HistoryData

Famous People from Nepal

34 notable historical figures from Nepal, including leaders, artists, scientists, and other influential people.

Nepal has a notable array of influential figures in various fields, documented in historical records. Among these, 34 individuals are recognized, with 21 being politicians. Tenzing Norgay, who achieved the first confirmed summit of Mount Everest with Edmund Hillary in 1953, is among the country's most internationally recognized figures. Politically, Ram Baran Yadav made history as Nepal's first president, followed by Bidya Devi Bhandari, the first female president. Leaders like Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli have also significantly shaped Nepal's political landscape. The royal lineage includes King Birendra and King Gyanendra, pivotal during the country's shift from monarchy to republic. Suman Pokhrel is a key contemporary writer and poet, while Chief Justice Sushila Karki has influenced the judiciary. Actress Manisha Koirala has brought Nepali cinema international recognition, showcasing the country's talent in various fields.

Population of Nepal — view historical data & charts
politician (21)monarch (2)mountain guide (2)essayist (2)poet (2)judge (2)autobiographer (1)explorer (1)mountaineer (1)lyricist (1)
Birendra of Nepal

Birendra of Nepal

1945 – 2001

King of Nepal from 1972 to 2001 who was assassinated along with most of his family in the royal palace massacre. He ruled during a period of political transition and democratic movements.

Tenzing Norgay

Tenzing Norgay

1914 – 1986

Sherpa mountaineer who became the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest alongside Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953. He served as a mountain guide and later wrote his autobiography about his climbing experiences.

autobiographerexplorermountaineerBorn May 29Wikipedia →
Nirmal Purja

Nirmal Purja

1983 – Present

Nepalese mountaineer who holds the world record for climbing all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in just 6 months and 6 days. He served as a Gurkha soldier in the British Army Special Forces before becoming a professional climber and mountain guide.

mountaineermountain guidesoldierBorn July 25Wikipedia →
Bhimsen Thapa

Bhimsen Thapa

1775 – 1839

Nepalese statesman who served as Mukhtiyar (Prime Minister) and de facto ruler of Nepal from 1806 to 1837. He modernized the Nepalese military and administration during his three-decade reign.

Laxmi Prasad Devkota

Laxmi Prasad Devkota

1909 – 1959

Nepal's most celebrated poet, often called the 'Mahakavi' (Great Poet) for his epic poem 'Muna Madan'. His works helped establish modern Nepali literature and he is considered the Shakespeare of Nepali literature.

essayistlyricistnovelistBorn November 12Wikipedia →
Manisha Koirala

Manisha Koirala

1970 – Present

Bollywood actress who gained fame in the 1990s with films like 'Bombay' and '1942: A Love Story'. She is one of Nepal's most internationally recognized cultural ambassadors.

actordancerfilm actorBorn August 16Wikipedia →
B. P. Koirala

B. P. Koirala

1914 – 1982

Founding leader of the Nepali Congress party and first elected Prime Minister of Nepal in 1959. Known as the 'Father of Democracy' in Nepal, he also wrote novels and was imprisoned for his political activities.

Gyanendra of Nepal

Gyanendra of Nepal

1947 – Present

Nepal's last king who ruled from 2001 to 2008 before the monarchy was abolished. He came to power following the 2001 royal massacre that killed most of the royal family.

politicianregentBorn July 7Wikipedia →
Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli

Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli

1952 – Present

Leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) who has served as Prime Minister multiple times since 2015. Known for his pro-China stance and role in Nepal's communist politics.

Sher Bahadur Deuba

Sher Bahadur Deuba

1946 – Present

Five-time Prime Minister of Nepal and leader of the Nepali Congress party. He has been a central figure in Nepalese politics since the 1990s democratic restoration.

Suman Pokhrel

Suman Pokhrel

1967 – Present

Contemporary Nepalese poet and cultural figure known for his multilingual literary works and translations. He has published over 40 books and received numerous national and international literary awards.

essayistlinguistliterary criticBorn September 21Wikipedia →
Bhanubhakta Acharya

Bhanubhakta Acharya

1814 – 1868

Nepalese poet who translated the Ramayana into Nepali language, creating the first major literary work in modern Nepali. He is considered the pioneer of Nepali literature and poetry.

Baburam Bhattarai

Baburam Bhattarai

1954 – Present

Maoist leader who served as Prime Minister from 2011 to 2013 and was the chief ideologist of the decade-long insurgency. He holds a PhD in architecture and has written extensively on Marxist theory.

engineerpoliticianwriterBorn June 18Wikipedia →
Sushila Karki

Sushila Karki

1952 – Present

Former Chief Justice of Nepal's Supreme Court who became interim Prime Minister in January 2025. She is the first woman to hold the position of Chief Justice in Nepal's history.

