Reference
A History of Nepal
A concise, reliable history of Nepal from the Gorkha unification to the republic.
Kingdom of Nepal
Kingdom
Level 2
★ Major power
1816 – 2008
Shah monarchy within the borders fixed by the Treaty of Sugauli; Rana prime ministers ruled 1846-1951.
- Capital
- Kathmandu
- Region
- Himalaya
- Duration
- 192 years
- Main period
- British Crown Rule (Raj)
Approximate extent.
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Jung Bahadur Rana Prime Minister1846 – 1877Founded hereditary Rana rule.
- Tribhuvan King1911 – 1955Ended Rana rule in 1951.
- Mahendra King1955 – 1972
- Birendra King1972 – 2001Killed in the royal massacre.
- Gyanendra King2001 – 2008Last king.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | Treaty of Sugauli Fixes most of Nepal's modern borders. Nepal ceded Kumaon, Garhwal and the Terai and accepted a British resident. |
Sugauli |
| 1846 | Kot massacre; Rana rule begins in Nepal Jung Bahadur Rana seized power and Rana prime ministers ruled for 104 years. |
Kathmandu |
| 1951 | Democracy restored in Nepal | Kathmandu |
| 1953 | First ascent of Everest Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary. |
Mount Everest |
| 1990 | Jana Andolan restores democracy in Nepal | Kathmandu |
| 1996 | Civil war begins in Nepal | Rolpa |
| 2006 | Comprehensive Peace Accord in Nepal | Kathmandu |
Personalities
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Kingdom of Nepal for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 152 years
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Overlap: 133 years
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Overlap: 134 years
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Overlap: 145 years
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
Overlap: 41 years
British East India Company ★
Pan-Indian · 1600 – 1858
Overlap: 42 years
Hyderabad State (Nizams) ★
Deccan · 1724 – 1948
Overlap: 132 years
Sikh Empire ★
North · 1799 – 1849
Overlap: 33 years
British Raj (Crown Rule) ★
Pan-Indian · 1858 – 1947
Overlap: 89 years
Kingdom of Bhutan ★
Himalaya · 1907 – present
Overlap: 101 years
Republic of India ★
Pan-Indian · 1950 – present
Overlap: 58 years
Republic of Maldives ★
Islands · 1968 – present
Overlap: 40 years
Islamic Republic of Pakistan ★
Northwest · 1971 – present
Overlap: 37 years
People's Republic of Bangladesh ★
East · 1971 – present
Overlap: 37 years
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ★
Sri Lanka · 1972 – present
Overlap: 36 years
Afghanistan ★
Northwest · 1973 – present
Overlap: 35 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 133 years
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Overlap: 133 years
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Overlap: 133 years
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Overlap: 145 years
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Overlap: 145 years
Bhutan under the Zhabdrung (Druk Desi)
Himalaya · 1616 – 1907
Overlap: 91 years
Danish India
Coastal · 1620 – 1869
Overlap: 53 years
Danish Tranquebar
Coastal · 1620 – 1845
Overlap: 29 years
Fort St George, Madras
Coastal · 1639 – 1858
Overlap: 42 years
French India
Coastal · 1668 – 1954
Overlap: 138 years
Bombay (English East India Company)
Coastal · 1668 – 1858
Overlap: 42 years
Chandernagore
Coastal · 1673 – 1950
Overlap: 134 years
Pondichéry
Coastal · 1674 – 1954
Overlap: 138 years
Carnatic (Nawabs of Arcot)
South · 1692 – 1855
Overlap: 39 years
Gaekwad State (Baroda)
West · 1721 – 1949
Overlap: 133 years
Mahé
Coastal · 1721 – 1954
Overlap: 138 years
Jat Kingdom of Bharatpur
North · 1722 – 1947
Overlap: 131 years
Awadh (Nawabs of Oudh)
Gangetic Plain · 1722 – 1856
Overlap: 40 years
Travancore
South · 1729 – 1949
Overlap: 133 years
Holkar State (Indore)
Central · 1731 – 1948
Overlap: 132 years
Scindia State (Gwalior)
Central · 1731 – 1948
Overlap: 132 years
Yanam
Coastal · 1731 – 1954
Overlap: 138 years
Bhonsles of Nagpur
Central · 1739 – 1853
Overlap: 37 years
Karaikal
Coastal · 1739 – 1954
Overlap: 138 years