Nepal Geography

Key facts about Nepal's geography including provinces, mountains, rivers, lakes, national parks, and borders.

• Bagmati Province — Province — Bagmati — Capital: Hetauda | Area: 20,300 km² | Districts: 13
• Madhesh Province — Province — Madhesh — Capital: Janakpur | Area: 9,661 km² | Districts: 8
• Lumbini Province — Province — Lumbini — Capital: Deukhuri, Area: 22,288 km², Districts: 12
• Karnali Province — Province — Karnali — Capital: Birendranagar, Area: 27,984 km², Districts: 10
• Nepal — National Overview — Fact — National — Area: 147,181 km², Districts: 77, Local Bodies: 753, Population: 29.16 million
• Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) — Mountain — Koshi — $8,848.86\text{ m}$ — World's highest peak
• Kangchenjunga — Mountain — Koshi — $8,586\text{ m}$ — World's 3rd highest peak
• Dhaulagiri — Mountain — Gandaki — $8,167\text{ m}$ — World's 7th highest peak
• Makalu — Mountain — Koshi — $8,485\text{ m}$ — World's 5th highest peak
• Manaslu — Mountain — Gandaki — $8,163\text{ m}$ — World's 8th highest peak
• Cho Oyu — Mountain — Koshi — $8,188\text{ m}$ — World's 6th highest peak
• Chitwan National Park — National Park — Bagmati — 932 km²; est. 1973; UNESCO WHS 1984; Nepal's 1st national park
• Phewa Lake — Lake — Gandaki — $5.23\text{ km}^2$; altitude $742\text{ m}$ — Nepal's 2nd largest lake
• Rara Lake — Lake — Karnali — $10.8\text{ km}^2$; depth $167\text{ m}$; altitude $2,990\text{ m}$ — Nepal's largest lake
• Pashupatinath Temple — Fact — Bagmati — UNESCO WHS 1979; 500+ temples; on Bagmati River, Kathmandu
• Muktinath Temple — Fact — Gandaki — 3,710 m altitude; 108 water spouts; Hindu-Buddhist sacred site
• Lipulekh Pass — Pass — Sudurpashchim — Altitude: ~5,334 m; Nepal-China border pass
• Nepal's Climate Zones — Fact — National — 5 climate zones; 80% rainfall from monsoon (June–Sept)
• Koshi River — River — Koshi — Largest river in Nepal; basin area of $60,400\text{ km}^2$
• Karnali River — River — Karnali — Longest river in Nepal ($507\text{ km}$)
• Lhotse — Mountain — Koshi — $8,516\text{ m}$ — World's 4th highest peak
• Bardiya National Park — National Park — Lumbini — 968 km²; est. 1988; largest Terai national park
• Nepal's Borders — Border — National — India border: ~1,751 km; China border: ~1,389 km; Total: ~3,180 km
• Gosaikunda Lake — Lake — Bagmati — 4,380 m; Ramsar site; sacred pilgrimage
• Koshi Province — Province — Koshi — Capital: Biratnagar | Area: 25,905 km² | Districts: 14
• Gandaki Province — Province — Gandaki — Capital: Pokhara | Area: 21,504 km² | Districts: 11
• Mahakali River — River — Sudurpashchim — Forms Nepal-India western border; Mahakali Treaty (1996)
• Sudurpashchim Province — Province — Sudurpashchim — Capital: Godawari / Dhangadhi, Area: 19,539 km², Districts: 9
• Lumbini — Birthplace of Buddha — Fact — Lumbini — UNESCO WHS 1997; Buddha born c. 563 BCE; Ashoka Pillar 249 BCE
• Tilicho Lake — Lake — Gandaki — $4,919\text{ m}$ altitude; $\sim 4.8\text{ km}^2$ — one of world's highest lakes
• Janakpur — Mithila Heritage — Fact — Madhesh — Madhesh Province capital; Janaki Mandir built 1910; birthplace of Sita
• Langtang National Park — National Park — Bagmati — 1,710 km²; est. 1976; Nepal's 1st Himalayan national park
• Bagmati River — River — Bagmati — Originates at Bagdwar; flows past Pashupatinath Temple
• Annapurna I — Mountain — Gandaki — $8,091\text{ m}$ — World's 10th highest peak
• Gandaki River (Narayani) — River — Gandaki — Deepest river in Nepal; features the world's deepest gorge
• Sagarmatha National Park — National Park — Koshi — 1,148 km²; est. 1976; UNESCO WHS 1979; elevation 2,845–8,848 m
• Rasuwagadhi Border Crossing — Pass — Bagmati — Elevation: ~1,870 m; main Nepal-China land crossing on Araniko Highway
• Begnas Lake — Lake — Gandaki — 2.77 km²; altitude 677 m — Nepal's 3rd largest lake