 1751


Bahadur Shah's weapons circa 1757

Kalu Pandey killed at Kirtipur 1757
His massive kukri



Seized weapons from Kirtipur 1757

[Simon Hengle]

Still at the museum
Kaji Ranajit Kunwar's weapons circa 1762


Seized weapons of Digbandansen in 1763

[Simon Hengle]

Still at the museum
Daljit Shah's kukri circa 1763



Some of the weapons captured from Mir Kasim's invading army 1763

Seized weapons of the Kiranti 1766





Kaji Jagajit Pandey circa 1790

Some of Bhakti Thapa's weapons circa 1794



Abhiman Singh Basnet weapons circa 1800

[Mark McMorrow]

great examples! Have any rough estimate dimensions on Kalu Pandey's monster kukri?

[Simon Hengle]

I wish I had Mark, it is a huge beast though, I need to win the lottery so I can pay the museum to let me handle and take specifications of their weapons, and hire someone to restore them.

[Simon Hengle]

Kaji Amar Singh Thapa's weapons circa 1800



Kaji Nayan Singh Thapa circa 1800



Chaiuariya Hastadal Shah's weapons circa 1804

Weapons captured in the Palpa War 1806

[Simon Hengle]

Captain Balbhadra Kunwar's weapons circa 1814






Jung Bahadar Rana's weapons circa 1830

[Simon Hengle]

Final section at the museum with Bhess
Bom Bahadur Rana's weapons circa 1835


Chautariya Fattejung Shah's weapons 1841

Ranodip Rana's weapons circa 1845

Bir Shamsher Ranas weapons circa 1870


Dev Shamsher Rana's weapons circa1880








Then on the last night dinner with Lt. Col. Prem Basnyat and General Basnyat

I hope you enjoyed the variety of weapons and kukri shown, all the best Simon

[Vu.Q.T]

This is wonderful, thank you for sharing Simon.

[Simon Hengle]

My pleasure Vu.Q.T.