Nepal at a glance

Official name

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepalसङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल

Capital

Kathmandu

Area

147,516 km²

Population

29,164,578 (2021 census)

Currency

Nepalese Rupee (NPR, रू)

Calling code

+977

Time zone

NPT (UTC+5:45)

Nepal keeps one of the world's only :45 time offsets — 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of UTC, 15 minutes ahead of Indian Standard Time.

Internet TLD

.np

Drives on

Left

Electricity

230V / 50Hz, plug types C / D / M

Official language

Nepali

Government

Federal parliamentary republic

Head of state

President

Head of government

Prime Minister

GDP per capita

~US$1,300 (2024 est.)

Highest point

Mt Everest (Sagarmatha) — 8,848.86 m

Lowest point

Kechana Kawal, Jhapa — ~59 m

The lowest point is usually given as Kechana Kawal in Jhapa at roughly 59 m, but the exact figure is contested across sources.

Independence

Never colonized; unified in 1768 under Prithvi Narayan Shah; a federal republic since 28 May 2008.

Source: censusnepal.cbs.gov.np

• 

  Flag

  Double-pennon crimson flag

  The only national flag in the world that is not a rectangle — two stacked triangles bearing a moon and a sun.

• Animal

  Cowगाई

  Sacred in Hinduism; protected by law.

• Bird

  Himalayan Monal (Danphe)डाँफे

  Lophophorus impejanus

  An iridescent high-altitude pheasant of the Himalaya.

• Flower

  Rhododendron (Lali Gurans)लाली गुराँस

  Rhododendron arboreum

  Blooms crimson across the hills in spring — a top trekking-season sight.

• Tree

  Peepalपीपल

  Ficus religiosa

• Color

  Crimson

  Rani rang — the deep red of the flag and the rhododendron.

• Sport

  Volleyball

  Declared the national sport in 2017.

• Calendar

  Bikram Sambat

  Roughly 56–57 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar.

• National anthem

  Sayaun Thunga Phulkaसयौँ थुँगा फूलका

  “Made of Hundreds of Flowers” — adopted in 2007.

• National dish

  Dal Bhatदाल भात

  Lentils and rice — eaten twice daily.

• National dress

  Daura-Suruwal & Dhaka topi (men); Gunyu-Cholo (women)

  The Dhaka-cloth topi is a national emblem in its own right.

Source: censusnepal.cbs.gov.np

• Spring वसन्त

  Mar – May

  Rhododendrons in bloom and warming days — the second-best trekking window.

• Summer / Pre-monsoon ग्रीष्म

  May – Jul

  Hot and hazy in the lowlands; humidity builds toward the monsoon.

• Monsoon वर्षा

  Jul – Sep

  Heavy rain, leeches and clouds — but rain-shadow regions (Mustang, Dolpo) stay trekkable.

• Autumn शरद

  Best

  Sep – Nov

  The clearest skies and stable weather of the year — the peak trekking season.

• Pre-winter हेमन्त

  Nov – Jan

  Crisp, dry and quiet, with sharp mountain views and cold nights up high.

• Winter शिशिर

  Jan – Mar

  Cold and clear at altitude; high passes may close with snow.

Planning around the weather? Read the best time to visit Nepal.

Source: tourism.gov.np

Source: immigration.gov.np