Prehistory and early history Nepal’s rich prehistory consists mainly of the legendary traditions of the Newar, the indigenous community of Nepal Valley (now usually called Kathmandu Valley). There are over 100 recognized languages in Nepal. 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. High Religion: A Cultural and Political History of Sherpa Buddhism, 1989. 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. Major Cities: Pokhara, population 200,000, Patan, population 190,000, Biratnagar, population 167,000, Bhaktapur, population 78,000. The Gurkhas, led by the Shah dynasty, soon challenged the Mallas. A Cabinet or Council of Ministers fills out the executive branch. Under the Licchavis, Nepal's trade ties with Tibet and China expanded, leading to a cultural and intellectual renaissance. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. In 1962, though, King Mahendra (r. 1955-72) disbanded the Congress and jailed most of the government. The most commonly used are Nepali (also called Gurkhali or Khaskura), spoken by nearly 60 percent of the population, and Nepal Bhasa (Newari). In the nineteenth century, the Ranas, who were ministers to the kings, assumed real power, and the Shahs became puppet rulers. The middle period in Nepalese history is usually considered coterminous with the rule of the Malla dynasty (10th–18th century) in Nepal Valley and surrounding areas. 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. Arriving from the east around the 7th or 8th century BC, these Mongoloid people are the first known rulers of the Kathmandu Valley. Siddharta Gautama, born on 563 B.C.E. In the 3rd century BC the great Indian Emperor introduced Buddhism into Nepal. This was achieved by the Thapa family (1806–37) and, even more extensively, by the Rana family (1846–1951). The earliest points of Nepal history include reference to the Newars, the original settlers of the country. 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… 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. 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. Anti-Rana forces, composed mainly of Nepalese residents in India who had served their political apprenticeship in the Indian nationalist movement, formed an alliance with the Nepalese royal family, led by King Tribhuvan (reigned 1911–55), and launched a revolution in November 1950. Several of the kings were children when they took power, so noble families vied to be the power behind the throne. Everest. See also the list of monarchs of Nepal. Nepalese Historical Personalities Find out more about the greatest Nepalese Historical Personalities, including Gyanendra of Nepal, Birendra of Nepal, Jung Bahadur Rana, Mahendra of Nepal and Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. The Kingdom of Nepal, a small Hindu-majority nation wedged between India and China in the Himalayas, became a multiparty federal republic in 2008. In the north, the high Himalayas are extremely cold and increasingly dry as the altitude rises. 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. The two largest are Indo-Aryan: Chetri (15.8% of the population) and Bahun (12.7%). Kirats ruled Nepal for about 1000 years (800 BC to 300 AD). The civil war between Maoist rebels and the government, which began in 1996 and ended in 2007, severely reduced Nepal's tourism industry. See more ideas about nepal, history, vintage. In these periods, the Shah ruler was relegated to an honorary position without power, while effective authority was concentrated in the hands of the leading members of the dominant family. Nepal, country of Asia, lying along the southern slopes of the Himalayan mountain ranges. Monsoon rains drench the region from June to September, with 75-150 cm (30-60 inches) of rain. Bhaktapur Durbar Square. 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 primary crops are rice, wheat, maize, and sugarcane. Nepal Democratic Congress In 1948, a new political party named the Nepal Democratic Congress was established in Calcutta. Of course, Nepal is associated with the Himalayan Range, including the world's tallest mountain, Mt. Nepal has a unicameral legislature, the Constituent Assembly, with 601 seats. Nepal's recorded history kicks off with the Hindu Kiratis. A new constitution was finally ratified in 1959, and a national assembly elected. The towering Himalaya Mountains attest to the colossal tectonic force of the Indian Subcontinent as it plows into mainland Asia. Situated in the lap of Himalayas is a country with unbelievably diverse topography and culture. Temperatures reach 40°C in April and May. There are usually both Buddhist and Brahmanic Hindu versions of these various legends. 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. The ruler of the small principality of Gorkha, campaigned to unite the various kingdoms … Overview History Of Nepal. Due to its extreme topography, however, it has a much wider range of climate zones than those places. The president of Nepal serves as chief of state, while the prime minister is head of government. 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