The history of Nepal dates back to time immemorial and it has always been an independent and a sovereign country. According to the ancient historical data, the first rulers of Nepal (basically Kathmandu Valley) were the Gopalas followed by the Abhiras then succeeded by the Kirantis, the Licchavis and now the Shah dynasty. Modern Nepal is the amalgamation of many principalities that previously held independent identities before King Prithvi Narayan Shah launched the national integration campaign 1768.

It was only in this year that Nepal became one single nation and the Shah dynasty ascended the throne. Present, His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is the 12th king of Shah Dynasty. For 104 years from 1846 to 1951, the monarch of Nepal had a very passive role, as these were the years when Rana prime ministers ruled Nepal. The Ranas made Nepal a closed country and the only foreigners allowed into Nepal were the invited friends of the Ranas. Even their friends’ visits were highly restricted to Kathmandu and a few places outside the valley such as Chitwan for hunting. The Rana regime came to an end during the reign of King Tribhuvan in 1951 and Nepal saw the dawn of democracy. Since then the borders of Nepal have been open and with the inauguration of Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation in 1952, tourism began in Nepal.