Lines Of Descent

1768: Gurkha ruler Prithvi Narayan Shah conquers Kathmandu and laysthe foundation for a unified kingdom
1792: Nepalese expansion halted by defeat at the hands of the Chinese
1816: Nepal becomes quasi-British protectorate after Anglo-Nepal war
1846: Nepal falls under the sway of hereditary prime ministers known asRanas
1923: The British finally recognise Nepal’s independence
1951: Sovereignty of the Shah rule restored and anti-Rana rebels inNepalese Congress Party (NCP) form the government
1959: Multi-party constitution adopted
1960: King Mahendra seizes control and suspends parliament and partypolitics
1962: New constitution provides for non-party system of councils known as“panchayats”
1972: King Mahendra dies, succeeded by King Birendra
1980: King agrees to allow direct elections to the national assembly
1989: Trade and transit dispute with India leads to border blockade byNew Delhi
1991: Nepali Congress Party wins first democratic elections. G.P. Koiralabecomes PM.
1994: Koirala government defeated in no-confidence motion. Communists winnew elections.
1995: Communist government dissolved
1998: Koirala returns as PM, heading a coalition government
2000: PM Bhattarai steps down after revolt in NCP. Koirala returns asprime minister, heading the ninth government in 10 years