Unike a tragic movie, the Nepalese citizens  experienced something far remorseful when they had lost their beloved King and his family members on June 1st, 2001.

And,so paying a tribute to them , this article mainly unfolds some 20 facts about the late family members,their Palace and the famous massacre theory .

Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev(December 28,1945-June 1,2001)

         Image courtesy: Alamy

• Born in the Shah dev family, Birendra was 10th in line of the monarchs,acceded to the throne on father's death on January 31st,1972 and later on  February 24, 1975 was crowned as the new King of Nepal. He was considered as a living incarnation of Lord Vishnu by his citizens. 
• A soft-spoken Harvard graduate with a gentle personality ,he managed to maintain Nepal's independence despite encroaching influences by India,China and Soviet Union. In early 1990s, he approved a new constitution that preseved his status as a chief of state but confirmed multiparty democracy. 

Late Queen Aishwarya  Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah(November 7,1949-June 1,2001)

    Image courtesy: Pinterest 

• Referred as,'Bada Maharani 'by the people of Nepal, born as the eldest daughter of the Liutenant General in the Nepalese army, Kendra Shumshere June Bahadur Rana ;she was known to be outspoken, energetic and a connoisseur of fine arts,composed several songs that used to air on Radio Nepal and telecast on Nepal Television. Also,her published anthology of poems by the pen-name Chandni Shah were highly popular. 
• She was felicitated with a large number of honours both in Nepal and other countries like Sovereign of the order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu,King Mahendra Investiture Medal, Pakistan highest civilan award Nishan-e-Pakistan,Denmark's Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog ,among many others.

Nuptias of the monarchs 

• Then Crown Prince Birendra married Aishwarya in 1970 wherein their nuptial ceremony was conducted on a grand scale of almost USD 10 million.

Image courtesy:Pinterest 

Late Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (June 27,1971- June 1, 2001)

    Image courtesy: Alamy 

• While in a coma, he became the de jure king of Nepal from 1 June to 4 June 2001.But, died in the hospital,three days later,without recovering from coma. However, at an early stage, he was highly interested in social service and sports. At 20, he had received black belt and became a karateka when he was studying in England. A patron of Nepal Sports Council and Nepal's Scout ,he attended various national and international ceremonies where Nepalese athletes used to participate. 
• He wrote articles that were published in Nepalese periodicals and his writing were based on the motifs of nationalhood and nationality. He had received national and international honours like Sovereign of the Order of Tri Shakti Patta, Sovereign of the Order of Nepal Taradisha, Japan's Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum,Knight Grand Cross Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, among many others.

Late Princess Shruti Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah (October 15,1976 - June 1,2001)

   Image courtesy: Pinterest 

• The only daughter of the monarchs and a meritorious painter, she was honoured with international and national recognition like Bisista Sewa Padak,Commemorative Silver Jubliee Medal of King Birendra,France's Grand Officer of the Order of Legion of Honour,Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany,among many others. 
• At the tender age of 24, she lost her life leaving her injured husband and daughters Surangana and Girvan aged 7 months and 3 years old alone. 

Late Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah Dev ( November 6,1978- June 1,2001)

Image courtesy:Royal Nepalese Family/Facebook

• The younger son of the monarchs, he was next in line to the throne after his elder brother, he was awarded with the Commemorative Silver Jubliee Medal of King Birendra in the year 1997.
• An avid swimmer,he received his education at Budhanilkantha School Kathmandu, Eton College UK and Kathmandu College of Management. 

Lets move on to some theories about the Royal Massacre

• Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah : It was surprising that the King's younger brother, was outside the alley when the incident occurred on Friday night of the family gathering while family members on Birendra's side were all shot down ; but all those of Gyanendra's side were unharmed in all respects.
• Two masked men : Raktatunda ,the Nepali novel by journalist, Krishna Abiral who interviewed the survivor of the massacre revealed that, there were two men masked as the Crown Prince who repetitive shot fires.
• India's role in the massacre: King Birendra rejected Indian proposal for security and water resource management and instead concluded a secret arm purchase with China. 
• Security officials as well as doctors: If Dipendra killed everyone in the palace,why the ADCs with lethal weapons did not come out of their rooms once they heard gun shots?Also,when Dipendra was in coma for three days, his regular doctor did not check him but a new doctor was appointed for his treatment and declared him dead without conducting any postmortem. 

Now, here's some fun facts about the Narayanhiti Durbar which now has been converted into a public museum.

• Before the 2006 revolution,The Palace was the residence ,public workplace of the monarchs wherein they hosted occasions of the state.
• The name,Narayanhiti is made of two words, 'Narayan 'meaning Hindu God Vishnu and 'Hiti' is water spouts in Newari language. 
• The Palace stands on the floor space of 40838.28 Square feet with 52 rooms named after then 75 districts of Nepal.
• The Palace was damaged in the 1934 Nepal Bihar earthquake, killing two infant daughters of King Tribhuwan.
• King Mahendra in 1963 demolished the old Palace and American architect Benjamin Polk, finished  the constructed present existing Palace in 1969. 

        Both image courtesy:khojnu.com

Note:This article is complied from news published on Mero Kalam,NepaliSansar,Times of India ,Reuter,The Guardian UK and Brittanica.