A Nepali date converter translates between the Bikram Sambat (BS) calendar used officially in Nepal and the Gregorian (AD/English) calendar used internationally. Every Nepali citizen needs to convert dates constantly — for passport applications, job forms, school admissions, visa documents, and anything involving an international counterparty.
This guide explains how the Bikram Sambat calendar works, why BS months have varying lengths, the exact offset from AD, and how to convert dates accurately in either direction.
Convert BS ↔ AD Instantly — Free
Accurate Bikram Sambat and Gregorian date converter with full Nepali month names. Used by thousands of Nepalis daily.
What Is Bikram Sambat (BS)?
The Bikram Sambat calendar is a solar Hindu calendar named after the legendary King Vikramaditya. It is the official calendar of Nepal since 1901 AD and is roughly 56 years and 8 months ahead of the Gregorian calendar.
Key Facts
- Type — Solar, based on the Sun's position across zodiac signs
- New Year — Starts mid-April (around April 13-14 AD), called Naya Barsha
- Year format — 2026 AD corresponds to 2082-83 BS
- Months — 12 months, 29 to 32 days each (varies year-to-year)
- Days in a year — Usually 365 or 366 (like Gregorian)
The 12 Nepali Months
| Order | Nepali Name | Typical Gregorian Start |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baishakh (बैशाख) | Mid-April |
| 2 | Jestha (जेठ) | Mid-May |
| 3 | Ashadh (असार) | Mid-June |
| 4 | Shrawan (श्रावण) | Mid-July |
| 5 | Bhadra (भदौ) | Mid-August |
| 6 | Ashwin (असोज) | Mid-September |
| 7 | Kartik (कार्तिक) | Mid-October |
| 8 | Mangsir (मंसिर) | Mid-November |
| 9 | Poush (पुष) | Mid-December |
| 10 | Magh (माघ) | Mid-January |
| 11 | Falgun (फागुन) | Mid-February |
| 12 | Chaitra (चैत्र) | Mid-March |
Why BS Months Have Different Lengths Each Year
Unlike Gregorian months (fixed at 28-31 days), Bikram Sambat months vary year to year because the calendar is sidereal solar — each month's length depends on the time the Sun actually takes to traverse one zodiac sign.
Month Length Range
- Shortest months — 29 days (usually Poush, Magh, Falgun in some years)
- Longest months — 32 days (usually Jestha, Ashadh, Shrawan)
Because of this, you cannot "calculate" a BS date mathematically from an AD date using a simple formula. Accurate conversion requires looking up month tables for each specific year — which is why digital converters matter.
The Gregorian calendar is tropical (based on seasons) and uses a fixed month length to average things out. BS is sidereal (based on star positions) so each month reflects actual celestial movement. Over centuries, tropical and sidereal calendars drift apart — currently by about 24 days.
How Conversion Actually Works
BS to AD Approximate Rule
A quick mental conversion: subtract 56 years and 8 months, roughly.
- Baishakh 1, 2082 BS ≈ April 13, 2025 AD
- Poush 15, 2082 BS ≈ December 30, 2025 AD
- Chaitra 30, 2082 BS ≈ April 13, 2026 AD
AD to BS Approximate Rule
Add 56 years and 8 months:
- January 1, 2026 AD ≈ Poush 17, 2082 BS
- April 14, 2026 AD ≈ Baishakh 1, 2083 BS (Nepali New Year)
- October 15, 2026 AD ≈ Kartik 29, 2083 BS
Because BS month lengths vary year to year, the "+56 years 8 months" rule is accurate within ~3 days but can fail on month boundaries. For official documents, always use a precise converter that references actual BS month tables.
Common Use Cases for Date Conversion
Official / Government
- Passport applications — Nepal issues passports with dates in BS; international systems require AD
- Citizenship certificates — issued in BS; international universities ask for AD equivalent
- Birth certificates — Nepali originals are BS; visa applications require AD
- School/college marksheets — issued in BS; international admissions require AD conversion
- PAN/Voter ID — usually dual-format, but older documents may be BS-only
Employment
- Job application forms — Indian/foreign employers expect AD; Nepali forms use BS
- Resume writing — international resumes must convert all education/employment dates to AD
- Offer letters and contracts — Nepal-based contracts often use BS, cross-border contracts use AD
Personal
- Birthday calculations — calculating your age when family says BS date but ID has AD
- Wedding date planning — traditional Nepali weddings use BS; invitations often list both
- Festival planning — Dashain, Tihar, Holi dates in BS are fixed but shift in AD each year
Nepali New Year and Key Date Boundaries
The Nepali New Year (Naya Barsha) falls on Baishakh 1, which corresponds to April 13 or 14 in AD — this is the single most important date boundary to remember.
