Travel guide · Nepal
The Seven Provinces of Nepal
Nepal's 2015 constitution created seven provinces, each spanning lowland to mountain — here are their names, capitals and what each is known for.
Alongside its three geographic bands, Nepal has a political map made up of seven provinces. They are a recent creation, dating from the constitution of 2015 that turned Nepal into a federal republic, and each one is deliberately drawn to cut across the lowlands, hills and mountains.
The short answer
Nepal has seven provinces, numbered roughly east to west: Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashchim. Each has its own provincial capital and government, and each stretches from the southern plains up toward the Himalaya. Kathmandu, the national capital, sits in Bagmati Province.
The provinces at a glance
| Province | Capital | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Koshi | Biratnagar | east Nepal, Kanchenjunga, Ilam tea |
| Madhesh | Janakpur | Terai plains, Janaki Temple |
| Bagmati | Hetauda | Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan, Langtang |
| Gandaki | Pokhara | Annapurnas, Manaslu, Mustang |
| Lumbini | Deukhuri | Buddha's birthplace, Bardia, Banke |
| Karnali | Birendranagar | remote west, Rara Lake, Dolpo |
| Sudurpashchim | Godawari | far west, Khaptad, Api Himal |
A closer look
- Koshi covers eastern Nepal, from the Terai up to Kanchenjunga, and includes the famous tea hills of Ilam.
- Madhesh is the densely populated Terai province, home to the sacred city of Janakpur and a strong Maithili culture.
- Bagmati is the country's economic and cultural core, holding the Kathmandu Valley, the Langtang mountains and Chitwan in the south.
- Gandaki is trekking heartland, with Pokhara, the Annapurna and Manaslu massifs and the high desert of Mustang.
- Lumbini contains the Buddha's birthplace and the western Terai parks of Bardia and Banke.
- Karnali is the largest and most remote province, embracing Rara Lake and the wilderness of Dolpo.
- Sudurpashchim, the far west, holds the meadows of Khaptad and the Api–Saipal peaks.
How provinces relate to the regions
Because each province spans lowland, hill and mountain, the seven-province map and the three-region model describe the same country in different ways. The provinces are about governance; the regions are about land and climate. For travellers, the regions usually matter more day to day — whether you are in the hot Terai or the high Himalaya — while the provinces help you place names on the map.
A federal system
The provinces are the middle tier of a three-level federal structure: the national government in Kathmandu, the seven provinces, and hundreds of local governments such as municipalities and rural municipalities. Each province has its own elected assembly and chief minister, and was given responsibilities in areas like local roads, health and education. This was one of the biggest changes in modern Nepali history, ending a long period of highly centralised rule and redrawing the administrative map that had been based on zones since the 1960s.
The boundaries were debated fiercely, partly because of how they balance the interests of Terai and hill communities, and the names themselves were finalised by the provincial assemblies after the constitution came into force. Today the names are firmly part of everyday life, appearing on vehicle plates, government offices and the news.
Planning around the map
For travellers, the provinces are mostly useful as a way to locate places and read local information. You will see province names on signs, permits and weather forecasts, so it helps to know roughly where each lies. Trekkers, for instance, will spend most of their time in Gandaki for the Annapurnas, Bagmati for Langtang and Koshi for the eastern Himalaya. To translate this geography into a trip, browse the best places to visit in Nepal and time your visit with the best time to visit Nepal.
Frequently asked questions
How many provinces does Nepal have?+
Nepal has seven provinces, established by the 2015 constitution when the country became a federal democratic republic. They are Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashchim, and they replaced the previous system of fourteen zones and seventy-five districts.
What is the capital of each Nepali province?+
The provincial capitals are Biratnagar (Koshi), Janakpur (Madhesh), Hetauda (Bagmati), Pokhara (Gandaki), Deukhuri/Butwal area (Lumbini), Birendranagar (Karnali) and Godawari/Dhangadhi area (Sudurpashchim). Kathmandu, the national capital, lies within Bagmati Province.
Which province is Kathmandu in?+
Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, lies in Bagmati Province, whose own provincial capital is Hetauda. Bagmati is the most economically important province and contains the Kathmandu Valley with its UNESCO World Heritage sites, as well as Chitwan National Park in its southern lowlands.
Why was Nepal divided into provinces?+
The seven provinces were created under the 2015 constitution to turn Nepal into a federal state, devolving power from Kathmandu to elected provincial governments. Each province was drawn to include a mix of Terai, hill and mountain districts so it spans the country's full range of geography.
