Economic Activities of Ancient Nepal

The economic condition of Nepal was quite sound during the ancient period. Agriculture, cottage industry and trade were main occupation of the people. Three types of taxes imposed on agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade which was called ‘Trikar’. The Kirants raised many other taxes too. The tax office was called Kuther Adda.Nepal was a common route for trade between the north (Tibet ) and the south(India). The Kirantas made good trade relations with India, Tibet, China and Sir Lanka. According to kautilya’s Arthashastra, Nepal exported wool, woolen goods (radi, bakhkhu), blankets, wood, musk, gold, hides, skins and herbs like chiraito, etc. to India. Woollen blankets had a great demand in the market of Pataliputra(Patna, Bihar, India). They also developed the cottage industry.

The Lichchhavis had made great progress in the field of trade. They changed the barter system into monetary economy by introducing coins. Mandev had introduced the first con of Nepal called Manangka. The state fixed separate land for pasture. Though people reared cow, buffalo, pig, sheep, etc., more emphasis was given to sheep and yak because they had a great demand. For external trade, people moved ingroups. The group was called Sartha and its leader Sarthwaha. The state had established security post to protect the trades. Sometimes the Lichchhavi king made people get exempted from some taxes. King Amshuverma;s inscription of Tistung says, “Except for the goods which are not allowed to export without the permission of the government like iron, fly-flapper (Chamar), wool, musk (Kasturi), copper utensils, taxes are exempted in other goods to the Tistung-dwellers”.

The economic state of Nepal in ancient condition very poor but there are lots of good things we have to remember them , in past there are lots of good rules in economic sectors but now due to politics hand all economic sectors are going to poor per day , there are no any good management of economic all best persons are going out of the Country and we can easily see lack of peoples in village areas, all peoples are living in main city areas there for the capacity of land is decreasing day by day. We should need all things from out country we are unable to grow crops in our nation , really Nepal is in very bad condition we should understand it , but our ancient economic process are good and rules are better than present.