Nepal's Geography Overview

An immersive digital atlas exploring the extreme altitude gradients, the majestic Himalayas, major water basins, and the federal administrative boundaries of Nepal.

Total Land Area 147,516 km²
Altitude Range 59m – 8,848.86m
Total Districts 77 Sectors
Federal Provinces 7 Regions

1. Province Explorer

Select a province from the list below to view its administrative and geographical data.

Federal Provinces

कोशी प्रदेश 14 Districts

Koshi Province

Capital Biratnagar
Total Area 25,905 sq km
Population 4.96 million

Koshi Province occupies the easternmost part of Nepal. It contains the world's highest peak, Mt. Everest, and is characterized by its outstanding biodiversity, vast river networks, and lush tea gardens of Ilam.

Major Mountains
Mt. Everest (8,848.86m) Kanchenjunga (8,586m) Lhotse (8,516m) Makalu (8,463m)
Major River Channels
Koshi River Arun River Tamor River Mechi River
Key Geographic Features Mt. Everest (Sagarmatha), Makalu, Kanchenjunga & Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
Popular Attractions
Everest Base CampPathibhara TempleIlam Tea GardensKoshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

The Majestic Eight-Thousander Peaks of Nepal

Out of the world's 14 tallest mountains exceeding 8,000 meters above sea level, 8 are proudly located inside Nepal. Browse their key physical specifications, first historical ascents, and difficulty ratings.

Rank #1 Extreme Grade

Mt. Everest

Sagarmatha / Chomolungma
8,848.86 m (29,031.7 ft)

The highest point on Earth. Its snow boundary grows marginally each year due to tectonic shifts.

First Ascent: May 29, 1953
Range: Mahalangur
Province: Koshi
Rank #2 Extreme Grade

Kanchenjunga

Sewalungma
8,586 m (28,169 ft)

The third highest mountain in the world, shared with Sikkim, India. Extremely remote and highly sacred.

First Ascent: May 25, 1955
Range: Kanchenjunga
Province: Koshi
Rank #3 Extreme Grade

Lhotse

Lhotse
8,516 m (27,940 ft)

Directly connected to Everest via the South Col. Possesses one of the largest, steepest mountain faces on Earth.

First Ascent: May 18, 1956
Range: Mahalangur
Province: Koshi
Rank #4 Extreme Grade

Makalu

Makalu
8,463 m (27,766 ft)

An isolated four-sided pyramid peak. Widely considered one of the most technically difficult climbs globally.

First Ascent: May 15, 1955
Range: Mahalangur
Province: Koshi
Rank #5 High Grade

Cho Oyu

Cho Oyu
8,188 m (26,864 ft)

The fifth highest mountain in the world. Its moderate slopes make it the most accessible eight-thousand-meter peak.

First Ascent: October 19, 1954
Range: Mahalangur
Province: Koshi
Rank #6 Extreme Grade

Dhaulagiri I

Dhaulagiri
8,167 m (26,795 ft)

The White Mountain. Sits across the Kali Gandaki Gorge, forming a spectacular vertical elevation difference.

First Ascent: May 13, 1960
Range: Dhaulagiri
Province: Gandaki
Rank #7 Extreme Grade

Manaslu

Kutang
8,163 m (26,781 ft)

The Mountain of the Spirit. Extremely popular for expedition teams seeking a challenging 8,000m climb.

First Ascent: May 9, 1956
Range: Mansiri
Province: Gandaki
Rank #8 Extreme Grade

Annapurna I

Sapta Gandaki
8,091 m (26,545 ft)

The first 8,000m peak ever scaled. Historically possesses the highest climber fatality rate due to extreme avalanches.

First Ascent: June 3, 1950
Range: Annapurna
Province: Gandaki

Machapuchare: The Sacred Fishtail Peak

At 6,997 meters, Machapuchare (Fishtail) in Gandaki Province is revered as the sacred dwelling of Lord Shiva. Because of its intense religious significance, the Government of Nepal has permanently banned climbing expeditions on it. It remains one of the world's most spectacular unclimbed peaks, famous for its perfect double-summit profile reflecting over Pokhara's Phewa Lake.

Closed permanently to climbing since 1957
Annapurna Range, Gandaki Province