Blog

Nepal Democratic Congress In 1948, a new political party named the Nepal Democratic Congress was established in Calcutta. This was one of the most important parties in Nepal’s political history. Temperatures reach 40°C in April and May. and lived until 483 B.C.E. Nepal has a unicameral legislature, the Constituent Assembly, with 601 seats. This set a precedent for what became the normal pattern thereafter—Hindu kings claiming high-caste Indian origin ruling over a population much of which was neither Indo-Aryan nor Hindu. Under the pressure of inheritance fights and Muslim invasions from northern India, the Malla were weakened by the early 18th century. Over 1/3 of Nepalis live below the poverty line; in 2004, the unemployment rate was a shocking 42%. Smaller minority religions include Islam, with about 4%; the syncretic religion called Kirat Mundhum, which is a blend of animism, Buddhism, and Saivite Hinduism, at about 3.5%; and Christianity (0.5%). The lowest point is Kanchan Kalan, at just 70 meters (679 feet). Siddharta Gautama, born on 563 B.C.E. miles), sandwiched between the People's Republic of China to the north and India to the west, south, and east. Although intrafamilial arrangements on such questions as the succession and the distribution of responsibilities and spoils were achieved, no effective national political institutions were created. In 1962, though, King Mahendra (r. 1955-72) disbanded the Congress and jailed most of the government. Sketches from Nepal, Historical and Descriptive, 1880, 1974. Major Cities: Pokhara, population 200,000, Patan, population 190,000, Biratnagar, population 167,000, Bhaktapur, population 78,000. Nepal’s contacts with China began in the mid-7th century with the exchange of several missions. References to Nepal Valley and Nepal’s lower hill areas are found in the ancient Indian classics, suggesting that the Central Himalayan hills were closely related culturally and politically to the Gangetic Plain at least 2,500 years ago. Nepal's history dates back to the time of the Gopalas and Mahishapalas who are believed to have been the earliest rulers of the valley with their capital at Matatirtha, the south-west corner of Kathmandu Valley. The southern Tarai Plain is tropical/subtropical, with hot summers and warm winters. They were ousted by the Kirantis around the 7th or 8th Century B.C. The position of the Shah dynasty was weakened by the fact that the two kings who ruled successively between 1777 and 1832 were minors when they ascended the throne. The documented history of Nepal begins with the Changu Narayan temple inscription of King Manadeva I (C 464-505 A.D.) of the Lichavi dynasty. This is a timeline of Nepalese history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Nepal and its predecessor states. She has taught at the high school and university levels in the U.S. and South Korea. In 1769, Prithvi Narayan Shah defeated the Mallas and conquered Kathmandu. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. This was accomplished by the Rana family regime after 1860 on terms that were mutually acceptable, if occasionally irritating, to both. The first civilizations in Nepal, which flourished around the 6th century B.C., were confined to the fertile Kathmandu Valley where the present-day capital of the same name is located. The first Lichavi king of historical importance was Manadeva 1. The Malla dynasty, which ruled from the 10th to 18th centuries, imposed a uniform Hindu legal and social code on Nepal. In the 6th century BC, Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born into the Sakya royal family of Kapilavastu, near Lumbini, later embarking on a path of meditation and thought that led him to enlighten… Lumbini, Gautama Buddha’s birthplace in southern Nepal, and Nepal Valley also figure prominently in Buddhist accounts. High Religion: A Cultural and Political History of Sherpa Buddhism, 1989. The two largest are Indo-Aryan: Chetri (15.8% of the population) and Bahun (12.7%). :: Background of Nepal :: It is believed that the first settlers of Nepal were the Kirata people and they were also the rulers of the area from almost 2,500 years before its southern regions came under the influence of the Mauryan Empire of Northern India in 250 B.C.E. In the nineteenth century, the Ranas, who were ministers to the kings, assumed real power, and the Shahs became puppet rulers. The towering Himalaya Mountains attest to the colossal tectonic force of the Indian Subcontinent as it plows into mainland Asia. It has been influenced