History

(i) The Aheer:

The first rulers of the Kathmandu valley were Gopals, the cattle-herder. According to Wright, an English historian, eight rulers of Gopal dynasty; Bhuktaman, Jaya Gupta, Param Gupta, Bhim Gupta I, Bhim Gupta II, Mani Gupta, Bihsnu Gupta and Yakchhya Gupta together ruled over Nepal for 520 years. As Yakchhya Gupta, the eighth and the last King of the dynasty, had no heir, with his death, ended the rule of Gopal dynasty and begun the rule of the Mahishpal, buffalo-herder, who came form India. Kirkpatrick has mentioned that three Kings of this dynasty, namely, Mul Singh, Jay Singh and Bhuwan Singh, ruled for 111 years.

(ii) The Kirants:

After the Aheer came Kirants. According to the Kiranti genealogy, collected by Wright, twenty-nine Kings of the Kirant dynasty ruled over Nepal for 1,118 years. Some historians claim, the number of Kirati rulers was not twenty-nine but thirty-two. Irrespective of the number, the fact is that Yalambar was the first and Gasti was the last king of this dynasty.

(iii) The Lichhavis:

The Lichvis pushed out the Kirats and established their rule in Nepal. Jaya Dev was the first king of this dynasty, however, the recorded history of the country starts with Manadeva, 790 Vikram Sambat, which is 57 years ahead of Anno Domini (A. D.). The Lichvis introduced two-tier system of governance: central and local, which was based on religious textbooks. Hence, the rule of law was the cornerstone of the Lichvi administration. In a Handigaun (Kathmandu) inscription, Amshubarma is said to have stated: 'I highly enjoy when I legislate laws after studying different shastras (religions texts)'. The king used to assume a divine status in the eyes of the people. Despite this, he functioned as a benevolent ruler, who took responsibility of protecting life and property of the people. The Lichvis ruled for about 800 years. This period is known as 'Golden Period' in the Nepali history. It is stated, the medieval history of Nepal began with the introduction of Vikram Sambat (V. S.) in 937 and the start of the rule of king Jaya Dev II. He was a weak king, who could not rule effectively. Consequently, the country, which was strongly integrated during the previous Lichvis rulers started to fall apart during his time.

The Kingdom of Nepal was, therefore, divided into the following three tiny kingdoms, including that of the Khas Malla in the Karnali region, which was established by Nagraj:

• The Kingdom of the Karnali and Sinja Valley;
• The Tirhut Kingdom, with Simrongarh as center, was established by Nyanya Dev (Doy Kingdom of the Tarai); and
• The Malla Kingdom of the Kathmandu Valley.

(iv) The Mallas:

Ari Malla established the Malla rule in Nepal at early thirteenth century. As it was based on kingship, the Mallas placed the King at the apex of politico-administrative affairs. Nevertheless, the sovereign authority of the king was exercised in different styles. During the Malla-period multiple power centers sprang up. As a result, the king, his brothers, sons, nephews, uncles and even father used to exercise state power as co-partners. This multiplicity of power centers means, de facto division of the power without its formal fragmentation.

Weak rules emanating from the conflict within the clan and family were great inducement for repeated external attacks. The Muslim rule of India attacked on Nepal, including Kathmandu valley, time-and-again, and destroyed temples and shrines in 1406 V. S. (1349 A. D.) However, King Jayasthiti Malla was able to establish order in the valley. The Medieval Nepal, which did not spread beyond Kathmandu valley, remained unified until the 15th century. In other words, Jayasthithi Malla was able to maintain the integrity and cohesiveness of the state, which unfortunately Yakshya Mall divided the Kingdom into three states and allotted to his three sons. However, Kings like Narendra Malla, Mahendra Malla and Pratap Malla contributed towards the strengthening and beautifying the Kingdom. The last kings of the Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur were Jaya Prakash Malla, Tej Narsingh Malla and Ranjeet Malla respectively before Great King Prithvi Narayan Shah unified them into Gorkha Kingdom in 1831 V. S. (1767 A. D.)

