Terai Hat

A Gurkha hat

The Terai Hat is a type of Slouch Hat associated with the Gurkha regiments of the British Army and Indian Army (formerly the British Indian Army) and is still worn by the Gurkhas but not worn on active service.

The Terai Hat is named after the Terai region in Nepal linked to the events surrounding the Gurkha War (1814-16) which first introduced the fighting spirit of the Gurkhas to the invading British forces and which subsequently led to their deployment in the British Army.

The 2nd Gurkha Rifles became the first Gurkha regiment to adopt the slouch hat when they were issued with the Australian Slouch Hat in 1901.

The Gurkha Terai Hat is created by fusing two hats into one to make the hat more rigid and is worn at an angle, tilted to the right.

The Hat Terai Gurkha is the name of the headgear worn by officers of the Gurkha Contingent in Singapore. A distinctive part of the Gurkha uniform not worn by any other member of the Singapore Police Force. Worn only during guard duty and on parades, the hat is made of khaki-coloured felt with a dark blue puggaree wound around the hat with six folds. The aluminium silver anodised police force cap badge is affixed on the puggaree to the left. It is always worn with the chin strap and is deliberately tilted far enough to the right that the brim touches the right ear.

In George Orwell’s novel Burmese Days, Flory, the central character, is described as wearing a Terai Hat.

Other names for a Terai Hat

• Gurkha Hat
• Slouch Hat

Famous wearers of the Terai Hat

• Ghurkas
• Flory from Burmese Days by George Orwell