# Gyanendra of Nepal

_Nepalese politician (born 1947), former king of Nepal (1950–1951; 2001–2008)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/gyanendra-of-nepal
Last updated: 2026-10-16

> Shree Panch Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is the former King of Nepal and the last monarch of Kingdom of Nepal. He ascended the throne on 4 June 2001 following the royal massacre and reigned until 28 May 2008, when the monarchy was abolished and the democratic republic was proclaimed. He had previously reigned from 7 November 1950 to 7 January 1951, when the Rana regime declared him king at the age of three after his grandfather, King Tribhuvan, and the royal family fled to India. His brief reign ended with Tribhuvan's restoration to the throne.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 7 July 1947 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q201327#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Kathmandu ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q201327#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Nepal; Kingdom of Nepal ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q201327#P27))
- **Occupation:** regent; politician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q201327#P106))
- **Education:** Tribhuvan University; St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling; St Joseph's College, Darjeeling ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q201327#P69))
- **Spouse:** Queen Komal of Nepal ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q201327#P26))
- **Positions held:** King of Nepal (4 June 2001 – 28 May 2008); King of Nepal (7 November 1950 – 18 February 1951) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q201327#P39))
- **Awards:** Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George; Order of Tri Shakti Patta; Order of the Star of Nepal; Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu; Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit; Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau; Grand Cordon of the Order of the White Elephant; Order of Diplomatic Service Merit; Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange; Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany; Sitara-i-Imtiaz; King Abdulaziz Medal; Order of the Yugoslav Flag; Grand Cross of the Order of Excellence ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q201327#P166))

## Public office

- [King of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/next/explore/office/king) (4 June 2001 – 28 May 2008)
- [King of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/next/explore/office/king) (7 November 1950 – 18 February 1951)
- Officeholder record: https://diginpl.com/next/explore/person/gyanendra-of-nepal

## Early life and education

- After his birth, his father was told by a court astrologer not to look at his newborn son for it would bring him bad luck, so Gyanendra was sent to live with his grandmother. ([The Hindu](http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/07/27/stories/05272524.htm))
- Coins were issued in his name and the Prime Minister allocated a 300,000 rupee annual budget as expenditure for the King. ([The Hindu](http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/07/27/stories/05272524.htm))
- Gyanendra's grandfather Tribhuvan returned to Nepal and resumed his reign. ([Time](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,888899,00.html))
- In 1969, he graduated from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu. ([CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/04/19/nepal.king.gyanendra/index.html))
- He is a keen conservationist and had become chairman of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (later known as the National Trust for Nature Conservation) in 1982. ([MeroNepal.com.np](http://meronepal-com-np.f2g.net/atglance/royalbiography.html))

_Cited sentences quoted from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gyanendra_of_Nepal&oldid=1380351379), CC BY-SA 4.0._

## Questions

**When was Gyanendra of Nepal born?**  
Gyanendra of Nepal was born on 7 July 1947 in Kathmandu.

**What positions has Gyanendra of Nepal held?**  
Positions held by Gyanendra of Nepal include: King of Nepal (2001–2008); King of Nepal (1950–1951).

**Where did Gyanendra of Nepal study?**  
Gyanendra of Nepal was educated at Tribhuvan University, St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling, St Joseph's College, Darjeeling.

## Related

- [Birendra of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/people/birendra-of-nepal)
- [Dipendra of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/people/dipendra-of-nepal)
- [Śuddhodana](https://diginpl.com/people/suddhodana)
- [Mahendra of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/people/mahendra-of-nepal)
- [Tribhuvan of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/people/tribhuvan-of-nepal)
- [Rana Bahadur Shah](https://diginpl.com/people/rana-bahadur-shah)
- [Kathmandu](https://diginpl.com/places/kathmandu)
- [Tribhuvan University](https://diginpl.com/places/tribhuvan-university)
- [Queen Komal of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/people/queen-komal-of-nepal)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Gyanendra of Nepal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyanendra_of_Nepal) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikipedia (Nepali): ज्ञानेन्द्र शाह](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0_%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE_%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q201327](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q201327) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Gyanendra 01.jpg by Krish Dulal (CC BY-SA 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gyanendra_01.jpg)
- [Wikipedia (English), revision used for cited facts: Gyanendra of Nepal](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gyanendra_of_Nepal&oldid=1380351379) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [The Hindu: Monarchy in Nepal (27 July 2001)](http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/07/27/stories/05272524.htm)
- [Time: Homeward Bound (22 January 1951)](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,888899,00.html)
- [CNN: Troubled times saw king's rise (20 April 2006)](http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/04/19/nepal.king.gyanendra/index.html)
- [MeroNepal.com.np: Royal Biography of Nepal](http://meronepal-com-np.f2g.net/atglance/royalbiography.html)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Gyanendra of Nepal, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Gyanendra 01.jpg — Krish Dulal, CC BY-SA 3.0.

## Cite this page

"Gyanendra of Nepal". DigiNepal. Last updated 16 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/gyanendra-of-nepal. Retrieved 21 October 2026.