Nepal: flag, capital, currency and history

Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a country in Southern Asia, Asia. Its capital is Kathmandu. The currency is the Nepalese rupee. Languages spoken include Nepali.

Quick facts about Nepal

Official name: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Capital: Kathmandu
Region: Asia, Southern Asia
Currency: Nepalese rupee (NPR, Rs)
Languages: Nepali
Calling code: +977
Internet domain: .np
Area: 147,181 km² (56,827 sq mi)
Land borders: China, India
Demonym: Nepalese
National day: Constitution Day, September 20

Flag of Nepal

Download the flag of Nepal as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇳🇵.

SVG (vector)

History of Nepal

Lumbini, in the south of present-day Nepal, is the traditional birthplace of the Buddha. The Licchavi dynasty ruled the Kathmandu Valley in the first millennium AD, followed by the Malla kings. In 1768 Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha conquered the valley, laying the basis of a unified kingdom. A war with the British East India Company ended in the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816, which fixed Nepal's borders. The Rana family held hereditary power from 1846 until 1951. Nepal later ended absolute monarchy, and the monarchy was abolished in 2008. A new constitution in 2015 established a federal republic.

Key dates

c. 5th century BCSiddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, is traditionally held to have been born at Lumbini.
c. 5th centuryThe Licchavi dynasty rules the Kathmandu Valley, with inscriptions recording its kings.
1768Prithvi Narayan Shah captures Kathmandu, completing his conquest of the valley.
1816The Treaty of Sugauli ends the Anglo-Nepalese War and sets Nepal's borders.
1846Jung Bahadur Rana seizes power, beginning the hereditary Rana rule.
1951Rana rule ends and the Shah monarchy is restored to power.
2008The monarchy is abolished and Nepal is declared a republic.