Doti was an
ancient kingdom of the Far-Western region of Nepal which was formed after disintegration of the Katyuri
kingdom of
Kumaon and the Far-Western region during the 13th century. Doti was one of eight
princely states formed after the
Kurmanchal Kingdom broke up. The others were
Baijnath-Katyuri,
Dwarahat, Doti, Baramandal,
Askot, Sira, Sora and Sui (Kali kumaon). The kingdom broke up because of the invasion of
Khas kings Ashoka challa and Krachalla from
Karnali Zone (Dullu) of Nepal in 1191 and 1223 respectively. Later on, the land between
Ramganga on the west (Uttarakhand) and the Karnali on the east came under Raikas after the origin of Raikas of
Katyuris in Doti. "Brahma Dev Mandi" at
Kanchanpur District of
Mahakali Zone was established by Katyuri king Brahma Dev.
Raikas Niranjan Malla Dev founded Doti Kingdom around the 13th century after the fall of
Katyuris Kingdom. He was the son of Last Katyuris of united
Katyuris kingdom. Kings of Doti were known as Raikas (also known as Rainka Maharaj). The Raikas, after the overthrow
Khas Malla of Karnali Zone, formed a Raikas Kingdom in the Far-Western Region and
Kumaun that was called Doti. So far, the historical evidence for the following Raikas has been discovered: Niranjan Malla Dev (Founder of Doti Kingdom), Nagi Malla (1238), Ripu Malla (1279), Nirai Pal (1353
may be of Askot and historical evidence of him from 1354 AD has been found in Almoda), Nag Malla (1384), Dhir Malla (1400), Ripu Malla (1410), Anand Malla (1430), Balinarayan Malla (
not known), Sansar Malla (1442), Kalyan Malla (1443), Suratan Malla (1478), Kriti Malla (1482), Prithivi Malla (1488), Medini Jay Malla (1512), Ashok Malla (1517), Raj Malla (1539), Arjun Malla/Sahi (not known but he was ruling Sira as Malla and Doti as Shahi), Bhupati Malla/Shahi (1558), Sagaram Shahi (1567), Hari Malla/Shahi (1581
Last Raikas King of Sira and adjoining part of Nepal), Rudra Shahi (1630), Vikram Shahi (1642), Mandhata Shahi (1671), Raghunath Shahi (1690), Hari Shahi (1720), Krishna Shahi (1760), Deep Shahi (1785), Prithivi pati Shahi (1790, 'he had fought against the Nepali Ruler (Gorkhali Ruler) with British in 1814 A.D'). The historic place of war between the Doti Kingdom and Nepal (Gorkha kingdom) during the period of Gorkha Expansion in 1790, according to the history of Nepal, is Nari-Dang, on the bank of the Seti River. The Dumrakot was the base of Doti Kingdom for fighting against Gorkhali.
Mongol/Mughal invasion During the period of
Akbar, 16th century, Mongols (
Mughals) attacked the Raikas. They invaded Ajemeru, capital of the Raikas Kingdom. Ajemeru is now in
Dadeldhura District in the Far-Western region. According to Indo-Persian historian Abd-ul-Qadir Bada'uni (c. 1540 – 1615), Army Chief of Akbar, Khan, lured by the wealth and treasury of the Raikas state, attempted to plunder the state, but did not succeed. ==Major cities==