Sudarshan Shah
{{short description|Ruler of Garhwal Uttarakhand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Sudarshan Shah
| succession =
| image = Raja Sudarshan Shah.jpg
| caption = Portrait of Sudarshan Shan
| reign = 1804–1859
| coronation =
| predecessor =
| successor = Pratap Shah
Kirti Shah
Narendra Shah
{{Cite web|url=https://tehri.nic.in/history/|title=History|publisher=District Tehri Garhwal, Government of Uttarakhand | location=India | accessdate=29 June 2024}}{{Cite web |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/0504_PART_A_DCHB_TEHRI%2520GARHWAL.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2020-02-12 |archive-date=2020-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117163442/https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/0504_PART_A_DCHB_TEHRI%20GARHWAL.pdf |url-status=dead }}
| spouse = Maharani Khaneti{{Cite web|url=https://www.india-tourism.net/spiritual_pilgrimage_uttarakashi_tour.htm|title=North India Spiritual Pilgrimage Tour,Tourism in Uttarkashi|website=www.india-tourism.net}}
| issue =
| full name =
| house = Garhwal Kingdom
| royal anthem =
| father = Pradyumna Shah
| mother =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date = 1859
| death_place =
| buried =
| signature =
| religion =
}}
Sudarshan Shah, also known as Raja Sudarshan Shah of Garhwal Kingdom, was the ruler and the founder of modern-day New Tehri city of Tehri district. He ruled the kingdom between 1804 and 1859. British army aided the king in reigning the territory after the royal army was defeated by Gorkha forces during the Battle of Khurbura.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lQfj7jeK2joC&dq=Sudarshan+Shah+Garhwal&pg=PT19|title=Where Gods Dwell: Folktales of India|first=Kusum|last=Budhwar|date=9 August 2010|publisher=Penguin UK|via=Google Books|isbn=9788184752854}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_Ct9gzvkDQC&dq=Sudarshan+Shah+Garhwal&pg=PA190|title=History of Uttaranchal|first=Omacanda|last=Hāṇḍā|date=12 February 2002|publisher=Indus Publishing|via=Google Books|isbn=9788173871344}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GEOwDwAAQBAJ&dq=Sudarshan+Shah+Garhwal&pg=PT35|title=A Comprehensive Study of UTTARAKHAND|first=HIMANSHU KAFALTIA, GUNJAN SHARMA|last=KAFALTIA|date=18 September 2019|publisher=Notion Press|via=Google Books|isbn=9781646506057}}
Background and life
After Sudarshan's father was killed in the battle of Khurbura, Sudarshan was not yet a grown adult. Sudarshan was captured by the invaders until British forces defeated Gorkhas and later freed him. He was then crowned as the king of Tehri, where he began his reign under the influence of British forces. Shah was married to the sister of Aniruddh Chand of Kangra in 1831; however, he died without having a son.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ToONShWeEB0C&dq=raja+Sudarshan+Shah+Garhwal+son+line&pg=PA128|title=Dogra Legends of Art & Culture|first=Aśoka|last=Jeratha|date=12 February 1998|publisher=Indus Publishing|via=Google Books|isbn=9788173870828}}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aDo6x0OAdqAC&dq=raja+Sudarshan+Shah+Garhwal+son+line&pg=PA59|title=A History of Indian Painting|first=Krishna|last=Chaitanya|date=12 February 1976|publisher=Abhinav Publications|via=Google Books}}
Administration
Sudarshan was a wise ruler and he shifted his capital from Srinagar, Uttarakhand to Tehri; the latter is covered by the hills and rivers.{{Cite web|url=https://chamoli.gov.in/history/|title=History | Chamoli District Website | India}} Before the establishment of the new capital, there were no buildings in the area. He constructed the first building called "Purana Durbar Hall", where he used to carry out administrative reforms.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/capital-towns-of-kings-cry-for-attention-199326|title=Capital towns of kings cry for attention|first=Tribune News|last=Service|website=Tribuneindia News Service}}