The Khadkas are a clan in Nepal.
In response to the query on the origins of the Khadkas, historians around the Indian subcontinent say the ancestors of the Punwar Khadkas had arrived in Nepal from Dharanagar in Ujjain (then the Aryabarta), where they had ruled as royalty.
In the available family chronicle of Punwar Khadka, it was found that the first ancestor, Padmadeu, was born in a forest of Ujjain. The family tree continued from Padmadeu to Upadeu, then Anandadeu, Sankhadeu, Jamaldeu, Harideu and Jagadeu.
Later because of Padmini (the pretty Rajput queen) conflict occurred within the empire and the royal brothers abdicated the throne and the closest of Punwar cousin ruled over the princely state. The Punwar brothers left for Chittor from Ujjain and dispersed in different directions. In the course of time, some of them crossed the Kali River and headed for Nepal. One of the Punwar brothers killed the cannibal king at Dhikpurchundi of Doti and ruled in his stead. As the Kshatriya and Rajputana (princely) works had to be continued due to the religious traditions, the Punwar brothers adopted a division of work. History has it that the senior brother, who held a sword, was called Khadka (a sword-holder). Accordingly, the other brothers were named Thapa and Bista. Later they set out for good to their chosen destinations.
In the family chronicle, the Punwar clan brothers according to their profession are described as Khadka, Thapa, Bista and until now the communities living in different places of Nepal, who belong to same clan Punwar Kshatriya are found, so the fact as stated by the family chronicle could not be directly repudiated.
The Gopal chronicle and ancient script have asserted that the root of the word 'Khadka' was derived from 'Khadgaha', a sword, which at that time was only allowed to be held by elites of royal blood. Historians have stated that like the Khadka, the other names like Basnyat, Bhandari, Kunwar, Singh, Karki, Pradhan and Thapa were official words that in course of time were used as castes.
In later days, Khadkas ruled over Gorkha, Saptari, Dolkha and fourteen other regions of the then small countries of the sub-continent.
Also, after Shri Paanch (Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri) Bada Maharaj Dhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shah completed the "Greater Nepal", he honored some of the caste with the hereditary title of "Kaji", including the Khadka. This honorary hereditary title is still in existence today. Five castes are still addressed with the title "Kaji" prior to their name.
The exact number of Punwar Khadkas nowadays is a mere few thousand. They are the supreme rulers of the Khadka clan. As an Agnivanshi Kshatriya, they are among the leaders of the Kshatriya dynasty and are respected all around the Indian sub-continent by other sovereigns within the dynasty.