Records & People

Nepal's Last King Died in a Kathmandu Hospital in 2016 — Most Nepalis Had Never Seen His Kingdom

Jigme Dorje Palbar Bista was the 25th king of Lo, tracing his line to a 14th-century warrior — and Nepal only let outsiders into his walled capital…

By Laxman Rawal · Jul 20, 2026

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In the small hours of December 16, 2016, an 86-year-old man died of age-related illness in a Kathmandu hospital. There was no state funeral broadcast to the nation, no line of mourners filing past a palace gate most Nepalis had ever seen. That's because most…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

What this means for trekkers

What this means for you Bista's death didn't change what's on the ground: Lo Manthang's walls, palace and 15th-century monasteries still stand, and the restricted-area permit system his kingdom's closure created is still how you get in — our permits guide…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

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