Lichchavi period,a golden period

      Recorded history begins with the Lichchhavis. When they came to power in around 250 A.D., a golden age emerged in the history of Nepal. The post Lichchavi period is considered as the dark age. The Lichchhavis has genius for the reconstruction of whole of the country. With them the nation entered a new phase of prosperity in art and culture, painting, architecture and sculpture flourished highly and realized a new height of development.

    The Lichchhavis are said to have migrated into Nepal from north India in around 250 A.D. The first Lichchhavi king of historical importance was Manadeva I. A fairly wide kingdom stretching from the Gandaki to possibly the Kosi seems to have existed under him. He emerges from the inscriptions asa powerful and a determined monarch. His structural reforms were Mangriha( the first royal palace at Gokarna ), Changu Narayan .His other reforms were "Mananka", the first money and Tape for measuring Land Distances.

    Another important Lichchhavi monarch was Anshuverma who opened trade routes to Tibet. One of his daughters, Bhrikuti, who was married to Tibetan ruler Tsrong- tsong – Gompo, was instrumental in spreading the Gospel of Buddha in Tibet and China. Anshuverma has been referred to as a man of many talents in the accounts of the Chinese traveler Huen Tsang, who had visited India in the 7th century A.D.

    Narendradeva, another Lichchhavi king and son of Udayadeva, initiated friendly relations with China and his successors laid the foundations of friendship with India by entering into matrimonial alliances with the Indian royal families. He build "Bhadradhi Bas" Palace. He ruled the country during 645 BC to 679 BC.

The Lichchhavi rule spanned over a period of about 630 years, the last ruler being Jayakamadeva. On the whole these Lichchhavis kings seem to have been successful in maintaining a stable and prosperous state under whose patronage a thriving tradition of arts flourished. The stone sculptures and metal statuettes of the period proclaim it the golden period of Nepalese art. 

                                THE LICHCHHAVI KINGS

Supushapa was the first Lichchhavi king of Nepal. Mana Deva was the most famous king of this dynasty. Mana Deva built a famous palace called “Mangriha”. Mana Deva also introduced Nepalese coins for the first time, known as “Manaka”. Mana Deva also introduced Nepalese coins for the first time, known as “Mananka”. Siva Dev I, Amshu Varma, Narendra Dev, Siva Dev II, Jay Dev, Armudi and Guna Kamadev became the kings of Nepal after Mana Dev. Lichchhavi kings were civilized and advanced in culture. They developed Nepalese art and craft. They extended the territory of Nepal far and wide. The people were happy under Lichchhavis. So, the Lichchhavi period is regarded as the “Golden Age” in the history of Nepal.

 

Pre historic Nepal

History of Nepal

                        Before Nepal's emergence as a nation in the latter half of the 18th century, the designation 'Nepal' was largely applied only to the Kathmandu Valley. Thus up until the unification of the country, Nepal's history is largely the history of the Kathmandu Valley. References to Nepal in famous Hindu epics such as the Mahabharata, Puranas and also Buddhist and Jain scriptures, establish the country's antiquity as an independent political and territorial entity. The Vamshavalis or chronicles, the oldest of which was written during the 14th century, are the only fairly reliable basis for Nepal's ancient history. The Vamshavalis mention the rule of several dynasties the Gopalas, the Abhiras and the Kiratas -- over a stretch of centuries. However, no extant historical evidence has yet authenticated the rule of these legendary dynasties. 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.

                          Records mention the Gopalas and Mahishapalas believed to have been the earliest rulers with their capital at Matatirtha, the south-west corner of the Kathmandu Valley. From the 7th or 8th Century B.C. the Kirantis are said to have ruled the valley. Their famous King Yalumber is even mentioned in the epic, ‘Mahabharat’. Around 300 A.D. the Lichhavis arrived from northern India and overthrew the Kirantis. One of the legacies of the Lichhavis is the Changu Narayan Temple near Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Culture), which dates back to the 5th Century. In the early 7th Century, Amshuvarma, the first Thakuri king took over the throne from his father-in-law who was a Lichhavi. He married off his daughter Bhrikuti to the famous Tibetan King Tsong Tsen Gampo thus establishing good relations with Tibet. The Lichhavis brought art and architecture to the valley but the golden age of creativity arrived in 1200 A.D with the Mallas.

                       During their 550 year rule, the Mallas built numerous temples and splendid palaces with picturesque squares. It was also during their rule that society and the cities became well organized; religious festivals were introduced and literature, music and art were encouraged. After the death of Yaksha Malla, the valley was divided into three kingdoms: Kathmandu (Kantipur), Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon) and Patan (Lalitpur). Around this time, the Nepal as we know it today was divided into about 46 independent principalities. One among these was the kingdom of Gorkha with a Shah ruler. Much of Kathmandu Valley’s history around this time was recorded by Capuchin friars who lived in the valley on their way in and out of Tibet.

 Kirat Era

After the abolition of Gopalas and Mahishpalas, the Kiratas came into power. Yalambar was the first king of Kirata Dynasty. It is assumed that he ruled Nepal at about 785 BC

During the reign of 7th Kirata King Jitedasti in 563 BC, Gautam Buddha came to Nepal from Kapilvastu

During the time of Sthunko, the 28th Kirata King, in 266 BC, Emperor Ashoka's daughter Charumati came to Nepal and ordered to build "Stupa" around the 4 corners and middle of Patan.

 Gasti was the 29th and the last King of Kirata Dynasty

Nepal was ruled by 29 Kirata Kings for about 800 years.

After Kiratas, for sometime,Nimish overthrew Kiratas, the first king of Som Dynasty. Vaskar Barma was the last king of Som Dynasty.