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Thapa (नेपाली: थापा) is a historic martial title and family name borne by members of multiple Nepali communities—most prominently the Chhetri and the Magar people —and denotes a tradition of military leadership and regional governance from the late medieval period through the 19th century. Its earliest attestations lie in the Magarat confederations of western Nepal, where Thapa-titled chieftains governed hill principalities before and during the unification campaigns of Prithvi Narayan Shah. Over time, distinct lineages of Thapas—both Magar and Chhetri—rose to prominence in the royal court of Kathmandu, served as commanders in the growing Gurkha forces, and played key roles in Nepal’s administration and on global battlefields.
The Thapa family gave rise to the Rana dynasty of Jung Bahadur Kunwar Rana whose father Bal Narsingh Kunwar was the son-in-law of Kaji Nain Singh Thapa. Similarly, this dynasty was connected to the Pande aristocratic family through Nain Singh Thapa who was the son-in-law of once Mulkaji Ranajit Pande
Among the Magar people, Thapa was used by ruling chiefs of the early hill principalities known as the Magarat confederations—independent regions that predated Nepal’s unification. These Magar Thapas were key figures during Prithvi Narayan Shah’s campaigns and later became prominent soldiers in the Gorkhali army and the Gurkhas regiments. In both World Wars, Thapa Magars were highly decorated, and their names dominate Gurkha memorials, such as the one in Italy.
The Chhetri Thapas rose to prominence through Kaji Bir Bhadra Thapa, a commander under King Prithvi Narayan Shah. His descendants, especially Bhimsen Thapa (Mukhtiyar from 1806–1837), led Nepal’s administration and established the Thapa noble family as one of the country’s dominant political houses.
Thapas remained on political power from the military domination by Bhimsen Thapa. It was no secret that Bhimsen was able to maintain his supremacy due to the large standing army under his and his family's command. Thus, King Rajendra of Nepal feared the Thapa faction as
On 24 July 1837, King Rajendra Bikram Shah's infant son, Devendra Bikram Shah, died. Bhimsen and members of the Thapa faction were blamed and conspired against. On this charge, Bhimsen and whole the Thapa family, the court physicians, Ekdev and Eksurya Upadhyay, and his deputy Bhajuman Baidya, with relatives of the Thapas were incarcerated, proclaimed outcasts, and their properties confiscated.
Fatte Jang Shah, Rangnath Poudel, and the Junior Queen Rajya Laxmi Devi, the anti-Pande faction, obtained from the King the liberation of Bhimsen, Mathabar, and the rest of the party, about eight months after they were incarcerated for the poisoning case. Confiscation of some properties was pardoned. The pro-Thapa soldiers rallied to Bhimsen, Mathabar Singh, and Sherjung Thapa's houses. Mathabar Singh fled to India while pretending to go on a hunting trip; Ranbir Singh gave up all his property and became a sannyas, titling himself Swami Abhayananda; but Bhimsen Thapa preferred to remain in his old home in Gorkha.
| 1806 to 1837 A.D. | Longest-serving prime minister in Nepal's history |
| 1837 A.D. (briefly) | |
| 1843 to 1845 A.D. | |
| He is the male patriarch of this dynasty and the senior Bharadar (politician) of the Gorkha Kingdom | |
| Distinguished from Commander of Western forces Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa by terms Bada (Senior) and Sanu (Junior) | |
| son of Nain Singh Thapa | |
| Brother of Bhimsen | |
| Nephew and adopted son of Bhimsen | |
| Brother of Bhimsen, involved in bringing back Balbhadra Kunwar at Dehradun | |
| Step-brother of Bhimsen | |
| Step-brother of Bhimsen | |
| Known popularly as Kaji Mama by Rana dynasty; son of Bakhtawar Singh | |
| Son of Mathabarsingh Singh | |
| Son of Mathabarsingh Singh |
| 1 | Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa | Kaji and General of Nepal | 1759–1816 AD | Distinguished from father of Bhimsen Thapa and Palpa Administrator Sanukaji Amar Singh Thapa by terms Bada (Senior) and Sanu (Junior) | |
| 2 | Bhakti Thapa | Sardar of Nepal Army | died 1815 AD | No blood relations to both Bhimsen Thapa and Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa | |
| 3 | Ranadhoj Thapa | Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal | retired on 1831 | eldest son of Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa | |
| 4 | Ranajor Singh Thapa | Kaji and Colonel of Nepal | youngest son of Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa | ||
| 5 | Surath Singh Thapa | Kaji (later Captain only) and Joint-Chief signatory of Darbar | appointed on 1832 | grandson of Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa | |
| 6 | Bhaktabir Thapa | Captain and later Kaji | retired on 1839 | second son of Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa | |
| 7 | Narsingh Thapa | Captain and Kaji alternatively | appointed on 1818 | third son of Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa |
| Known strong supporter of Bhimsen Thapa. |
| Supported the release of Thapas in 1837. |
| Known supporter and relatives of Thapa faction through Nain Singh Thapa. |
| Known strong opponent of Thapa faction. |
| Known strong opponent of Thapa faction. |
| Favoured Pandes over Thapas due to previous marital ties. |
| Nephew Jung Bahadur Rana ended Thapa hegemony. |
| Favoured Pandes over Thapas. |
| Known strong opponent of Bhimsen Thapa but later sympathized Bhimsen. |
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