Limbuwan is an area of the Himalayan region historically made up of 10 Limbu kingdoms, now part of eastern Nepal. Limbuwan means "abode of the Limbus" or "Land of the Limbus". Limbuwan was incorporated to the Kingdom of Nepal by the means of collective Gorkha-Limbuwan Treaty with the kings of ten kingdoms of Limbuwan and their ministers.
The ten kingdoms formed after the great revolution of Limbuwan in the 6th century. It was collectively decided to name the land by the name of "Limbuwan." The current state of Limbu nation, culture, language and ethnicity is believed to have taken shape during this period.The northern boundary was fixed to be in Tibet, the southern boundary in JalalGarh in Bihar, the eastern boundary at the river Teesta and the western boundary at the Dudhkoshi River.
In modern times, the boundaries of Limbuwan came to rest at the Arun river in the west and Kanchenjunga mountain and the Mechi river in the east.This area covers nine districts : Jhapa, Ilam, Panthar, Taplejung, Morang, Sunsari, Dhankuta,Terhthum and Sankhuwashava.From the time of King Sirijunga Hang to King Mahendra of Nepal, Limbuwan enjoyed the Kipat system of land and semi or full autonomy.
A political movement in Nepal has developed which claims to territorial authority for a Limbuwan federal state in Nepal’s eastern borderland. Eastern Nepal and the dominant ethnic groups of that region are indigenously called Kirat. The land was sub-divided into three regions, namely, the Wallo, Majh and Pallo Kirat. Limbuwan is also called Pallo-kirat 'Further Kirat'.
History
The Ten Kings of Limbus came together to formally declare all the ten kingdoms between the Arun River and Teesta River to be called "Yakthung Laaje".
The ten rulers, their kingdoms and their forts: Samlupi Samba Hang, King of Tambar and his capital Tambar Yiok. Sisiyen Shering Hang, King of Mewa and Maiwa kingdoms and his capital Meringden Yiok. Thoktokso Angbo Hang, King of Athraya and his capital Pomajong. Thindolung Khokya Hang, King of Yangwarok and his capital Hastapojong Yiok Yengaso Papo Hang, King of Panthar and his capital at Yashok and Pheden (Phe meaning "plain", den meaning "place"). Shengsengum Phedap Hang, King of Phedap and his capital at Poklabung. Mung Tai Chi Emay Hang, King of Ilam and his capital at Phakphok. Soiyak LadhoHang Chemjong, King of Bodhey (Choubise) and his capital at Shanguri Yiok. Tappeso Perung Hang, King of Thala and his capital at Thala Yiok. Taklung Khewa Hang, King of Chethar and his capital at Chamling Chimling Yiok.
Rise of King Mawrong Hang
After a brief period, King Mawrong Hang came to prominence and took over Terai lands of Chethar, Bodhey, Panthar, and Ilam (present day Jhapa, Morang Sunsari and Dhankuta). He named his Kingdom Morang after his name and rose to power. He subdued all the Ten Limbu Kings of Limbuwan and became their overlord. He died without any male heir and King Uba Hang took over as supreme ruler of Limbuwan in 849 AD- 865 AD. He made many religious and social reforms in Limbuwan. Uba Hang's worthy son Mabo Hang succeeded him in 865 AD and ruled till 880 AD. Uba Hang kept on with the reforms his father had started. Uba Hang was succeeded by his son Muda Hang. Muda Hang was a weak ruler so the local chiefs started ruling their areas independently. Muda Hang was succeeded by his son Wedo Hang, by this time Limbuwan was in chaos and every principality was ruling independently and fighting with each other. Wedo hang was murdered and his son Chemjonghang succeeded.
Rise of King Sirijonga Hang
During this chaos and the waning phase of King Chemjong hang, King Sirijonga of Yangwarok kingdom rose to power. He subdued all the independent rulers and took over as the new supreme ruler of Limbuwan. He built two big forts in Phedap (present-day Terhathum district) and Chainpur (present-day Sankhuwasabha district). The remains of the structure still stand today. One of legacy was that he brought all the Limbus under the same writing system in Limbu script. He also brought feudal reform in Limbuwan and divided Limbuwan into new boundaries and districts.
Eventually after the establishment of Namgyal dynasty in Sikkim and under the Lho-Mehn-Tsong Tsum, a treaty between the Bhutia, Lepcha and Limbu people of the Sikkim area, Limbuwan lost the area between Kangchenjunga range (present-day eastern border of Nepal) and Teesta River to the Bhutia Kings of Sikkim. Since then Limbuwan comprises all the area between Arun River and Koshi River in the west to Kunchenjunga Mountains and Mechi River in the east.