Today, the vast majority of countries around the world use the Gregorian calendar system for the daily lives. However, there is one nation that stands completely apart.
Nepal or officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, has a different timeline than the rest of the world. This year is 2026, but Nepal is already in 2083. How is that possible?
This unique gap exists because Nepal has their own calendar system called the Bikram Sambat (BS). It is a traditional calendar that runs about 57 years ahead of the general calendar we use today.
The Legends Behind Bikram Sambat
The origins of this calendar are steeped in both historical debate and legendary majesty. Its name comes from King Vikramaditya, who supposedly created the era to celebrate his victory over the Sakas in 57 BCE.
Most story usually picture King Vikramaditya as a legendary emperor from Ujjain, India. However, Nepali historians offer a different local twist. Local traditions and texts like the Bhavishya Purana suggest that Vikramaditya have ruled from Battisputali in Kathmandu.
According to this view, he coordinated the lunar and solar cycles to give his people a realible almanac. Moreover, no matter where he actually ruled, this calendar keeps a piece of the ancient Sanatan tradition alive even though the other old system have long faded.
Structurally, the Bikram Sambat is way more complex than the solar Gregorian calendar. It is a lunisolar system rooted in ancient Vedic science, specifically the Surya Siddhanta.
The Gregorian calendar tracks the earth’s orbit around the sun with fixed month. However, the Bikram Sambat balances solar dates with tithis, or lunar days which follow the phases of the moon.
Thus, this allows the calendar to remain attuned to both the shifts of the seasons and the celestial rhythms of the stars. Each year consists of twelve months, starting with Baisakh in mid-April and ending with Chaitra.
Because the months are based on the moon's phases, they can last anywhere from 29 to 32 days. The system requires regular adjustments to stay aligned with the solar year.
Bikram Sambat as Nepal’s Official Calendar
Nepal officially adopted the Bikram Sambat as its official calendar over a century ago. Before 1901 CE or 1957 BS, the government relied on irregular lunar dates.
At that time, this caused a lot of confusion in state offices. To fix this problem, Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shamsher stepped in and use the Bikram Sambat as the official standard.
As the result, today, Nepal in one of few places that uses different calendar system from any other countries in the world for its government administration.
Moreover, India actually also uses Bikram Sambat, but only for religious purposes. For official business, India relies on the Gregorian calendar and the Saka Era.
For Nepali, the Bikram Sambat “dictates” the rhythm of life. It guides everything, such as farming cycles or major religious festivals like Dashain, Tihar, and Bisket Jatra.
Furthermore, the Nepali New Year falls on Baisakh 1, which is the same as in mid-April. This date marks the height of spring and the harvest season. It symbolizes renewal and celebration across the country’s diverse ethnic group.
By using a different calendar system, Nepal shows a unique cultural identity. Bikram Sambat somehow makes Nepal lives 57 in the “future” than any other countries in the world that makes this very special.
