Rani Karnavati of Garhwal trapped a 30,000-strong Mughal army sent by Emperor Shah Jahan
She ordered soldiers’ to cut off their noses, earning the title “Nak-Kati Rani.”
She protected her rich kingdom from attacks by Kumaon, Sirmour, Tibet, and the Mughals.
Today, we often talk about women’s empowerment, and history shows that India has had many brave female warriors. The story we are going to discuss is one such tale — the story of a queen who fought against the mighty Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and won, earning the name “Nak Kati Rani.”
Rani Karnavati of the erstwhile Himalayan kingdom of Garhwal, present-day Uttarakhand, is remembered as Naak-Kati Rani — the queen who humiliated the Mughal army by ordering captured soldiers’ noses to be cut off. This is the tale of a woman who stood strong and fought against all odds to protect her kingdom from the Mughals.
In 1621, King Mahipat Shah ascended the throne as ruler of the Garhwal region. He died by the sword in 1631 on the battlefield while fighting the forces of Kumaon. His heir, Prithvi Shah, was only seven years old at the time. This left his wife, Rani Karnavati, to take charge of the kingdom in 1631.
Garhwal, rich in silver, copper, and gold mines, was often targeted by neighboring rulers and the Mughal Empire. According to an English traveler William Finch, the king even dined off solid gold plates. Rani Karnavati, however, proved herself to be a fearless warrior, defending her kingdom not only from Kumaon, Sirmour, and Tibet but also from the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his successor.
In 1640, Garhwal’s wealth brought it into direct conflict with Shah Jahan, who sent a massive contingent of 30,000 troops under General Najabat Khan to invade the kingdom. The Mughals entered the mountainous terrain but soon found themselves trapped on the frontiers of Garhwal near what is today Rishikesh. The roads behind them were blocked, and the treacherous Himalayan landscape made further advance impossible.
With no way forward or back, Najabat Khan sued for peace. The queen could have agreed to become a puppet ruler or simply released them, but she refused to let them go unpunished. According to Niccolao Manucci, an Italian traveler who wrote extensively about the Mughal court during the reigns of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, Rani Karnavati ordered that every captured soldier must cut off his nose before leaving — or face death.
The act carried a deep symbolic meaning, as nose-cutting had long been a traditional form of punishment to signify humiliation. Unable to bear the disgrace, Najabat Khan took poison and ended his life. Further Mughal attempts to capture Garhwal failed due to the region’s difficult terrain, and eventually, a peace treaty was signed.
The humiliation was so great that Shah Jahan decreed Rani Karnavati be forever known as the “Nak-Kati Rani.” Beyond her military victories, she was also a visionary leader. She initiated public works such as the Rajpur Canal — the earliest in Dehradun — built monuments at Navada, and founded the settlement of Karanpur in Dehradun.
Despite her extraordinary courage and leadership, Rani Karnavati remains relatively unknown in mainstream Indian history, overshadowed by other figures. Her story stands as a reminder that India’s past holds many unsung women warriors whose deeds deserve to inspire future generations. [Rh/VP]