| Nepal's
History
Nepal
has seen many rulers and ruling dynasties. The
earliest rulers were the Kirantis who ruled from
9th century B.C. to 1st century A.D. Legends and
chronicles mention that the Indian Emperor Ashoka
had come to Nepal and visited Lumbini, the place
where the Buddha was born, and where he erected
a huge stone pillar to commemorate his visit to
that spot.
The Kirants
were replaced by Licchavis who, according to the
earliest evidences in inscriptions of the 5th
century A.D. found in the courtyard of Changunarayan
temple which is about 15 km north east of Kathmandu,
ruled this country from 1st century to 9th century
A.D. This period is noted for the many temples
and fine sculptures built around the Kathmandu
valley.
The Licchavis
were followed by the Thakuris, then came the Malla
dynasty. The Mallas ruled focusing mainly on the
Kathmandu Valley which has been the residence
for most Nepali rulers from time immemorial. No
other part of Nepal is as rich in cultural heritage
as Kathmandu. Thanks to the exceptionally talented
crafts-men, who dedicated themselves to construct
the many temples and statues, we have seven world
heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley itself.
In the
14th century A.D. King Jayasthiti Malla established
a rigid social order. His grandson tried in every
way to protect his country from suspected enemy
states. Unfortunately, all his efforts were fruitless,
everything went beyond his control and the country
eventually divided up into 50 small feudal states
including the three major ones in the valley.
Then came
the Shah dynasty, which prevails even today. King
Prithvi Narayan Shah who annexed small principalities
including three states in the Kathmandy Valley
and unified Nepal in a single kingdom. 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 wield absolute
power. He set up an oligarchy and the Shah kings
remained figureheads. The Ranas were overthrown
in a democracy movement of the early 1950s.
Today, Nepal enjoys a multiparty democratic system
with a constitutional Monarch.
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