Rajbhandari (राजभण्डारी) is a Newar surname of people originating from Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. It is said that the Malla king, Jayasthiti Malla, appointed treasurers to look after the wealth. The king honored them with the title of “Bhandari”. As time passed, the Bhandari were replaced by the Raj-bhandari. Rajbhandaris continue to perform their traditional profession as assistant priests and treasurers of Pashupatinath Temple of Kathmandu. Presently, 108 Rajbhandaris perform rituals as assistant priests to the various temples in the Pashupati area. Rajbhandari belong to the high-caste "Chathariya" (छथरीय/क्षत्रीय) sub-group of Shrestha (श्रेष्ठ) caste who among other surnames such as Malla (मल्ल), Māskay (मास्के), Joshi (जोशी), Pradhānanga (प्रधानांग), Pradhān (प्रधान), Acharya/Karmāchārya (आचार्य), Amātya (अमात्य), Vaidhya (वैद्य), etc. They are considered as “Brahmaputra Kshatri (ब्रह्मपुत्र क्षत्री)” who are required to wear “Janai” (the sacred thread) around their neck. In modern times, the tradition became less strict. Surnames "Bhani (भनी)", Talchabhari (ताल्चाभारी)", "Bhandel/Bhadel (भँडेल/भदेल)" are all local variants of "Rajbhandari".
Originally, three types of Rajbhandari lived in Nepal according to their “Gotra” (lineage) and the social status