
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.


Birendra of Nepal
1945 – 2001King 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
1914 – 1986Sherpa 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.

Nirmal Purja
1983 – PresentNepalese 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.

Bhimsen Thapa
1775 – 1839Nepalese 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
1909 – 1959Nepal'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.

Manisha Koirala
1970 – PresentBollywood 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.

B. P. Koirala
1914 – 1982Founding 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
1947 – PresentNepal'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.

Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli
1952 – PresentLeader 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
1946 – PresentFive-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
1967 – PresentContemporary 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.

Bhanubhakta Acharya
1814 – 1868Nepalese 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
1954 – PresentMaoist 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.

Sushila Karki
1952 – PresentFormer 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
1971 – 2001Crown 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
1954 – PresentFormer 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'.

Aishwarya of Nepal
1949 – 2001Queen 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.

Udit Narayan Jha
1955 – PresentProlific 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.

Krishna Prasad Bhattarai
1924 – 2011Nepalese 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.

Surya Bahadur Thapa
1928 – 2015Nepalese 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.

Girija Prasad Koirala
1924 – 2010Four-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
1953 – PresentSenior 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
1939 – 2016Prime 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
1906 – 1955King 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
1950 – PresentFormer 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
1961 – PresentNepal'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
1960 – PresentNepalese 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.


Chandra Bahadur Dangi
1939 – 2015Farmer 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
1949 – PresentNepalese 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
1948 – PresentNepal'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
1949 – PresentNepalese 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
1944 – PresentCurrent 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.