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THE

ROYAL FAMILY

Of  NEPAL

The Royal family of Nepal belongs to the Shah dynasty that has its roots going back as far as
the 15th century.

“Our culture and traditions are a precious legacy that we must protect and preserve for future generations.”

– HM King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev

ROYAL
CULTURAL HERITAGE

Learn more about royal heritage,
culture and artifacts.
Uniting People,
Honoring Heritage
For Nepalis, the sovereign represents the human embodiment of Lord Vishnu, the Hindu deity who nurtures and safeguards all creation. In turn, for Their Majesties, all Nepalis are their own brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters—whose well being is always their foremost concern.

“The extraordinary patience and fortitude displayed by our beloved countrymen, reposing deep love and trust… a clear manifestation of the unique characteristic inherent in the Nepalese people. Our people deserve profound appreciation.”

– HM King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
FOREIGN RELATIONS
The Divyopadesh by HM The Great King Prithvi Narayan Shah has been crucial in guiding Nepal to establish friendly, diplomatic relationships with foreign powers.

“This state is like a yam between two boulders. Keep strong friendship with the Emperor of China; one has to maintain friendship with the Emperor of the sea (English Emperor) in the south.”

— Shree Panch Bada Maharajadhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shah

THE

SHAH KINGS

Of  NEPAL

The Kingdom of Nepal has seen 12 kings on its throne since the reign of His Majesty the Great King Prithvi Narayan Shah.

HM THE GREAT KING
PRITHVI NARAYAN SHAH

Reign 3 April 1743 – 11 January 1775

HM KING
PRATAP SINGH SHAH

Reign 11 January 1775 – 17 November 1777

HM KING
RANA BAHADUR SHAH

Reign 17 November 1777 – 8 March 1799

HM KING
GIRVAN YUDDHA BIKRAM SHAH

Reign 8 March 1799 – 21 November 1816

HM KING
RAJENDRA BIKRAM SHAH

Reign 20 November 1816 – 12 May 1847

HM KING
SURENDRA BIKRAM SHAH

Reign 12 May 1847 – 17 May 1881

HRH CROWN PRINCE
TRAILOKYA BIKRAM SHAH

30 November 1847 – 30 March 1878

HM KING
PRITHVI BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

Reign 17 May 1881 – 11 December 1911

HM KING
TRIBHUVAN BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

Reign 11 December 1911 – 13 March 1955

HM KING
MAHENDRA BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

Reign 13 March 1955 – 31 January 1972

HM KING
BIRENDRA BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

Reign 31 January 1972 – 1 June 2001

HM KING
DIPENDRA BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

Reign 1 June 2001 – 4 June 2001

HM KING
GYANENDRA BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

Reign 4 June 2001 – 28 May 2008

HM THE GREAT KING
PRITHVI NARAYAN SHAH

Reign 3 April 1743 – 11 January 1775

HM KING
PRATAP SINGH SHAH

Reign 11 January 1775 – 17 November 1777

HM KING
RANA BAHADUR SHAH

Reign 17 November 1777 – 8 March 1799

HM KING
GIRVAN YUDDHA BIKRAM SHAH

Reign 8 March 1799 – 21 November 1816

HM KING
RAJENDRA BIKRAM SHAH

Reign 20 November 1816 – 12 May 1847

HM KING
SURENDRA BIKRAM SHAH

Reign 12 May 1847 – 17 May 1881

HRH CROWN PRINCE
TRAILOKYA BIKRAM SHAH

30 November 1847 – 30 March 1878

HM KING
PRITHVI BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

Reign 17 May 1881 – 11 December 1911

HM KING
TRIBHUVAN BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

Reign 11 December 1911 – 13 March 1955

HM KING
MAHENDRA BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

Reign 13 March 1955 – 31 January 1972

HM KING
BIRENDRA BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

Reign 31 January 1972 – 1 June 2001

HM KING
DIPENDRA BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

Reign 1 June 2001 – 4 June 2001

HM KING
GYANENDRA BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

Reign 4 June 2001 – 28 May 2008

“This is a garden of all jaat (castes) and everybody should acknowledge it. Everybody from all the four barna (creeds) and 36 jaat should protect and conserve this garden.”

– HM The Great King Prithvi Narayan Shah
From Divya Upadesh

HISTORY OF THE

SHAH DYNASTY

The establishment of modern day Nepal is credited to HM The Great King Prithvi Narayan Shah. His desire to expand the Gorkha kingdom in 1768 led to the subsequent unification of the three Malla states: Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan, collectively known as Nepal. It ignited in him the first vision of a Greater Nepal.

IN MEMORIAM

Honoring the memory of royals who
tragically lost their lives in 2001.
“Our brother, by virtue of the noble services rendered to the nation and the people by gloriously upholding the independence of our country, will occupy an immortal place in our history. We have taken the spontaneous respect exhibited by our beloved countrymen in the course of the funeral rites of His Majesty the King as the symbol of love and reverence towards His Majesty.”
– His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev

HIS LATE MAJESTY HM KING BIRENDRA BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

28 DECEMBER 1945 – 1 JUNE 2001

Her Late Majesty Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah

7 NOVEMBER 1949 – 1 JUNE 2001

HIS LATE MAJESTY KING DIPENDRA BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV

4 January 1950 – 4 June 2001

HIS LATE ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE NIRAJAN BIR BIKRAM SHAH

6 NOVEMBER 1978 – 1 JUNE 2001

HER LATE ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS SHRUTI RAJYA LAXMI DEVI RANA

15 October 1976 – 1 June 2001

His Late Royal Highness Prince Dhirendra Bir Bikram Shah

4 January 1950 – 1 JUNE 2001

HER LATE ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS SHANTI RAJYA LAXMI DEVI SINGH

20 November 1940 – 1 June 2001

HER LATE ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS SHARADA RAJYA LAXMI DEVI SHAH

2 Feburary 1942 – 1 June 2001

HER LATE ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS JAYANTI RAJYA LAXMI DEVI SHAH

4 August 1946 – 1 June 2001

LATE KUMAR KHADGA BIKRAM SHAH

1942 – 1 June 2001

"Knowledge is Power.
Work is Worship."

– Motto of the Royal House of Shah
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