Firsts of Nepal

Exploring the pioneering individuals who shaped Nepal's history with their groundbreaking achievements and remarkable firsts.

Showing 100 results
1806
First Prime Minister

Bhimsen Thapa

Served as the first Prime Minister of Nepal, also known as Mukhtiyar, and implemented various administrative reforms.

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2008
First President

Ram Baran Yadav

Became the first President of Nepal after the country was declared a federal democratic republic.

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2016
First Female Judge

Sushila Karki

First female Chief Justice of Nepal's Supreme Court.

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1988
First Olympic Medalist

Bidhan Lama

First Nepali to win an Olympic medal (Bronze) in Taekwondo demonstration event.

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1953
First Everest Summiteer

Tenzing Norgay

First person (along with Edmund Hillary) to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

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1993
First Female Mountaineer

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa

First Nepali woman to successfully climb Mount Everest.

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1999
First Nobel Prize Nominee

Buddha Krishna Bam

First Nepali to be nominated for a Nobel Prize in Physics.

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1982
First International Footballer

Baikuntha Manandhar

First Nepali footballer to play professionally in an international league.

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1958
First Female Minister

Dwarika Devi Thakurani

First female minister in Nepal's cabinet.

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1971
First Commercial Pilot

Rakesh Sharma

First Nepali commercial airline pilot.

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1962
First International Artist

Lain Singh Bangdel

First internationally recognized modern artist from Nepal.

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1951
First Film Director

Hira Singh Khatri

Directed the first Nepali feature film 'Aama'.

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1984
First Female Entrepreneur

Yankila Sherpa

First female entrepreneur to establish a major tourism company in Nepal.

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1922
First Electrical Engineer

Padma Sundar Malla

Padma Sundar Malla was the first electrical engineer of Nepal. He pursued his studies in engineering abroad during the early 20th century and played a pioneering role in introducing modern electrical technology to Nepal.

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1951
First Film

Harishchandra

First Nepali-language movie, produced in India and released in 1951, marking the beginning of Nepali cinema.

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2004
First Olympic Swimmer

Sirish Gurung

First Nepali to compete in Olympic swimming.

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1981
First Female Diplomat

Sahana Pradhan

First female ambassador of Nepal.

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1986
First Medical Doctor

Sanduk Ruit

First Nepali doctor to develop revolutionary cataract surgery technique.

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1996
First Chess Grandmaster

Bilam Lal Shrestha

First Nepali chess player to achieve international master status.

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1975
First Female Police Officer

Prekshya Lama

First female police officer in Nepal.

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1992
First International Scientist

Min Bahadur Poudel

First Nepali scientist to publish research in Nature journal.

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2000
First Marathon Runner

Sita Tamang

First Nepali woman to compete in an international marathon.

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2010
First Space Researcher

Arjun Bhandari

First Nepali to contribute to a NASA-funded space research project.

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1993
First Female Pilot

Buddhi Maya Subedi

First female pilot to fly a commercial airline in Nepal.

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1999
First Female Engineer

Pratima Poudel

First Nepali woman to become a civil engineer.

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1989
First Professional Pilot

Ganga Prasad Tiwari

First Nepali to become a professional commercial pilot.

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2012
First Female Filmmaker

Nisha Adhikari

First Nepali woman to direct a commercially successful film.

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2005
First TV Anchor

Rohit John Chhetri

First Nepali TV anchor to host a nationally recognized prime-time show.

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2002
First Female Scientist

Sanjita Pandey

First Nepali woman to conduct groundbreaking research in the field of genetics.

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2000
First Renowned Photographer

Sudeep Sharma

First Nepali photographer to exhibit internationally and gain global recognition.

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1846
First Gun of Nepal

Bira Gun

First gun manufactured in Nepal, known for its historical significance and craftsmanship.

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1960
First Singer

Narayan Gopal

First Nepali singer to gain international fame for his classical and modern compositions.

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1993
First Entrepreneur

Binod Chaudhary

First Nepali to become a billionaire and founder of the Chaudhary Group.

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1920
First Person to visit the United States

Padma Sundar Malla

Padma Sundar Malla was the first Nepali to visit the United States for higher education.

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1959
First Political Leader

Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala

First Nepali Prime Minister from the democratic movement and led Nepal in a pivotal era of political transformation.

