Before Prithivi Narayan Shah's unification movement, there were a total of 54 states in Nepal.
In the South-Eastern Terai, there were three Sen states: Makawanpur, Bijayapur, and Chaudandi.
In the West, from Gorkha to Gandaki Province, there were 24 states.
In the province of Karnali, there were 22 states with Kalyan, Samaal, Shahi and Chand dynasties.
Along with Gorkha and Mustang, Bhaktapur, Kantipur and Lalitpur made up the remaining five states.

When Prithivi Narayan Shah had ascended to the throne of Gorkha in the year April 3, 1743 A.D, it was yet a small state.
He then started to contemplate on the methods to turn Gorkha into a huge and strong state.
He went to Varanasi to gain first-hand knowledge about the neighboring states and about India to the south.
During those days, Varanasi was one of the large trade centers of India where people from different places gathered.
He met with different types of people and gained valuable understandings regarding the Political and Social condition of the Indian Sub-Continent.
In Varanasi, his father-in-law Abhiman Singh, a Rajput Chief, procured for him some firearms and a quantity of ammunition.
Before Prithivi Narayan Shah's unification movement, there were a total of 54 states in Nepal. In the South-Eastern Terai, there were three Sen states: Makawanpur, Bijayapur, and Chaudandi. In the West, from Gorkha to Gandaki Province, there were 24 states. In the province of Karnali, there were 22 states with Kalyan, Samaal, Shahi and Chand dynasties. Along with Gorkha and Mustang, Bhaktapur, Kantipur and Lalitpur made up the remaining five states. 
When Prithivi Narayan Shah had ascended to the throne of Gorkha in the year April 3, 1743 A.D, it was yet a small state. He then started to contemplate on the methods to turn Gorkha into a huge and strong state. He went to Varanasi to gain first-hand knowledge about the neighboring states and about India to the south. During those days, Varanasi was one of the large trade centers of India where people from different places gathered. He met with different types of people and gained valuable understandings regarding the Political and Social condition of the Indian Sub-Continent. In Varanasi, his father-in-law Abhiman Singh, a Rajput Chief, procured for him some firearms and a quantity of ammunition.
Prithvi Narayan Shah