Amar Singh Thapa, also known as "Living lion of Nepal", was the General of the Nepalese forces of western front in the Anglo-Nepalese War. He is regarded as one of the National Heroes of Nepal.
His major achievement was the attack on several western states of India like Jumla, Doti, Kumaon, Garhwal, Dehradun, Srinagar and Kangra, as well the Palpa. Thapa served as the Nepalese care taker of the areas, until ousted by the British.
He carried out small wars, especially with the King of Punjab, Ranjit Singh. He also engaged in defending the western fronts of Nahan, Chamba, Almora, Kangra, Saharanpur, Dehradun against his British counterpart, General David Ochterlony. Although he lost these areas to British, he is praised for his bravery by both Nepalese and British personalities.
Thapa also built a temple of the goddess Ganga in the early 19th century. The town of Gangotri in Uttarakhand, India is centred around this temple. To this day, it is one of the four sites in the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, the most important Hindu pilgrimage circuit in the Indian Himalayas.
After losing the war, Thapa voluntarily retired and died on a pilgrimage to Gosaikunda.
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