Political instability in Nepal has taken a turn for the worst over the years. And the Nepal crisis has reached a turning point, with people from all walks of life, journalists, doctors, students, joining the protests for the fall of the monarchy. Following is a chronology of key events that have rocked the nation since the foundations for a unified kingdom were laid.
Winds of change |
 1768 - Gorkha King Prithvi Narayan Shah unified the Kathmandu valley and Kathmandu became the capital of modern Nepal, laying the foundations for a unified kingdom. |
| 1814-16 - Anglo-Nepalese War; culminates in treaty which establishes Nepal's current boundaries. |
| 1846 – Queen Rajendralakshmi plotted to overthrow Jang Bahadur, a military leader who was posing a threat to her power. An armed clash followed between military personnel and administrators loyal to the queen. This came to be known as the Kot Massacre. However, Bahadur emerged victorious and founded the Rana lineage. |
| 1923 - Britain and Nepal formally signed an agreement of friendship, in which Nepal's independence was recognised by the British. |
| Monarchy rules |
| 1950 - Anti-Rana forces based in India form alliance with monarch. |
| 1951 - End of Rana rule. Sovereignty of crown restored and anti-Rana rebels in Nepalese Congress Party form government. |
| 1955 - King Tribhuwan dies, King Mahendra ascends throne. |
| 1959 - Multi-party constitution adopted. |
| 1960 – King Mahendra dissolved the democratic experiment and declared that a "partyless" panchayat system to govern Nepal under which king exercises sole power. |
| 1963 - First elections to Rastrya Panchayat held. |
| 1972 - King Mahendra dies, succeeded by Birendra. |
| Multi-party politics |
| 1980 - Constitutional referendum follows agitation for reform. Small majority favours keeping existing panchayat system. King agrees to allow direct elections to national assembly but on a non-party basis. |
| 1985 - Nepali Congress Party begins civil disobedience campaign for restoration of multi-party system. |
| 1986 - New elections boycotted by NCP. |
| 1989 - Trade and transit dispute with India leads to border blockade by Delhi resulting in worsening economic situation. |
| 1990 - Pro-democracy agitation coordinated by NCP and leftist groups. King Birendra eventually bows to pressure and agrees to new democratic constitution. |
| 1991 - NCP wins first democratic elections. Girija Prasad Koirala becomes prime minister. |
| 1994 - Koirala's government defeated in no-confidence motion. New elections lead to formation of Communist government. |
| 1995 - Communist government dissolved. Radical leftist group, the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) begins insurrection in rural areas aimed at abolishing monarch and establishing people's republic. |
| 1997 - Continuing political instability as prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is defeated and replaced by Lokendra Bahadur Chand. Chand is then forced to resign because of party splits and is replaced by Surya Bahadur Thapa. |
| 1998 - Thapa stands down because of party splits. GP Koirala returns as prime minister heading a coalition government. |
| 1999 - Fresh elections give majority to Nepali Congress Party. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai becomes prime minister. |
| 2000 - Prime Minister Bhattarai steps down after revolt in Nepali Congress Party. GP Koirala returns as prime minister, heading the ninth government in 10 years. |
| 2001 April - General strike called by Maoist rebels brings Nepal to a virtual standstill; police arrest anti-government demonstrators, including some opposition leaders, in Kathmandu. |
| Palace Massacre |
| June 1, 2001 - King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and other close relatives killed in shooting spree by Crown Prince Dipendra, who then shoots himself. |
| June 4, 2001 - Prince Gyanendra crowned King of Nepal after the late King Birendra's son, Dipendra - who had been declared king on June 2 – succumbed to his injuries sustained during the palace shooting. |
| July 2001 - Maoist rebels step up campaign of violence. Sher Bahadur Deuba becomes prime minister, heading the 11th government in 11 years, after Girija Prasad Koirala quits due to the on-going violence in the country. |
| July 2001 - Deuba announces peace with rebels, truce begins. |
| November 2001 - Maoists say peace talks have failed, truce is no longer justified. |
| Emergency |
| November 2001 - State of emergency declared after more than 100 people are killed in four days of violence. King Gyanendra orders army to wipe out the Maoist rebels. |
| April 2002 - Maoist rebels order five-day national strike, days after hundreds are killed in two of the bloodiest attacks of the six-year rebellion. |
| May 2002 - Parliament dissolved, fresh elections called amid political confrontation over extending the state of emergency. Deuba expelled by NCP, heads interim government, renews emergency. |
| October 2002 - Deuba asks king to put off elections by a year because of Maoist violence. King Gyanendra dismisses Deuba and indefinitely puts off elections set for November. Lokendra Bahadur Chand appointed to head government. |
| January 2003 - Rebels, government declare ceasefire. |
| May/June 2003 - Lokendra Bahadur Chand resigns as prime minister. King appoints his own nominee Surya Bahadur Thapa as new premier. |
| Political stalemate |
| August 2003 - Rebels pull out of peace talks with government and end seven-month truce. Rebels call three-day general strike in September. |
| 2003 - Political stalemate; clashes between students/activists and police; resurgence of violence. |
| May 2004 - Royalist Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa resigns following weeks of street protests by opposition groups. |
| June 2004 - King Gyanendra reappoints Sher Bahadur Deuba as prime minister. |
| Power politics |
| 1 February, 2005 - King Gyanendra dismisses Prime Minister Deuba and his government, declares a state of emergency and assumes direct power, citing the need to defeat Maoist rebels. |
| 30 April, 2005 - King lifts the state of emergency. |
| July 2005 - Royal anti-graft commission sentences former Prime Minister Deuba to two years in jail for corruption. He is freed in February 2006, after the commission is outlawed. |
| September 2005 - Rebels announce a three-month, unilateral ceasefire, the first truce since peace talks broke down in 2003. The truce is later extended to four months. |
| January 2006 - Maoist rebels announce end to four-month ceasefire. |
| April 2006 - Strikes and protests are called by opposition parties in protest at the direct rule of the king. There are fierce clashes in the capital. |
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