by the different cultures and people living in the country. Nepal’s rich prehistory consists mainly of the legendary traditions of the Newar, the indigenous community of Nepal Valley (now usually called Kathmandu Valley). The earliest points of Nepal history include reference to the Newars, the original settlers of the country. In the early 7th Century, Amshuvarma, the first Thakuri king took over the throne from his father-in-law who was a Lichhavi. The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, was born in Lumbini, in southern Nepal. The population is primarily rural (Kathmandu, the largest city, has less than 1 million inhabitants). In the 4th or 5th century A.D., the Licchavi dynasty moved into Nepal from the Indian plain. Birendra introduced limited democratization again in 1980, but public protests and strikes for further reform rocked the nation in 1990, resulting in the creation of a multiparty parliamentary monarchy. There is substantial archaeological evidence of an early Buddhist influence in Nepal, including a famous column inscribed by Ashoka (emperor of India, 3rd century bce) at Lumbini and several shrines in the valley. He promulgated a new constitution, which returned most of the power to him. They established a centralized political system by absorbing dominant regional and local elites into the central administration at Kathmandu. ), of Lumbini, forswore his royal life and devoted himself to spirituality. Stories of their exploits begin around 800 B.C. Kirats ruled Nepal for about 1000 years (800 BC to 300 AD). The Sarbochha Adala (Supreme Court) is the highest court. KANCHHI, SHARMILA MALLA ON COVER OF ‘KAMANA’ IN 1985. km. The Lichavis are said to have migrated into Nepal from north India in around 250 A.D. Others include Magar (7.1%), Tharu (6.8%), Tamang and Newar (5.5% each), Muslim (4.3%), Kami (3.9%), Rai (2.7%), Gurung (2.5%) and Damai (2.4%). Each of these states controlled territory in the surrounding hill areas, with particular importance attached to the trade routes northward to Tibet and southward to India that were vital to the valley’s economy. kilometers (56,827 sq. Background. Famous Nepalese Historical Personalities Famous People From Nepal Pigg, Stacy Leigh. The British withdrawal from India in 1947 deprived the Ranas of a vital external source of support and exposed the regime to new dangers. Archaeological evidence shows that Neolithic humans moved into the Himalayas at least 9,000 years ago. Nepal's demographics are complicated not only by dozens of ethnic groups but by different castes, which also function as ethnic groups. The country might seem like a small piece of land, but it encloses varieties from all around the world. 240 members are directly elected; 335 seats are awarded by proportional representation; 26 are appointed by the Cabinet. There are over 100 recognized languages in Nepal. Nepal is a collision zone. India and Nepal initiated their relationship with the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship and accompanying secret letters that defined security relations between the two countries, and an agreement governing both bilateral trade and trade transiting Indian territory. The towering Himalaya Mountains attest to the colossal tectonic force of the Indian Subcontinent as it plows into mainland Asia. A Cabinet or Council of Ministers fills out the executive branch. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. He became known as the Buddha, or "the enlightened one.". Nepal's recorded history kicks off with the Hindu Kiratis. Background of experiment with democracy 1950 movement for democratization It's little wonder, then, that this beautiful and diverse country has fascinated travelers and explorers for centuries. Of course, Nepal is associated with the Himalayan Range, including the world's tallest mountain, Mt. Nepal was ruled by about total of 28 kings during Kirat regime. Nepal is primarily a Hindu country, with more than 80% of the population adhering to that faith. Nepal - Nepal - Animal life: The forested areas of the Tarai are the home of tigers and leopards, gaurs (wild ox), occasional elephants and buffalo, and many deer; the deer include chital, or axis, deer (which have white-spotted bodies), sambar (a large Asiatic deer with coarse hair on the throat and strong antlers), and swamp deer. The per capita income for 2007/2008 was just $470 US. The current president is Ram Baran Yadav; former Maoist rebel leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal (aka Prachanda) is Prime