# Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah

_Nepalese king (1875–1911)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/prithvi-bir-bikram-shah
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah (Nepali: श्री ५ महाराजाधिराज पृथ्वी वीर विक्रम शाह देव; 18 August 1875 – 11 December 1911) was King of Nepal from 1881 until his death in 1911. Among the most notable events of his reign were the introduction of the first automobiles to Nepal, and the creation of strict water and sanitation systems for much of the country.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 18 August 1875 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q886987#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Kathmandu ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q886987#P19))
- **Died:** 11 December 1911 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q886987#P570))
- **Place of death:** Kathmandu ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q886987#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Nepal ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q886987#P27))
- **Spouse:** Divyeshwari of Nepal ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q886987#P26))
- **Positions held:** King of Nepal (17 May 1881 – 1 December 1911) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q886987#P39))
- **Awards:** Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q886987#P166))

## Public office

- [King of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/next/explore/office/king) (17 May 1881 – 1 December 1911)
- Officeholder record: https://diginpl.com/next/explore/person/prithvi-of-nepal

## About

King Prithvi's eldest child was Princess Lakshmi, who was married to Field Marshal Kaiser Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana. She was made the Crown Princess and was heir to Nepal's throne until she was 11, when her brother Tribhuvan was born. Until then King Prithvi only had four daughters and four from another wife.

While King Prithvi was kept at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace, his brothers, who were his closest allies and confidants were exiled to palaces across Nepal including in Palpa, Birgunj and Dhankuta from the Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace, to prevent any repetition of attempts to regain royal prerogatives. Due to some of their increasing influence in state matters, fears of a coup arose and thus, movement restrictions imposed on the family became much more severe following the end of Prime Minister Bir Sumsher's rule with Chandra Sumsher on the Prime Ministerial throne, especially in relation to getting an audience with their half brother King Prithvi at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace, Kathmandu.

Much like his father Trailokya, King Prithvi also died under suspicious circumstances at a relatively young age, and his son Tribhuvan ascended the throne.

## Questions

**When was Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah born?**  
Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah was born on 18 August 1875 in Kathmandu.

**What positions has Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah held?**  
Positions held by Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah include: King of Nepal (1881–1911).

## Related

- [Rana Bahadur Shah](https://diginpl.com/people/rana-bahadur-shah)
- [Gyanendra of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/people/gyanendra-of-nepal)
- [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)
- [Kathmandu](https://diginpl.com/places/kathmandu)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prithvi_Bir_Bikram_Shah) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikipedia (Nepali): पृथ्वी वीर विक्रम शाह](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%80_%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 Q886987](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q886987) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah standing (cropped).png by Madan Puraskār Pustakālaya (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prithvi_Bir_Bikram_Shah_standing_(cropped).png)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah standing (cropped).png — Madan Puraskār Pustakālaya, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/prithvi-bir-bikram-shah. Retrieved 8 November 2026.