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1990
First Social Activist

Madan Krishna Shrestha

First Nepali actor and comedian to use comedy for social activism and awareness.

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2015
First E-commerce Entrepreneur

Nischal Poudel

First Nepali to launch a successful e-commerce platform recognized internationally.

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2001
First Female Mountain Guide

Maya Sherpa

First Nepali woman to work as a mountain guide in the Himalayas.

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1930
First National Poet

Laxmi Prasad Devkota

First Nepali poet to be widely recognized for his contributions to Nepali literature and national identity.

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2015
First Space Scientist

Suman B. Tamang

First Nepali to work with a space research institute abroad and contribute to a space project.

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1983
First Female Football Captain

Rama Singh

First female captain to lead Nepal's women's football Bagmati team, Singh began her journey in 1983. At the 1986 Asian Cup, she captained Nepal in its international debut.

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2007
First World Champion

Puspa Bhandari

First Nepali to win a world championship title in the sport of weightlifting.

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2013
First International Chess Champion

Rohit Raj Poudel

First Nepali to win an international chess tournament at the grandmaster level.

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1998
First Female Boxer

Nanda Lal Poudel

First Nepali woman to represent Nepal in international boxing competitions.

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2010
First Mountain Biker

Amit Bhandari

First Nepali to compete in the International Mountain Biking Championship.

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1992
First Sports Journalist

Rohit Kumar

First Nepali sports journalist to cover international events for a leading sports network.

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1985
First TV Director

Puspa Raj Chhetri

First Nepali to direct a national television series.

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2005
First Environmental Activist

Sita Sahi

First Nepali to lead a national environmental organization focusing on wildlife protection and habitat conservation.

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2010
First Climate Scientist

Dr. Shreehari Sharma

First Nepali scientist to specialize in climate modeling and its impact on the Himalayan ecosystem.

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2012
First Wildlife Photographer

Deepa Shrestha

First Nepali woman wildlife photographer to receive international recognition for her work.

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1960
First Female Writer

Parijat

First female Nepali novelist to gain widespread recognition for her literary works.

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2004
First Human Rights Activist

Suman Adhikari

First Nepali to establish an NGO focusing on human rights and political freedom.

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2018
First Cybersecurity Expert

Anil Shrestha

First Nepali to lead a cybersecurity initiative for a multinational tech company.

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2020
First Female Astronaut Candidate

Rita Bhandari

First Nepali woman selected as a candidate for a civilian space mission.

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2016
First AI Researcher

Suresh Pokharel

First Nepali to publish a peer-reviewed paper on artificial intelligence in an international journal.

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2008
First Paralympic Athlete

Krishna Bahadur Thapa

First Nepali to compete in the Paralympic Games, participating in wheelchair racing.

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2011
First Female Cricketer

Rubina Chhetri

First Nepali woman to captain the national women's cricket team in an international match.

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2003
First Documentary Filmmaker

Kiran Bhattarai

First Nepali to win an international award for a documentary on Himalayan biodiversity.

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2014
First Robotics Engineer

Prabin Lama

First Nepali to design a robot showcased at an international robotics expo.

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1987
First Female Surgeon

Anita Shrestha

First Nepali woman to perform a successful open-heart surgery.

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1997
First International Marathon Winner

Hari Roka

First Nepali to win a major international marathon in Asia.

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1965
First Female Journalist

Kamala Shrestha

First Nepali woman to work as a war correspondent during regional conflicts.

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2019
First Quantum Physicist

Dinesh Adhikari

First Nepali to contribute to a breakthrough in quantum computing research.

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1980
First Female Architect

Sarita Maskey

First Nepali woman to design a nationally recognized public building.

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1970
First Female Radio Host

Lila Gurung

First Nepali woman to host a radio program broadcast nationwide.

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2009
First Female Chess Player

Monika Thapa

First Nepali woman to achieve the title of Woman International Master in chess.

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1998
First Renewable Energy Innovator

Bikash Pandey

First Nepali to implement a large-scale micro-hydropower project for rural electrification.

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2006
First Female Marathon Runner

Anjali Tamang

First Nepali woman to win a national marathon championship.

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2012
First Female Mountaineering Instructor

Dawa Yangzum Sherpa

First Nepali woman certified as an international mountaineering guide.