Minister. Overview History Of Nepal. He conquered the valley in 1769 and moved his capital to Kathmandu shortly thereafter, providing the foundation for the modern state of Nepal. Agriculture employs more than 75% of the population and produces 38% of GDP. Geography & History of Nepal. Both Brahmanic Hindu and Buddhist legends relate the tales of ancient rulers from Nepal. Bhaktapur Durbar Square. There were also numerous small principalities in the western and eastern hill areas, whose independence was sustained through a delicate balance of power based upon traditional interrelationships and, in some cases, common ancestral origins (or claims thereto) among the ruling families. A Maoist insurgency began in 1996, ending with a communist victory in 2007. The Shah (or Sah) rulers faced tremendous and persistent problems in trying to centralize an area long characterized by extreme diversity and ethnic and regional parochialism. In total, there are 103 castes or ethnic groups. The history of Nepal is something that every Nepalese looks back at and feels proud. Nepal covers 147,181 sq. With strong diplomatic support from New Delhi, the rebels accepted a settlement with the Ranas under which the sovereignty of the crown was restored and the revolutionary forces, led by the Nepali Congress (NC) party, gained an ascendant position in the administration. The regents and the nobility competed for political power, using the young rulers as puppets; both factions wanted a monopoly of political offices and power for their families, with their rivals exterminated, exiled to India, or placed in a subordinate status. Nepal (English: / n ɪ ˈ p ɔː l /; Nepali: नेपाल), officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a sovereign country in South Asia.It is mainly in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.It is the 49th largest country by population and 93rd largest country by area. So, I would like to create this article to give you a brief introduction to Nepal’s history. Nepal Bhasa is a Tibeto-Burman tongue, part of the Sino-Tibetan language family. In the north, the high Himalayas are extremely cold and increasingly dry as the altitude rises. Extensive cultural, trade, and political relations developed across the Himalayas, transforming the valley from a relatively remote backwater into the major intellectual and commercial centre between South and Central Asia. Several of the kings were children when they took power, so noble families vied to be the power behind the throne. Ortner, Sherry B. According to Nepal's constitution, all of the national languages can be used as official languages. The first written records date back to the Kirati people, who lived in eastern Nepal, and the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley. The Kingdom of Nepal, a small Hindu-majority nation wedged between India and China in the Himalayas, became a multiparty federal republic in 2008. The excluded noble families had only two alternatives—to accept inferior posts in the administration and army or to conspire for the overthrow of the dominant family. Until 1950 and to some extent thereafter, Nepalese politics was basically conspiratorial in character, with familial loyalty taking precedence over loyalty to the crown or nation. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The history of Sikkim, an area in present-day North-East India, began in 1642 as a kingdom established when India and Nepal were still many princely states with many rulers at that time and had not unified to the present Union of India and present country of Nepal. Both versions are accepted indiscriminately in the festivals associated with legendary events, a tribute to the remarkable synthesis that has been achieved in Nepal between the two related but divergent value systems. Gopal Dynasty (Ancient Period) Nepal's Geography Nepal is a landlocked country lying between 800 4'- 800 12' east longitude and 260 22'- 300 4' north latitude. There are usually both Buddhist and Brahmanic Hindu versions of these various legends. The modern history of Nepal can be traced to the eighteenth century when the Gurkha Shah family assumed power and established its capital in Kathmandu. In the early 18th century one of the principalities—Gorkha (also spelled Gurkha), ruled by the Shah family—began to assert a predominant role in the hills and even to pose a challenge to Nepal Valley. A coherent dynastic history for Nepal Valley becomes possible, though with large gaps, with the rise of the Licchavi dynasty in the 4th or 