(v) The Shahs:

In the west of Kathmandu, Narabhupal Shah was the king of Gorkha. After his death, his eldest son Prithvi Narayan Shah became the King of Gorkha in 1742. Present Nepal was divided into 45 small principalities and kingdoms. Most of these kingdoms were tiny, weak and non-visible. As Prithvi Narayan Shah was very young, energetic, highly driven, he decided to conquer all these states in the east-west, north-south. He begun and continued the process of unification for many years, defeated one after another and at last, he defeated Kathmandu in 1767, and crowned himself as the King of Nepal. The present-day Nepal is his creation, to a great extent.

Between 1767 to 1846, several Shah kings ruled over Nepal. However, after the death of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, family-feuds emerged in the Royal family which imparted the governance, led to confusions, and culminated into a big massacre of 1846, which is known as Kot Massacre. Almost all civil and military officers of any importance were done to death. Out of this turmoil emerged Jung Bahadur Rana, who was appointed Prime Minister in September 15, 1846. He established his family oligarchy that-lasted for 104 years. Under the Rana polity, Prime Ministership was made hereditary, with the prime Minister to be succeeded automatically by the most senior of the brothers of Jung Bahadur Rana. The King became titular head of the country. All the executive, legislative and judiciary powers were vested in the Rana Prime Ministers. People were deprived of political rights. Laws were applicable only to the ordinary citizens. The revenue of the nation was the property of the Prime Minister and his family.

The anti-Rana policy of the independent India, increasing awareness among the Nepalese people, the brutal incident of the execution of the four martyrdom Dasharath Chand, Ganga Lal Shrestha, Dharma Bhakta Mathema and Sukra Raj Shastri in 1941, the internal dispute and misunderstanding within the Rana families, the secret support of the then King Tribhuvan and especially the nation-wide armed revolution launched by the Nepali Congress Party all contributed in bringing to an end the Rana rule in February, 1951.

After the Ranas, the power shifted into the hands of the Shahs. Between 1951-59, King Tribhuvan and King Mahendra, over a period of less than 10 years, experimented with several forms of representative and direct rules. Ultimately, King Mahendra gave a constitution 1n 1959, held general elections in which Nepali Congress emerged victorious with the two-thirds majority, its leader B. P. Koirala became the first ever elected Prime Minister of Nepal. But his government has had brief life of eighteen months. Eventually on December 15, 1960, King Mahendra imprisoned Prime Minister Koirala and other leaders of Nepali Congress party, suspended fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution and dissolved the parliament. Political parties were banned by the Royal decree of January 1961.

In 1962, King Mahendra gave another constitution to the people, which did not have any fundamental rights. All the executive, legislative and judicial powers were vested in the King. Political parties were banned. Neglect and discrimination of People along ideological ground became the order of this rule. The banned political parties did not stay quiet as the political and economic exploitations were mounting in the country. The pro-democracy movement in the Eastern Europe in the late 1980s also inspired the Nepalese people to intensify struggle against the party-less Panchayat.

The Jana Andolan, the people's movement, launched under the leadership of the Nepali Congress Party with the United left Front overthrew three-decade long Panchayat system; His late Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev consented to lift ban on parties and restore democracy in Nepal in 1990. Soon after, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal was promulgated on November 9, 1990, which is the fifth constitution in the history of the constitutional development of Nepal.

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(A) Himalayan Region:

This is the northernmost region of the country. Its altitude ranges between 4,877 m. to 8,848 m. and the width north-south is 25-50 k. m.. It extends from east to west and accounts for 15% of the total land of Nepal. The northern 16 districts of Nepal are mostly within this region. The snowline lies between 4000-5000 m. Vegetation become sparser with altitude and almost ends at 4,500m. Some of Nepal's most beautiful animals and plants are found in this region. Although rare, the snow leopard and Danphes (Lophophorus), the national bird of Nepal, are found here. Livestock, yak, sheep, goats and high-altitude agriculture, potato, oats, corn provide for the partial subsistence of the people. Trade with Tibet and off-farm works as labor, guides, high-altitude porters contribute substantially for survival.

