The Kingdom of Nepal, the world?s only Hindu kingdom, is a landlocked country located in central Asia along the southern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains. It has an area of 56,136 sq. mi. (140,797 sq. km.) and a population of 24.35 million. Capital: Kathmandu. Nepal has substantial deposits of coal, copper, iron and cobalt but they are large unexploited. Agriculture is the principal economic activity. Livestock, rice, timber and jute are exported. ,Prithvi Narayan Shah, ruler of the principality of Gurkha, formed Nepal from a number of independent mountain states in the latter half of the 18th century. After his death a period of political instability ensued which lasted until the 1840?s. When the Rana family reduced the monarch to a figurehead and established itself as heredity Prime Ministers. A population revolution (1950-51) toppled the Rana family and reconstituted the power in the throne. In 1959 King Mahendra declared Nepal a constitutional monarchy. A new constitution promulgated in 1962 instituted a system of panchayat (village council) democracy from the village to the national levels. In 1990, following political unrest, the king?s powers were reduced, and the country adopted a system of parliamentary democracy.,, Rulers:,,, ,Tribhuvana Vira Vikrama Shahi Deva, 1977-1950; 1951-1955,, ,Jnanendra Vira Vikrama Shahi Deva, 1950-1951,, ,Mahendra Vira Vikrama Shahi Deva, 1955-1972,, ,Birendra Bir Bikram Shahi Deva, 1972-2001,, ,Ginendra, 2001-,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Mohru = 100 Paisa to 1961,, ,1 Rupee = 100 Paisa, 1961-,,