PDF

| Print |

E-mail

Nepal's History

8Since its origination, Nepal has observed many rulers and ruling dynasties who have immensely contributed to Nepalese culture and tradition.

Kirantis were the earliest rulers who ruled Nepal from 800 B.C to 300 A.D. They ruled Nepal for over 100 years with a total of 28 Kirat Kings ruling from various parts of Nepal. The Lord Gautam Buddha was also born during this time period in a place called Lumbini of Nepal which is now located near the Indian border in Nepal.

Kirat Kings were replaced by Lichhavis at around 200 A.D. who ruled Nepal till 1200 A.D. The earliest inscriptions, dating back to 464 A.D., about Lichhavi King Mandeva could be found in the grounds of Changu Narayan Temple, 15 km north east of Kathmandu. They built many temples and statues in Kathmandu Valley among which many at present come under world heritage sites.

Lichhavis were followed by Thakuris and then came Malla Dynasty in 1200 A.D. The Malla’s were Hindu Kings who were distinctive from previous rulers. They formed cast system in work. Brahmins and Chhetris Cast worked in the Palaces while other more than 60 occupational castes were assigned for farming and trading. They also built many beautiful monuments in Kathmandu Valley and ruled from 1200 A.D. to 1769 A.D.

During Malla Dynasty, enemies were successful in dividing Nepal into 50 small feudal states including three major ones in the valley. King Prithvi Narayan Shah unified Nepal in a single kingdom on December 21, 1768 and started the Era of Shah dynasty. Recognizing the threat of the British Raj in India, he dismissed European missionaries from the country and for more than a century, Nepal remained in isolation.

During the mid-19th Century, Jung Bahadur Rana became Nepal’s first prime minister to exercise absolute power. The then Shah kings only remained as the ceremonial Kings and Ranas ruled Nepal for many years before they were overthrown in a democracy movement of the early 1950’s.Shah Kings and many political parties then tried to rule the country but failed to address even the primary issues like poverty, education and human rights.

On May 28, 2008 Nepal was declared a Federal Democratic Republic State during the first meeting of constitutional Assembly. Prior to 2006, Nepal was the only nation in world with Hinduism as its official religion.