History of Nepal

Lord Buddha was born in Nepal over 2,500 years. Little is known of the countrys history prior to this time, but from around 400BC there are records the small kingdoms of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur prospering in art, culture, painting, architecture and sculptures. This gradually giving rise to a nation which is now affectionately termed as an "Open air museum of Art and Architecture.

For centuries the country of Nepal remained divided into many principalities. Kirats ruled in the east, the Newars in the Kathmandu Valley, while Gurungs and Magars occupied the mid-west. The Kirats ruled from 300 BC and during their reign, emperor Ashoka arrived from India to build a pillar at Lumbini in memory of Lord Buddha. The Kirats were followed by the Lichchhavis whose descendants today are believed to be the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley. During this period, art thrived in Nepal and many of the beautiful woodcarvings and sculptures that are found in the country belong to this era. With the end of the Lichchhavi dynasty, Malla kings came to power in 1200 AD and they also contributed tremendously to Nepals art and culture. However, after almost 600 years of rule, the kings were not united amongst themselves and during the late 18th century, Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Gorkha, conquered Kathmandu and united Nepal into one 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 Nepals first Prime Minister to wield absolute power. He set up an oligarchy and the Shah Kings remained figureheads. The Ranas were overthrown in a move towards democracy in the early 1950s and Nepal enjoys political stability, with a democratically elected government, to this day.