In the extreme north of the region are high mountains, glaciers and screes, slightly in the south are valleys of Manang, Ghunsa, Khumbu and others. The Himalayas are not continuous regions; they are made of many small and long ranges. In Nepal, alone, there are 28 of them, with 250 peak over 6000 m., 31 over 7,600m. and eight out of 14 in the world.
Few Peaks:
 

Popular Valleys and Ranges:

Manang, Lantang, Thakkhola, Tarakot, Mugu, Walangchungola, Ghunsa, Khumbu are the popular valleys of the Himalayan region. Likewise, Kanchanjungha, Mahalangur, Langtang, Manasiri, Annapurna, Dhawalagiri are the popular ranges.

Popular Himalayan passes:

Kimathangka, Kodari, Timure, Lhonathang, Yari, Khangla, Jhinsang, Chabuk, Ghangla, Tiptala, Umbak, Lhola, Nangpala, Thangna, Phurbi, Salbu, Yangla, Thaple, Lajing, Gyala, Lungla, Tinkar, Chyangla, Urai, Kogi, Lapche, Mai and Khung are popular Himalayan passes all above 5,000m.

Popular glaciers and Lakes:

Glaciers like Khumbu, Langtang, Kanchanjungha, Yalung, Khansung, Lower Barun, Rongbuk, Ngojumba, Tolambau, etc. all are source of big rivers, like Karnali, Gandaki, Koshi, Arun. Phoksundo, Rara and Tilicho are the popular lakes in the Himalayas. The dialect of the Nepalese people inhabiting this region is similar to the Tibetan language. The famous Sherpas, who mostly inhabit the eastern mountains, form one of the Himalayan ethnic groups. Others are Manangi, Thakali and Bhotes who live in the central and western high Himalayas.

(B) The Hill

In between the Himalayas, and the Tarai are the mid-hills of Nepal, mainly made of the Mahabharat, Siwalik and partly of Chure ranges, which contains 68% of the Nepalese land. The altitude ranges between 600m. to 4877 m. (average 3000m.). Altogether, 39 of the 75 administrative districts are within this region. It's the most habitable region of Nepal with temperate climate and with temperature ranges between a few degrees minus to 32� Celsius. Because of the mild climate, plentiful of shrews and livers, concentration of large number of flora, the region has become an ideal home for many exotic animals, including spotted leopard, barking deer, Himalayan black bear, over 400 species of birds and as many varieties of butterflies.

The main occupations of the people of this region are farming, horticulture, livestock, trading and services. This region is also a main attraction to tourists, who are catalyzing to economy.

Various Tibet Burman and Indo-Aryan peoples inhabit this region. Main ethnic groups are Brahmin, Chhetri, Newar, Rai, Limbu, Tamang, Gurung, Magar, Jirel, Sunwar, Chepang etc. ethnic groups has its own distinct socio-cultural pattern.

Popular valleys and Bensis (low land):
- Kathmandu, Pokhara, Banepa, Trisuli, Panchkhal, Madi, Patan, Khimtibensi, Dhunibensi, Chutrabensi, Serebensi, Besisahar, etc.

Some Tars (flat land) in the Hill:
- Suketar, Tumlingtar, Sangutar, Jarayotar, Mangaltar, Battar, Salyantar, Palungtar, Chepetar, Khairenitar, Chapakottar, Karputar, Beltar, Rampurtar, Gajritar, Rumjatar, etc.

Some popular Hill Tops:
- Sailung, Tyamke, Jathak, Phulchoki, Siwapuri, Kafle, Chimkeshwari, Chandragiri, Daman, Swargadwari, Kaude, Khonche, Sakindanda, etc.

(C) Tarai (Plain Region)

The Tarai covers 17% of the area of Nepal. It provides excellent farming land. Average elevation is 100 to 300 meter above sea-level. The Tarai sub tropical forest is rich in flora and fauna, which include the Royal Bengal Tiger, one horned rhino and the Gharial crocodile. After the eradication of Malaria in the 1960s, many people migrated to the Tarai in search of fertile farmland. Today, Tarai is home of about 48 % of the Nepalese. High concentration of the population, easy accessibility to major north Indian mountains, a reasonable network of roads have made Tarai the economic power-house of Nepal, where most of the manufacturing industries are based. Moreover, Nepal's trade-window to overseas market, Calcutta port, is about 1000 km. from Birganj, a major indstrial town. Other important towns of Nepal are: Mahendra Nagar, Dhangadi, Nepalgunj, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Birgunj and Biratnagar.