Gajraj Singh Thapa

Colonel, Bada Hakim Gajaraj Singh Thapa
गजराज सिंह थापा
Born	c1830
Notable work	Established very first Tea Plantation estate in Nepal
Spouse	Maharajkumari Badan Kumari Rana
Children	4 Daughters, 1 son (Colonel Harka Jung Thapa)
Parent	Hemdal Singh Thapa

Colonel Gajaraj Singh Thapa (Nepali: गजराज सिंह थापा) was the first person to establish tea plantation estates in Nepal. "Some time around 1873, Colonel Gajraj Singh Thapa, son-in-law of the famous Rana Prime Minister, Jung Bahadur Rana, was on a tour of Darjeeling. He was impressed by the sight of the young tea plants and the tasty drink he was offered everywhere he went. Having a fond travel memory was not enough, so upon his return he was determined to grow the beverage in his own. The colonel soon set up two plantations - the Ilam and Soktim tea estates, 103 acres each - and so began Nepal's tea industry." Colonel Thapa was then the Governor General of the eastern region of Nepal, hence the Bada Hakim title. He along with his Royal Army set up these tea estates.

Gajaraj Singh Thapa and his wife (eldest daughter of Jung Bahadur Rana)

Col Bada Hakim Gajaraj Singh Thapa was in born c1830 (son of Hemdal Singh Thapa). He married Maharajkumari Badan Kumari Rana of Kaski and Lamjung, the eldest child of Sri Teen Jung Bahadur Rana in c1860. They had one son and four daughters. The son was Colonel Harka Jung Thapa ancestor of the Jung Thapa family. Ever since the marital relation with Jung Bahadur Rana's eldest daughter, Gajaraj Singh Thapa's descendants' middle name was replaced from 'Singh' to 'Jung'. This is said to have been done at Jung Bahadur Rana's request in an attempt to signify his own name.

References

Jane Pettigrew, Bruce Richardson 2006. (p.142) The Tealover's Companion: A Guide to Teas Throughout the World. National Trust Books.