Dipendra of Nepal

Dipendra of Nepal

1971 – 2001

Crown Prince who killed nine members of the royal family, including his parents, in the 2001 palace massacre before taking his own life. He technically became king for three days while in a coma.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal

Pushpa Kamal Dahal

1954 – Present

Former Maoist rebel leader who led a decade-long insurgency before becoming Prime Minister twice (2008-2009, 2016-2017). Also known by his nom de guerre 'Prachanda'.

military personnelpoliticianBorn December 11Wikipedia →
Aishwarya of Nepal

Aishwarya of Nepal

1949 – 2001

Queen consort of Nepal from 1972 to 2001 who was killed along with most of the royal family in the 2001 Nepalese royal massacre. She was known for her literary work and patronage of arts and culture.

poetsongwriterwriterBorn November 7Wikipedia →
Udit Narayan Jha

Udit Narayan Jha

1955 – Present

Prolific playback singer who has recorded over 40,000 songs in multiple languages, primarily for Bollywood films. He has won numerous National Film Awards and is considered one of India's most successful playback singers.

film actorfilm producerplayback singerBorn December 1Wikipedia →
Krishna Prasad Bhattarai

Krishna Prasad Bhattarai

1924 – 2011

Nepalese politician and journalist who served as Prime Minister of Nepal from 1990-1991 and again in 1999-2000. He played a key role in the democratic movement that ended the Panchayat system and restored multiparty democracy.

journalistpoliticianBorn December 24Wikipedia →
Surya Bahadur Thapa

Surya Bahadur Thapa

1928 – 2015

Nepalese politician who served as Prime Minister of Nepal five separate times between 1963 and 1997. He holds the record for the most terms served as Prime Minister in Nepal's history.

civil servantpoliticianBorn March 21Wikipedia →
Girija Prasad Koirala

Girija Prasad Koirala

1924 – 2010

Four-time Prime Minister of Nepal who played a key role in the country's democratic transition and peace process. He was instrumental in ending the Maoist insurgency through negotiations.

Madhav Kumar Nepal

Madhav Kumar Nepal

1953 – Present

Senior communist politician who served as Prime Minister from 2009 to 2011 during Nepal's post-monarchy transition period. He is a founding member of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML).

Sushil Koirala

Sushil Koirala

1939 – 2016

Prime Minister of Nepal from 2014 to 2015 and leader of the Nepali Congress party. He played a significant role in promulgating Nepal's new constitution in 2015.

Tribhuvan I of Nepal

Tribhuvan I of Nepal

1906 – 1955

King of Nepal from 1911 to 1955 who led the struggle against the Rana oligarchy and restored monarchical power. He sought asylum in India in 1950 before returning to establish a constitutional monarchy.

Jhala Nath Khanal

Jhala Nath Khanal

1950 – Present

Former Prime Minister of Nepal (2011) and senior leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML). He served briefly during a period of political instability following the end of the monarchy.

Bidya Devi Bhandari

Bidya Devi Bhandari

1961 – Present

Nepal's first female president, serving from 2015 to 2023. She previously served as Vice President and was a member of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist).

Apa Sherpa

Apa Sherpa

1960 – Present

Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer who holds the world record for summiting Mount Everest 21 times. He retired from climbing in 2011 and now works as an environmental activist promoting climate awareness.

himalayistmountain guideBorn January 20Wikipedia →
Chandra Bahadur Dangi

Chandra Bahadur Dangi

1939 – 2015

Farmer and weaver who held the Guinness World Record as the shortest adult man ever recorded at 54.6 cm (1 ft 9.5 in) tall. He gained international fame after his record was verified in 2012.

Khil Raj Regmi

Khil Raj Regmi

1949 – Present

Nepalese Chief Justice who served as interim Prime Minister of Nepal from 2013 to 2014. He led the country during a critical transition period following the failure to draft a new constitution.

Ram Baran Yadav

Ram Baran Yadav

1948 – Present

Nepal's first president who served from 2008 to 2015, marking the country's transition from monarchy to federal republic. He was a physician and politician before assuming the presidency.

Anuradha Koirala

Anuradha Koirala

1949 – Present

Nepalese social activist who founded Maiti Nepal, an organization dedicated to fighting human trafficking and helping victims of sexual abuse. She received the CNN Hero of the Year award in 2010 for her work rescuing over 12,000 women and girls.

Ram Chandra Poudel

Ram Chandra Poudel

1944 – Present

Current President of Nepal since March 2023 and veteran politician of the Nepali Congress party. He previously served multiple terms as a member of parliament and held various ministerial positions.

Related Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the first person to climb Mount Everest with Edmund Hillary?
Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa mountaineer from Nepal, reached the summit of Mount Everest alongside Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953. He became an international hero and one of the most famous mountain guides.
Who was Nepal's first female president?
Bidya Devi Bhandari became Nepal's first female president when elected in 2015. She previously served as a politician and was re-elected in 2018.
Are there any famous actors from Nepal?
Manisha Koirala is Nepal's most internationally recognized actress, known for her work in Bollywood films during the 1990s and 2000s. She appeared in many successful Hindi movies and gained fame across South Asia.