Asia · capital city
What Is the Capital of Nepal?
Kathmandu
The capital of Nepal is Kathmandu. About 1.6 million people live in the Kathmandu urban area — 5.3% of the country's population.
1.6 million
Urban area population
UTC+5.75
Time zone
27.72°N
Latitude · 85.32°E
Yes
Largest city
Kathmandu at a glance
Name origin
The name comes from the Nepalese words kath (wooden) and mandu (temple), referring to the local temples that are often still built from wood.
Time zone
UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
27 43 N, 85 19 E · IANA time zone Asia/Kathmandu
Location of Nepal
Southern Asia, between China and India
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Beijing, China — 3,153 kmCapitals closest to Kathmandu
Thimphu, Bhutan — 426 km
Dhaka, Bangladesh — 676 km
New Delhi, India — 802 km
Islamabad, Pakistan — 1,346 km
Rangoon, Myanmar — 1,647 km
Kabul, Afghanistan — 1,709 km
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan — 1,941 km
Dushanbe, Tajikistan — 1,951 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Kathmandu
What is the capital of Nepal?
The capital of Nepal is Kathmandu. About 1.6 million people live in the Kathmandu urban area — 5.3% of the country's population.
Is Kathmandu the largest city in Nepal?
Yes — Kathmandu is also the largest urban area of Nepal (1.6 million).
What time zone is Kathmandu in?
Kathmandu is on UTC+5.75 — UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Kathmandu come from?
The name comes from the Nepalese words kath (wooden) and mandu (temple), referring to the local temples that are often still built from wood.
Which capital is closest to Kathmandu?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, New Delhi (India) is the closest, 802 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).