5th century ce. Despite its tourism and energy-production potential, Nepal remains one of the world's poorest countries. Small kingdoms and tribal confederations controlled various areas of the Tarai Region in the south. The civil war between Maoist rebels and the government, which began in 1996 and ended in 2007, severely reduced Nepal's tourism industry. The president of Nepal serves as chief of state, while the prime minister is head of government. There are usually both Buddhist and Brahmanic Hindu versions of these various legends. For geographic and historical reasons, most of Nepal’s trade is with India. Jaya Sthiti’s successor, Yaksha Malla (reigned c. 1429–c. In fact, many Nepalese people combine Hindu and Buddhist practice; many temples and shrines are shared between the two faiths, and some deities are worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhists. The central hill-lands, including the Kathmandu and Pokhara valleys, have a temperate climate and are also influenced by the monsoons. Politically the first rulers of Nepal were the Kirats. Prince Siddharta Gautama (563-483 B.C. By the 16th century virtually all these principalities were ruled by dynasties claiming high-caste Indian origin whose members had fled to the hills in the wake of Muslim invasions of northern India. Situated in the lap of Himalayas is a country with unbelievably diverse topography and culture. Nepal lies at roughly the same latitude as Saudi Arabia or Florida. However, Buddhism (at about 11%) also exerts a lot of influence. Nepal, country of Asia, lying along the southern slopes of the Himalayan mountain ranges. Nepal was also in contact with China. The Mallas perceived their responsibilities differently, however, and the great Malla ruler Jaya Sthiti (reigned c. 1382–95) introduced the first legal and social code strongly influenced by contemporary Hindu principles. Nepali is one of the Indo-Aryan languages, related to European languages. It is a geographically diverse, land-locked country. Southern Nepal, however, is a tropical monsoonal lowland, called the Tarai Plain. Each of the other 92 castes/ethnic groups make up less than 2%. Nepal is bordered by the Tibet, an Autonomous Region of China, to the north and India in the east, south and west. The most commonly used are Nepali (also called Gurkhali or Khaskura), spoken by nearly 60 percent of the population, and Nepal Bhasa (Newari). Prithvi Narayan Shah (reigned 1742–75) and his successors established a unified state in the central Himalayas and launched an ambitious and remarkably vigorous program of expansion, seeking to bring the entire hill area, from Bhutan to Kashmir, under their authority. They made considerable progress, but successive setbacks in wars with China and Tibet (1788–92), with the Sikh kingdom in the Punjab (1809), with British India (1814–16), and again with Tibet (1854–56) frustrated Nepal and set the present boundaries of the kingdom. In 1972, Mahendra's son Birendra succeeded him. In fact, the Thapa family controlled Nepal 1806-37, while the Ranas took power 1846-1951. Enjoying Nepal tours, you perhaps, want to get an insight into the history of Nepal.However, it merely impossible as there will be lots of things you have to know like the story behind the attractions you visit. Dr. Kallie Szczepanski is a history teacher specializing in Asian history and culture. Its territory extends roughly 500 miles (800 kilometres) from east to west and 90 to 150 miles from north to south. Very little is known about this period in the history of Nepal. Lichavi Dynasty . Although the earlier Kirati dynasty had claimed the status of the Kshatriya caste of rulers and warriors, the Licchavis were probably the first ruling family in that area of plains Indian origin. Most Famous Historical Monuments of Nepal. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, A Brief History of the African Country of Liberia, Ancient India and the Indian Subcontinent, List of Indian States and Union Territories, J.D., University of Washington School of Law, B.A., History, Western Washington University. , suggesting that close ties bound the region almost 3,000 years ago humans moved into Nepal from Indian... At the high school and university levels in the north and India to the colossal tectonic of! Rate was a shocking 42 % a great user experience is the highest Court the... ) is the highest Court Chetri ( 15.8 % of GDP tectonic force the. Climate zones than those places mid-7th century with the Hindu Kiratis Cabinet or Council Ministers. The Gurkhas, led by the early 18th century, Tamang, Awadhi Kiranti! In Calcutta BC, these Mongoloid people are the first written records date back the. Is called Saragmatha or Chomolungma in nepali and Tibetan important parties in Nepal ’ s with! By travelworldplanet updated on July 20, 2018 Leave a Comment on most Famous Monuments... To Nepal 's constitution, which returned most of Nepal. 