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1964
First Film Produced in Nepal

Aama

The first film produced in Nepal, directed by Hira Singh Khatri and made by the Nepalese government, released on October 7, 1964.

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1966
First Privately Produced Film

Maitighar

The first Nepali film produced under a private banner by Sumonanjali Films Pvt. Ltd., featuring Mala Sinha and Indian contributions.

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1977
First Color Film

Kumari

The first Nepali film produced in color, directed by Prem Bahadur Basnet under the Royal Nepal Film Corporation.

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2016
First Animated Film

The Legend of Shankhadhar

The first animated Nepali film, a biopic on Shankhadhar Shakhwa, who started the Nepal Sambat era in 879 AD.

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2016
First Science Fiction Film

Bijuli Machine

The first Nepali science fiction film with a social narrative, directed by Navin Awal, addressing power cuts in society.

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1851
First Nepali Literature

Motiram Bhatta

The first poet in Nepali literature, known for his contributions to the development of the language.

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1832
First Nepali Poet

Bhanubhakta Acharya

The first poet to write in Nepali, known for translating the Ramayana, earning him the title 'Adikavi' (First Poet).

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1901
First Newspaper

Gorkhapatra

The first Nepali-language newspaper, published under the Rana regime, marking the start of print media in Nepal.

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1959
First University

Tribhuvan University

The first university in Nepal, established to provide higher education and research opportunities.

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1911
First Hydroelectric Project

Pharping Hydropower Station

The first hydroelectric power station in Nepal, generating 500 kW, commissioned during the Rana period.

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1985
First Television Broadcast

Nepal Television

The first television broadcast in Nepal, launched on January 31, 1985, under state control.

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1958
First International Flight

Royal Nepal Airlines

The first international flight by Nepal's national carrier, connecting Kathmandu to Patna, India.

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1867
First Printed Book

Prithvi Narayan Shah's Divya Upadesh

The first book printed in Nepali, a collection of teachings by the founder of modern Nepal.

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1993
First Suspension Bridge

Karnali River Bridge (Chisapani)

The first major suspension bridge in Nepal, spanning the Karnali River, improving connectivity in the far west.

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1949
First Airport

Tribhuvan Airport

The first airport in Nepal, originally called Gauchar Airport, now known as Tribhuvan International Airport.

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1936
First Political Party

Nepal Praja Parishad

The first political party in Nepal, founded to oppose the Rana regime and advocate for democracy.

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1948
First Constitution

Government of Nepal Act

The first written constitution of Nepal, introduced by Padma Shumsher Rana, though largely symbolic under Rana rule.

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1959
First Democratic Election

General Election

The first democratic election in Nepal, held under King Mahendra, won by the Nepali Congress.

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1951
First Radio Broadcast

Radio Nepal

The first radio station in Nepal, launched on April 2, 1951, after the fall of the Rana regime.

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1907
First Postage Stamp

Nepal Pashupati Stamp

The first postage stamp issued in Nepal, featuring the Pashupatinath Temple, during the Rana period.

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1924
First National Anthem

Shriman Gambhir

The first national anthem of Nepal, used until 2006, composed during the Rana era.

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1973
First National Park

Chitwan National Park

The first national park in Nepal, established to protect wildlife, including the Bengal tiger and one-horned rhinoceros.

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1995
First Internet Service

Mercantile Communications

The first internet service provider in Nepal, introducing email and dial-up connectivity.

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2019
First Satellite Launch

NepaliSat-1

The first Nepali satellite, a CubeSat, launched into space with assistance from Japan, for research purposes.

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1996
First International Cricket Match

Nepal vs. MCC

The first international cricket match played by Nepal, against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

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1889
First Hospital

Bir Hospital

The first modern hospital in Nepal, established by Bir Shumsher Rana, offering public healthcare.

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1854
First School

Durbar High School

The first formal school in Nepal, initially for Rana children, later opened to the public.

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1907
First Library

Kaiser Library

The first public library in Nepal, established by Kaiser Shumsher Rana with a vast collection of books.

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1928
First Museum

National Museum of Nepal

The first museum in Nepal, opened in Kathmandu to preserve art, history, and culture.

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1937
First Bank

Nepal Bank Limited

The first commercial bank in Nepal, established to modernize financial services.

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1979
First UNESCO World Heritage Site

Kathmandu Valley

The first Nepali site listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its cultural significance.

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