Why Jan-April AD = Previous BS Year
If you were born in January 2000 AD, your BS year is 2056 BS — not 2057 BS. The BS year only rolls over in mid-April.
| AD Date | BS Year |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 AD | 2082 BS |
| April 12, 2026 AD | 2082 BS |
| April 14, 2026 AD | 2083 BS (New Year) |
| December 31, 2026 AD | 2083 BS |
If someone's Nepali citizenship says "2060 BS" as birth year, their AD birth year is either 2003 (if born April-December) or 2004 (if born January-April). The Nepali month tells you which.
Other Calendars Used in Nepal
Bikram Sambat is the official civil calendar, but Nepal has other calendars used culturally or religiously:
- Nepal Sambat (NS) — indigenous Newar calendar, starts in October-November. Currently NS 1145-46.
- Shakya Sambat (Saka) — ancient Indian calendar, about 78 years behind AD.
- Gregorian (AD) — used for international business, travel, internet.
- Tibetan Lunar Calendar — used by Himalayan Buddhist communities for religious festivals.
For official Nepal government documents, BS is always the primary calendar. AD is used as secondary reference on newer documents.
How to Use the Tool (Step by Step)
- 1
Choose Direction
Select BS → AD if you have a Bikram Sambat date, or AD → BS if you have a Gregorian date.
- 2
Enter the Date
Type day, month, and year. For BS input, select the Nepali month by name (Baishakh, Jestha, etc.).
- 3
Convert
The tool uses precise BS month-length tables to give an accurate result — not a 56-year offset approximation.
- 4
Verify on Official Calendar
For critical documents (visa, passport), cross-check the converted date against a Nepal government almanac or Nepali Patro.
- 5
Copy or Download
Copy the converted date in the format you need (DD/MM/YYYY, written Nepali, etc.) for your forms or applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many years is Bikram Sambat ahead of AD?+−
56 years and 8 months, approximately. The exact offset depends on whether the AD date is before or after April 13-14 (the BS New Year). Always use an actual converter for official use — the rule is approximate.
Why are Nepali months longer or shorter than Gregorian months?+−
Bikram Sambat is a sidereal solar calendar — each month is the time the Sun takes to traverse one zodiac sign, which naturally varies between 29 and 32 days. Gregorian months are administratively fixed.
Is the Bikram Sambat calendar used only in Nepal?+−
As the official calendar, yes — only Nepal. Variants are used culturally in parts of India (Himachal, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan) and by Hindu communities for religious purposes, but not as a civil calendar.
When is Nepali New Year?+−
Baishakh 1 — the first day of the Bikram Sambat year. In the Gregorian calendar, this usually falls on April 13 or 14.
Can I calculate age from a BS date directly?+−
Yes, but easier to convert BS → AD first, then calculate age in AD. Most age-verifying systems (passport, visa) internally use AD, so converting first avoids mistakes.
What happens if the month day does not exist in the converted calendar?+−
For example, Chaitra 32 exists in BS but April has only 30 days — the converter maps it to the correct next-day AD equivalent (April 14 of the following AD year). Both calendars align day-for-day after conversion.
Are Dashain and Tihar on the same AD date every year?+−
No. Dashain falls in Ashwin BS (September-October AD) and Tihar in Kartik BS (October-November AD). The AD dates shift by a few days each year based on lunar calculations within the BS calendar.
Is this converter accurate for government documents?+−
Yes. Our converter uses the official BS month-length tables published by the Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti. For critical applications (visa, birth certificates), always also cross-check with the dual-format date printed on the original document.
Convert BS ↔ AD Instantly — Free
Accurate Bikram Sambat and Gregorian date converter with full Nepali month names. Used by thousands of Nepalis daily.
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