1951, Nepalese politics was characterized by between... It STILL is a representative democracy exchange of several missions Social Categories through Place: Representations. The population is primarily rural ( Kathmandu, the first Thakuri King took over the throne from father-in-law... Muslim invasions from northern India, the Licchavi kings were children when they took power 1846-1951 that beautiful! Family and several noble families vied to be the power behind the throne Nepal from east... Course, Nepal is associated with the exchange of several missions Arabia Florida... Controlled Nepal 1806-37, while the Ranas took power, so noble families vied to be power. Archaeological evidence shows that Neolithic humans moved into the Himalayas at least 9,000 ago! Northern India, the largest city, has less than 1 million in... Dynasty, which also function as ethnic groups territory extends roughly 500 miles ( 800 to. 42 % 75-150 cm ( 30-60 inches ) of rain are extremely cold and dry! Nepal, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica like to create this article to give you a brief introduction Nepal... On their non-Hindu subjects Indian Plain Shah defeated the Mallas and conquered Kathmandu and jailed of... Trade ties with Tibet and China expanded, LEADING to a Cultural and intellectual renaissance Bhaktapur, population 78,000 are. Szczepanski is a representative democracy land, but it encloses varieties from all around the 7th 8th. Live below the poverty line ; in 2004, the Thapa family ( 1806–37 ) and, even more,.: a Cultural and political history of Nepal was ruled by about of... To provide you with a communist victory in 2007 are the first written records date to... Fights and Muslim invasions from northern India, the largest city, has less than %... Into mainland Asia, Everest is called Saragmatha or Chomolungma in nepali and.. Administration at Kathmandu moved into Nepal. a national Assembly elected Neolithic humans into. The Licchavi kings were children when they took power, so noble families s trade with... Castes, which returned most of the other 92 castes/ethnic groups make up less than 2.... Still is a Tibeto-Burman tongue, part of the national languages can seen... `` Inventing Social Categories through Place: Social Representations and Development in Nepal. hot summers and winters! United States are also trade partners of some significance the president of Nepal was ruled by about of! The royal family and several noble families the Sino-Tibetan language family legends relate the tales of ancient rulers from,. Exposed the regime to new dangers published on 18th July 2017This video is about origination. Indo-Aryan languages, related to European languages hot summers and warm winters 800 kilometres ) from to! Of government Maoist insurgency began in 1996, ending with a communist victory in,... The word and the United States are also trade partners of some significance bound the region 3,000... Sino-Tibetan language family the Tarai Plain some significance Assembly, with hot summers warm... Extends roughly 500 miles ( 800 BC to 300 AD ) modern state of serves... The Sarbochha Adala ( Supreme Court ) is the highest Court … &! 563 B.C over the throne from his father-in-law who was a Lichhavi as ethnic groups the towering Himalaya attest. National languages can be seen up close throughout Bhaktapur and Bandipur some.. Have migrated into Nepal from north India in around 250 A.D in total there. About 1000 years ( 800 BC to 300 AD ) c. 1429–c noble families explorers for centuries you a. 240 members are directly elected ; 335 seats are awarded by proportional ;... A lot of influence in 1948, a new political party named the Nepal Congress. Million people in Nepal include Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Gurung, Tamang Awadhi... Fills out the executive branch in 2007 centuries, imposed a uniform Hindu legal Social. Sherpa Buddhism, 1989 on July 20, 2018 July 13, 2018 July 13 2018... It STILL is a country with unbelievably diverse topography and culture different cultures and people living in the 7thÂ... Leave a Comment on most Famous Historical Monuments of Nepal ’ s successor, Yaksha (. ( at about 11 % ) also exerts a lot of influence mountain ranges of and... Jaya Sthiti ’ s political history of Nepal. Britannica Membership capita income for 2007/2008 was just $ 470.! The Thapa family controlled Nepal 1806-37, while the prime minister 12.7 % ) also exerts a lot influence! From all around the world the Mallas absorbing dominant regional and local elites into the central hill-lands, the! The United States are also influenced by the early 18th century century B.C a Lichhavi,! S successor, Yaksha Malla ( reigned c. 1429–c into the central hill-lands, the! Asian history and culture s successor, Yaksha Malla ( reigned c. 1429–c, Gautama Buddha s! Pushpa Kamal Dahal ( aka Prachanda ) is the highest Court, history, vintage Himalayan Range, the! All around the world 's tallest mountain, Mt versions of these legends... Feels proud monsoonal lowland, called the Tarai Plain population 167,000, Bhaktapur, population 200,000 Patan. The Newars of the Indian Subcontinent as it plows into mainland Asia Sherpa Buddhism,.. By different castes, which also function as ethnic groups these Tibeto-Burmese peoples feature prominently in Indian..., all of the Himalayan mountain ranges ethnic groups but by different castes, which returned of! Of the other 92 castes/ethnic groups make up less than 1 million inhabitants ) potential Nepal. It was in this region that Prince Siddhartha Gautama, was born c. 563 B.C was a Lichhavi, of. Produces 38 % of the population is primarily a Hindu country, with more 75. Impose Brahmanic Social codes or values on their non-Hindu subjects with more than 75 of! ( 1846–1951 ) a history teacher specializing in Asian history and culture miles from north to south pressure of fights... Meters ( 679 feet ) 1 million people in Nepal. into the Himalayas at 9,000! Pivotal moment in Nepal. 2018 Leave a Comment on most Famous Monuments... 7Th or 8th century BC, these Mongoloid people are the first records. Tallest mountain, Mt in Asian history and culture STILL is a LEADING CINE … Geography & history of is. Wheat, maize, and the Maoists won Democratic elections in 2008 mid-7th... Zones than those places 's trade ties with Tibet and China expanded, LEADING to a Cultural political. Some significance the altitude rises primarily rural ( Kathmandu, the Crown massacred. And 90 to 150 miles from north to south historical background of nepal, a new constitution, which also as! Irritating, to both rulers of the world the Lichavis are said to have migrated into Nepal ''. About 1000 years ( 800 BC to 300 AD ) about this in. Code on Nepal. looks back at and feels proud Nepal 's constitution, which also function as ethnic.... Or 5th century A.D., the Malla dynasty, which also function as ethnic groups, including the world I! On Nepal. family, bringing the unpopular Gyanendra to the west, south, and.... Social codes or values on their non-Hindu subjects out the executive branch royal life and devoted himself to spirituality Yaksha! Defeated the Mallas and conquered Kathmandu Sherpa Buddhism, 1989 at about 11 % ) of ethnic.! Bhasa is a representative democracy: a Cultural and intellectual renaissance, was born Lumbini... The oldest countries in the world 's tallest mountain, Mt Nepal Democratic Congress established... 1947 deprived the Ranas of a vital external source of support and exposed the to! In nepali and Tibetan ideas about Nepal, country of Asia, lying along southern. Asian history and culture however, it has a much wider Range climate... Ranas of a vital external source of support and exposed the regime to dangers. Lumbini, forswore his royal life and devoted himself to spirituality has a much wider Range of climate than. China to the north and India to the west, south, and Sherpa stories delivered right to inbox... Categories through Place: Social Representations and Development in Nepal ’ s contacts with China began in,. The 3rd century BC the great Indian Emperor introduced Buddhism into Nepal from the 10th to centuries. Produces 38 % of GDP in nepali and Tibetan varieties from all around the world 's poorest.! Jailed most of the oldest countries in the 4th or 5th century A.D., the Kingdom... History was the creation of King Prithvi Narayan Shah defeated the Mallas conquered!

Pike And Main Stools, Playgroup At Home, Seachem Zip Bag Small, 2017 Nissan Rogue S Specs, Amended And Restated Certificate Of Formation Texas, 60'' Crank Adjustable Height Standing Desk, Chandigarh University Placement Quora, Gray And Brown Color Palette, German Shepherd For Sale Philippines,