About this quiz
Gopal, Mahishpal, Kirat, Lichhavi and Malla dynasties, key rulers, inscriptions and Lumbini.
This Lok Sewa practice set has 20 multiple-choice questions (Subject: General Knowledge · For: Kharidar, Nayab Subba, Section Officer · Level: Medium). Take the quiz above first; after that, use the study list below to revise every question with its correct answer and a short explanation.
Study list: all 20 questions with answers and explanations
According to the Gopalraj Vamshavali, who was the first king of the Gopal dynasty?
- A) Yalambar
- B) Bhuktaman ✔
- C) Bara Singh
- D) Mandev
Why: The Gopalraj Vamshavali names Bhuktaman as the first ruler of the cowherd Gopal dynasty.
Which is the traditionally accepted order of the ancient ruling dynasties of Nepal?
- A) Kirat, Gopal, Mahishpal, Lichhavi
- B) Gopal, Kirat, Mahishpal, Lichhavi
- C) Mahishpal, Gopal, Lichhavi, Kirat
- D) Gopal, Mahishpal, Kirat, Lichhavi ✔
Why: The chronicles place the Gopal dynasty first, followed by the Mahishpal (Abhir), Kirat and then Lichhavi dynasties.
The Mahishpal dynasty is associated with herding which animal?
- A) Buffalo ✔
- B) Cow
- C) Yak
- D) Sheep
Why: Mahishpal means keeper of buffaloes; the Gopal rulers, by contrast, were cowherds.
Who is traditionally regarded as the first king of the Kirat dynasty in Nepal?
- A) Humati
- B) Gasti
- C) Yalambar ✔
- D) Bhuktaman
Why: Chronicles name Yalambar as the first Kirat ruler of Nepal.
The historic pillar inscription at Changunarayan temple was installed by which Lichhavi king?
- A) Mandev I ✔
- B) Shivadev I
- C) Amshuverma
- D) Narendradev
Why: Mandev I installed the Changunarayan pillar inscription, the most famous early dated Lichhavi inscription.
The Changunarayan pillar inscription of Mandev dates to which year?
- A) 249 BC
- B) 879 AD
- C) 464 AD ✔
- D) 1200 AD
Why: The inscription is dated Samvat 386 of the Shaka era, which corresponds to 464 AD.
The coins known as "Mananka" were issued during the reign of which king?
- A) Amshuverma
- B) Mandev ✔
- C) Jayasthiti Malla
- D) Pratap Malla
Why: Mananka coins are named after the Lichhavi king Mandev, in whose reign they were issued.
The Kailashkut Bhawan palace is associated with which ruler?
- A) Mandev
- B) Shivadev I
- C) Narendradev
- D) Amshuverma ✔
Why: Amshuverma built the Kailashkut Bhawan palace during the Lichhavi period.
Which Chinese traveller wrote about Amshuverma, praising him as a learned ruler?
- A) Fa-Hien
- B) I-Tsing
- C) Hiuen Tsang ✔
- D) Ibn Battuta
Why: Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) described Amshuverma in his travel account as a ruler known for his learning.
Nepal Sambat, started by Shankhadhar Sakhwa, began in which year?
- A) 879 AD ✔
- B) 464 AD
- C) 1200 AD
- D) 57 BC
Why: Nepal Sambat began in 879 AD (936 BS), and its start is credited to the merchant Shankhadhar Sakhwa.
Who is regarded as the first king of the Malla dynasty in Nepal?
- A) Yaksha Malla
- B) Jayasthiti Malla
- C) Ratna Malla
- D) Ari Malla ✔
Why: Ari Malla, who came to power around 1200 AD (1257 BS), is regarded as the first Malla king.
Which Malla king is best known for dividing society into castes on the basis of occupation?
- A) Ari Malla
- B) Jayasthiti Malla ✔
- C) Pratap Malla
- D) Bhupatindra Malla
Why: Jayasthiti Malla carried out social reforms that organised society into caste groups based on occupation.
The division of the Kathmandu valley into separate Malla kingdoms began after the death of which king?
- A) Jayasthiti Malla
- B) Ratna Malla
- C) Pratap Malla
- D) Yaksha Malla ✔
Why: After Yaksha Malla, the last king of the unified valley, his descendants divided the kingdom, leading to separate kingdoms of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur.
Who was the last Malla king of Kathmandu?
- A) Ranajit Malla
- B) Jaya Prakash Malla ✔
- C) Tej Narsingh Malla
- D) Pratap Malla
Why: Jaya Prakash Malla was the last Malla king of Kathmandu; he lost the city to Prithvi Narayan Shah in 1825 BS.
Rani Pokhari in Kathmandu was built by which Malla king?
- A) Siddhinarasimha Malla
- B) Bhupatindra Malla
- C) Pratap Malla ✔
- D) Yaksha Malla
Why: Pratap Malla of Kathmandu, who called himself "Kavindra", built Rani Pokhari in memory of his son.
The stone Krishna Mandir at Patan Durbar Square was built by which king?
- A) Siddhinarasimha Malla ✔
- B) Pratap Malla
- C) Bhupatindra Malla
- D) Jaya Prakash Malla
Why: Siddhinarasimha Malla of Lalitpur built the Krishna Mandir in the 17th century.
The five-storey Nyatapola temple of Bhaktapur was built by which king?
- A) Bhupatindra Malla ✔
- B) Ranajit Malla
- C) Yaksha Malla
- D) Siddhinarasimha Malla
Why: Bhupatindra Malla of Bhaktapur built the Nyatapola temple in 1702 AD.
Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, lies in which present-day district?
- A) Kapilvastu
- B) Nawalparasi
- C) Palpa
- D) Rupandehi ✔
Why: Lumbini is in Rupandehi district of Lumbini Province.
Which emperor erected a stone pillar at Lumbini marking the birthplace of the Buddha?
- A) Chandragupta Maurya
- B) Kanishka
- C) Ashoka ✔
- D) Harshavardhan
Why: The Mauryan emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini and erected an inscribed pillar there in the 3rd century BC.
Who was the mother who gave birth to Gautam Buddha?
- A) Yashodhara
- B) Mayadevi ✔
- C) Prajapati Gautami
- D) Kaushalyavati
Why: Siddhartha Gautam was born to Queen Mayadevi and King Shuddhodana; Prajapati Gautami was his stepmother who raised him, and Yashodhara was his wife.