Nepali New Year

नेपाली नयाँ वर्ष

View on map
MusicNationwide
DatesDates TBA · Usually AprilCheck locally before booking
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsNepal's Bikram Sambat calendar, whose epoch
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: NPR
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Nepali New Year in Nationwide

Nepali New Year marks the first day of the Bikram Sambat calendar, Nepal's official civil calendar, falling on 1 Baishakh in mid-April each year, an official public holiday nationwide. It is distinct from Nepal Sambat, the Newar community's own calendar new year celebrated in autumn, and its most vivid regional expression is Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur and neighboring Newar towns.

Each mid-April, on the first day of Baishakh, Nepal marks the start of a new year on the Bikram Sambat calendar, the country's official civil calendar, whose origins are more contested than the popular legend suggests.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Nepal's Bikram Sambat calendar, whose epoch dates to 57 BCE, is popularly credited to the legendary king Vikramaditya of Ujjain, though historians note the name Vikrama does not appear in surviving records before a ninth-century inscription dated 842 CE, making the calendar's origin a subject of scholarly debate rather than settled legend

02

The mystery stays covered

In the Bhaktapur area, the new year coincides with Bisket Jatra, a solar-calendar festival unlike most Nepali festivals, which follow the lunar calendar, centered on a chariot bearing the deities Bhairava and Bhadrakali pulled through the city in a tug-of-war between its upper and lower neighborhoods, and on the raising and toppling of a roughly twenty-five-meter wooden pole

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The new year is rooted in the Hindu solar Bikram Sambat calendar used as Nepal's civil calendar

Water and renewal

Living ritual

while the Bhaktapur-area Bisket Jatra celebrations draw on distinct Newar Hindu and Buddhist traditions

The sacred route

Living ritual

including chariot processions honoring Bhairava and Bhadrakali and the display of banners historically adorned with the eight Buddhist auspicious symbols

The local code

Living ritual

the Ashtamangala

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually April

Getting around

For Nepali New Year, transport depends on the local program area; choose that site before booking the return route.

What to wear

Modest, respectful clothing is appropriate for temple visits and religious processions during this period; comfortable footwear is important for following chariot processions through...

Safety

Nepali New Year is easier with a small bag, charged phone and group plan that survives poor signal.

Where to stay

For Nepali New Year, choose lodging only after picking the local program area you will actually attend.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

NPR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map27.70 N, 85.32 EOpen in Google Maps

Nationwide, Nationwide, Nepal

Nearest airportKTM — Tribhuvan
TransportFor Nepali New Year, transport depends on the local program area; choose that site before booking the return route.
Stay areaFor Nepali New Year, choose lodging only after picking the local program area you will actually attend.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Nationwide via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Nationwide, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for April.Compare faresFestival gearModest, respectful clothing is appropriate for temple visits and religious processions during this period; comfortable footwear is important for following chariot processions through Bhaktapur's uneven stone streets, and shoulders and knees should be covered when entering temple grounds.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Nepal and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Nepali New Year?

Nepali New Year is listed for Past edition: 14 April 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Nepali New Year take place?

The festival is listed in Nationwide, Nepal. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Nationwide, Nationwide, Nepal

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLmy.nepalembassy.gov.np
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually April
Source statusOfficial source linked
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