Travel tips · Nepal
The Bikram Sambat Calendar (Nepali Calendar) Explained
Bikram Sambat is Nepal's official calendar, roughly 56–57 years ahead of the Gregorian — here's how it works.
Nepal's official calendar is Bikram Sambat (B.S.), a solar calendar that runs roughly 56–57 years ahead of the Gregorian one — so the Gregorian year 2026 overlaps with Bikram Sambat 2082 and 2083. It governs government documents, public holidays, school years, newspapers and festival dates, while the Gregorian calendar is used alongside it for international and aviation purposes. Once you grasp the offset, the dates you see on tickets, visas and notices stop being a mystery.
The 56–57 year offset, and the arithmetic
The average gap between Bikram Sambat and the Gregorian calendar is about 56 years and 8.5 months — roughly 56.7 years — because the two years start at different points. The Bikram Sambat year begins in mid-April, so within any single Gregorian year the BS year ticks over partway through:
- From 1 January until the Nepali New Year in mid-April: BS year = Gregorian year + 56
- From mid-April to 31 December: BS year = Gregorian year + 57
So during 2026 CE, Nepal is in BS 2082 until the New Year in mid-April, then BS 2083 for the rest of the year. The exact rollover day shifts slightly from year to year (usually around 13–14 April), which is why calendars are published annually rather than calculated by a fixed rule.
Where Bikram Sambat comes from — and why Nepal uses it officially
Bikram Sambat is traditionally said to date from the reign of the legendary King Vikramaditya. The same era survives in parts of India as Vikram Samvat, but there it is used mainly for religious purposes — temple almanacs, horoscopes and festival dates — while civil life runs on the Gregorian calendar. Nepal is the only country where it remains the primary official calendar: government offices, courts, schools, the fiscal year and the daily press all run on B.S., a status it has held through Nepal's modern history. It is a lunisolar-influenced solar calendar: the year is divided into twelve months whose lengths vary from year to year, which is why a simple fixed conversion never quite works.
The twelve months
The Bikram Sambat year begins in mid-April with Baishakh (also written Baisakh) and runs through:
- Baishakh, Jestha, Ashar — late spring into the start of monsoon
- Shrawan, Bhadra, Ashoj — monsoon into early autumn
- Kartik, Mangsir, Poush — autumn into early winter
- Magh, Falgun, Chaitra — winter into early spring
Each month can be 29 to 32 days long, set by astronomical calculation rather than a fixed pattern, so calendars are published year by year.
New Year and converting dates
The Bikram Sambat New Year falls on Baishakh 1, in mid-April — usually around 13–14 April on the Gregorian calendar, though the exact day varies slightly year to year — and is a national holiday. To convert in your head, use the rule above: add 56 or 57 to the Gregorian year depending on whether the date falls before or after mid-April (subtract going the other way). For precise day-level conversion, use an official converter or a dual-dated Nepali calendar, since the months have variable lengths. Note that Nepal also celebrates other New Years, including the Newar Nepal Sambat New Year and the Tibetan Losar, each on its own reckoning.
How the calendar shapes festivals and public life
Bikram Sambat is not a formality — it sets the rhythm of the country. The school year, the government's fiscal year (which begins in Shrawan, mid-July) and office deadlines all follow B.S. months, and nearly every major festival, from Dashain and Tihar to regional jatras, is fixed by traditional Nepali reckoning rather than Gregorian dates. That is why festival dates appear to "move" each year on a Western calendar, and why offices and banks can close on days that look unremarkable to visitors. Newspapers, receipts and bus tickets routinely print the B.S. date first, with the English date alongside.
Why it matters for visitors
You will meet Bikram Sambat dates on visa stamps, bus and museum tickets, bank forms and public notices, often printed beside the English date. Because the calendar sets when offices close and festivals fall, it is worth cross-checking with our Nepal public holidays for 2026 and the festival calendar of Nepal when planning. The other quirk that catches travellers out is Nepal's clock — see our Nepal time zone explained guide — and for the full set of day-to-day basics, browse the Nepal practical travel essentials collection. To line your visit up with the seasons, our best time to visit Nepal guide pairs the two calendars with the weather.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Bikram Sambat calendar?+
Bikram Sambat (often written B.S. or BS) is the official solar calendar of Nepal. It runs about 56 to 57 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar, so the Gregorian year 2026 corresponds to roughly Bikram Sambat 2082–2083. It is used for government documents, holidays, newspapers and most official Nepali dates, while the Gregorian calendar appears alongside it for international purposes.
When is Nepali New Year?+
The Bikram Sambat New Year falls in mid-April, usually around 13 or 14 April on the Gregorian calendar, marking the start of the month of Baisakh. It is a public holiday celebrated across the country and is distinct from other New Year observances such as the Newar Nepal Sambat New Year and the Tibetan Losar.
What year is it in Nepal right now?+
Take the current Gregorian year and add 57 if the date falls between the Nepali New Year in mid-April and 31 December, or add 56 if it falls between 1 January and mid-April. For example, during 2026 CE Nepal is in Bikram Sambat 2082 until the New Year in mid-April, then 2083 for the rest of the year. The same arithmetic works for any year.
How do you convert Bikram Sambat to AD?+
Subtract 57 from the Bikram Sambat year for dates from Baishakh (mid-April) through late December, or subtract 56 for dates falling between January and mid-April — so BS 2083 spans 2026–2027 CE. The average gap is about 56 years and 8.5 months, but because Bikram Sambat months have variable lengths, use an official date converter or a dual-dated Nepali calendar for anything precise, like festivals or paperwork.
Does Nepal also use the Gregorian calendar?+
Yes, for international travel, business and aviation Nepal uses the Gregorian (English) calendar, and most documents aimed at foreigners show it. But official Nepali life — government offices, schools, holidays and the press — runs primarily on Bikram Sambat, so you will often see both dates printed side by side.
