For the earliest centuries of Nepal's story we have no stone inscriptions to read. What we know comes from old chronicles called vamshavalis, from religious texts and traditions, and later from archaeology. That means some details are traditional rather than proven, and historians still debate them. Even so, this period matters a great deal for exams, because it introduces dynasties and places that questions come back to again and again.
Because the sources are traditional, exact dates and the order of some dynasties are uncertain. We write "around" and "traditionally" where that is the honest position. Check your textbook for the version your exam follows.
The Gopal and Mahispal dynasties
According to the chronicles, the earliest rulers of the Kathmandu valley were the Gopals, said to be cowherds (the name is linked with gopala), followed by the Mahispals, who are traditionally linked with buffalo-herding. The chronicles give a list of kings for each, but there is little firm evidence outside the chronicles. For exams, the usual point is simply the traditional order: Gopal, then Mahispal, then Kirat.
The Kirats
The Kirat people are among the oldest known inhabitants of eastern Nepal and the valley. Tradition says the Kirats ruled the valley for a long time, with a line of kings traditionally numbered at around 29. Their first king in the chronicles is Yalamber (also written Yalambar), who is mentioned in the Mahabharata tradition as taking part in the great war, and who is remembered in the Kirat community and in later accounts. The last Kirat king in the chronicles is traditionally named Gasti.
The Kirats are also remembered through the Kirat religion and customs, which continue among communities such as the Rai and Limbu today. The region east of the Kathmandu valley is still often called Kirat country (Kirat Pradesh).
Early states in the plains and hills
- Videha and Janakpur. In the southern plains, the ancient kingdom of Videha is traditionally associated with King Janaka and his capital at Janakpur. It is also traditionally linked with Sita in the Ramayana story. Janakpur remains an important cultural centre.
- Kapilvastu and the Shakyas. In the western plains, the Shakya clan had its capital at Kapilvastu, where the Buddha is said to have spent his early life.
- Other republics. Early Indian texts mention small republican states in the region, such as the Shakyas and Lichchhavis. The Lichchhavis later become central to the valley's history.
Lumbini and the birth of the Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha, was born at Lumbini in the southern plains of Nepal. The traditional date is around the 6th century BC, although scholars give slightly different dates. Lumbini is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The key evidence is a stone pillar set up by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, who visited Lumbini around the 3rd century BC. Its inscription records the birth of the Buddha there, and it is one of the best-known ancient inscriptions found in Nepal. Questions often ask: Who built the pillar at Lumbini? (Ashoka) and What does it prove? (that the Buddha was born in Lumbini).
Links with the wider region
Ancient Nepal was not isolated. Traders and pilgrims travelled between the Gangetic plain, the Himalayan valleys and Tibet, and religious ideas such as Buddhism and Hinduism spread along those routes. Kathmandu's place on the trans-Himalayan trade route is a theme that grows stronger in the Lichchhavi and Malla periods.
Exam focus: facts to remember
- Traditional order of valley dynasties: Gopal → Mahispal → Kirat → Lichchhavi.
- First Kirat king in the chronicles: Yalamber. Last: Gasti (traditionally).
- Birthplace of the Buddha: Lumbini; evidence: Ashoka's pillar inscription.
- Janakpur: capital of ancient Videha, linked with King Janaka.
- Kapilvastu: capital of the Shakyas.
Next in the guide
Go back to the timeline overview if you want the full map, or continue to the first well-documented age: the Lichchhavi period.
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