Nepal's area through its history has increased and decreased. At times it grew towards the east and west from present
borders. The history dates far back in time. The Indian emperor Ashoka erected a stone pillar over two thousand years' back
at Lumbini, southern Nepal. It is marked as the birthplace of Lord Buddha. There are two languages; Indo-European languages
from the Western Himalayas and Tibeto-Burman Mongoloid people from Tibet migrated to Nepal within a 2000-year time span.
The Kirants were the first known rulers of the Kathmandu Valley coming here from the country's east. Even though little is
known about these people, they are mentioned in the Mahabharata. Buddhism came at the same time to the valley. From north
India came the Lichhavis who ruled till the early 7th century starting from the 4th century. The Changunarayan inscription
dating back to that time can be seen there at the temple.
Gorkha is one of the small kingdoms ruled by kings of Shah dynasty. King Prithvi Narayan Shah came forth from there to
unify Nepal. Nepal has been under 1768 when he became victorious over the Malla kings. Nepal lost a war with Britain in
1817 putting an end to extending its boundaries. Nepal regained parts of its lost territory and became its present size as
a reward for its support during the Indian Mutiny in 1817.
Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana's supporters killed almost all his opponents and took over real power. Concerning the
development of the country, hardly anything was accomplished in one whole century of Rana rule, during the hereditary
family of Rana Prime Ministers. No colonial power ever ruled Nepal and her independence was preserved when most of the
Asian and African countries were being colonized. The Rana period isolated Nepal from the rest of the world. The few
visitors allowed into the country had little freedom of movement.
The exception was the British royal big game hunters permitted to enter the Nepal Terai occasionally. In 1911 King George V
visited Nepal. Kathmandu Valley has several palaces built by the Ranas. Quite a few have now been turned into government
offices and the central secretariat Singha Durbar also used to be a residence of Rana Prime Ministers.
King Tribhuvan, supported by India, overthrew the Rana regime. The king led a unique revolution against an oligarchic
system. King Mahendra succeeded King Tribhuvan who died in 1955.
Nepal joined the United Nations in 1955 and an elected member of Security Council for two years term. Lebanon, Pakistan and
Afghanistan has in recent years seen Nepalese soldiers from the Peace Keeping Force and the UN Good Offices Mission. During
the elections for Parliament in 1958, B.P. Koirala the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Nepal lead the
victorious Nepali Congress Party. King Mahendra took over power himself in December 1960 dismissing the Parliament and the
Prime Minister.
Because of various reasons King Mahendra introduced a party less Panchayat System in 1962 but the system was able to find
momentum and set up infrastructures for development. After the death of King Mahendra, his son then Crown Prince Birendra
ascended the throne in 1972 and in 1980 a national referendum was held to decide whether to continue Panchayat System with
some more liberties or move on Multi Party system. The poll favoured Panchayat System. The major diplomatic success of
Panchayat Regime was to become a founder member of SAARC and successfully organized third summit held in Kathmandu in 1987.
In 1990, the Panchayat System was removed and Multi Party Democracy was rehabilitated and new constitution has been
effected under the Constitutional Monarch and sovereign power has been transferred to the people.
In 1st June 2001, the darkest date for the Nepalese history on which a royal massacre took place and most members of the
royal family died along with the popular King, His Majesty King Birendra. After the death of popular King, now his younger
brother His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is new Constitutional Monarch of Nepal.
