| Group: | Thakuri |
| Native Name: | ठकुरी |
| Native Name Lang: | ne |
| Region1: |  Nepal |
| Pop1: | 494,470 (1.7% of Nepal's population)[1] |
| Langs: | Nepali |
| Rels: | Hinduism 99.20% (2011), Christianity 0.54% Buddhism 0.10% (2011)[2] |
The Thakuri (Nepali: ठकुरी) is a prominent Kshatriya subcaste of Khas community in Karnali and most of thakuri were from Magars in Gandaki region with a significant historical role, traditionally forming the core of the ruling class in the country. This term is a Nepali adaptation of the Indian title Thakur, which translates to 'master of the estate'. It is important to note that all Thakuris are not linked to the Kshatriya subgroup of Khas community or have Rajput (Kshatriya) origins of the Northern Indo-Gangetic plains.
During the height of their influence, the Thakuri subcaste played a pivotal role in shaping the political landscape of Nepal. They held positions of authority and governance, contributing to the administration and stability of the region. Their lineage was highly regarded, and they were often sought after for leadership roles within the kingdom.
Notably, members of the Shah dynasty, which ruled Nepal for centuries, were descendants of the Thakuri subcaste from Chaubisi. The Shah dynasty's royal family held significant sway over Nepalese affairs, guiding the nation through various periods of prosperity and turmoil.
Through their connections to both the Khasa Malla kingdom, the Thakuris forged a legacy deeply rooted in Nepalese history. Their contributions to politics, culture, and society continue to be remembered and celebrated, reflecting their enduring impact on the nation.
Nepali sociologist Harka Bahadur Gurung noted that the Thakuri is the Nepalese version of the Hindi word Thakur which means 'master of the estate'. Thakuris of Nepal are also associated with some territory inherited from the days of Baisi and Chaubisi principalities and the term Thakurai actually refers to 'fiefdom'.
Thakuri is originally belongs diverse roots. Thakuris, coming from ruling and warrior backgrounds, form a social and political group. In the Karnali and Sudurpaschim, Thakuris were mainly represented by powerful rulers from the Khas Malla kingdom, also known as the Khasa Kingdom, and the Chand kings who hailed from Kumaon Garhwal. These rulers expanded their kingdoms into areas like Bajhang and Darchula. The Karnali region, historically, was marked by influential kingdoms, especially the mighty Malla kingdom (or Khasa Kingdom), which held sway over a significant part of Gandaki Province. In specific places like the Kingdom of Bajhang, Bajura, and nearby areas, both Singh and Chand kings played crucial roles, extending their influence and establishing themselves as rulers in various parts of Sudurpashchim Province and the Karnali Province. There are Buddhist religion Thakuri in Manang. There are other nomad groups like Raute and Kusunda who are also from Thakuri caste.
Additionally, there's a notable presence of other Thakuri sub-castes such as Shahi, Shah, Bam, Malla, singh, Chand and many more in these regions.
Meanwhile, in the Gandaki province (Anchal), there are Thakuri sub-castes like Sen, Malla, Banshi/bamshi, Khand, and Shah/Shahi, and many more. Rulers have changed their surnames to Thakuri, adopting names like Sen, Chand, Uchai, Banshi, Malla, Shah, and many more.
Historically, they ruled over certain areas in the Baise regions, like Bajhang and nearby areas in the Baise Rajya. The debate over the attribution of Rajput descent has engaged historians, with some suggesting political motives behind such claims made by ruling families in Nepal. Mahesh Chandra Regmi highlights a historical trend where Nepalese ruling dynasties attempt to link their lineage with renowned Indian dynasties. This trend is exemplified by Thakuri Shah rulers, like King Ram Shah, who sought recognition of kinship relations with the Ranas of Udaypur.
The classification of Thakuri as a subgroup within the broader social group of Hill. Contrary to the misconception that Thakuri are generally considered a subgroup of Chhetri but that's not all True, it is also essential to recognize the diverse origins and cultural ties within the Thakuri community. Thakuri from the Karnali Province and Sudurpashchim Province may indeed have connections with Khasas or Chhetri, stemming from the historical context of the Khasa Kingdom. In regions like Manang and Mustang, there are Thakuri communities with Buddhism beliefs and deep-rooted connections to their cultures.
Various Thakuri sub-castes, such as Sen Banshi/Bamshi, Khand, Uchhai, Shah, Shahi are specifically prevalent in the Gandaki region. On the other hand, sub-castes like Chand, Shahi, Bam, Singh, and Pal are prominently found mainly in the Karnali region, indicating proximity to the historical Khasa Kingdom.
Thakuris constitute the aristocracy and possess the high social, ritual and political status. Thakuris are politically and socially ahead of others. Traditionally, the Thakuris' main occupations involved government, agriculture and military. Thakuri traditionally constituted the ruling and warrior classes. Most of the Thakuris are agriculturalists in Western Nepal except few aristrocratic families in the capital city. ([source](https://nepal.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf)).
The frequency of Thakuri was higher than national average (1.6%) in the following districts:[3]
The ruling Shah dynasty of Gorkha Kingdom and other dynasties such as the Malla dynasty from Galkot later Kingdom of Nepal are ranked among Thakuris.
In alphabetical order, the commonly known Thakuri surnames are:[4] [5] [6]
Of these, Chand, Bam, Malla, and Pal are also associated with Kumaon/Kuramanchal kingdom.
Note: Hamal are the offspring of a Thakuri and an Upadhyaya Brahmin