Flag · Emblem · Anthem · Flora & Fauna

National Symbols

Nepal's national symbols are defined by the Constitution and reflect the nation's unique identity — from the world's only non-rectangular national flag to the national flower of the Himalayan rhododendron.

The national flag

The flag of Nepal

Nepal's flag is unique among the world's national flags — it is the only non-rectangular flag of a sovereign state.

Design and symbolism

The only national flag in the world that is not rectangular or square
Consists of two stacked pennants (triangular shapes), creating a double-pennant design
Crimson red with dark blue borders — crimson is Nepal's national colour
Upper pennant: a white moon with a white eight-pointed sun (originally a depiction of the moon's crescent with sun rays)
Lower pennant: a white twelve-pointed sun (in modern design, the sun has evolved into a stylised form)
The moon symbolises the cool nature of the Nepali people; the sun symbolises the fierce resolve of the national spirit
The crimson colour is found in the national flower, the rhododendron

History of the flag

The pennant shape is unique in Asia — derived from ancient Hindu and Buddhist symbolic forms
Originally, the two pennants were separate — the royal pennant and the prime minister's pennant
They were combined into the current double-pennant design during the Rana period
The current standardised design was codified in the 1962 Constitution under King Mahendra
The 2015 Constitution of Nepal retains the flag design as the national symbol
The exact proportions and construction are defined in mathematical detail in the Constitution (Schedule 1)

State emblem and anthem

Nepal's coat of arms and national anthem

The state emblem and national anthem were redefined when Nepal became a republic to reflect the values of the federal democratic state.

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State Emblem (Coat of Arms)

Nepal's state emblem, adopted in its current form after the 2008 republic declaration, features:

Mount Everest at the top
Green hills representing the hilly region
Yellow fields representing the Terai
A male cow (national animal) and rhododendron (national flower)
Cupped hands clasped in the Nepali “Namaste” gesture at the centre
The national motto at the bottom: “जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी” (Mother and motherland are greater than heaven)

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National Anthem

“Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka Hami”
(“We Are Hundreds of Flowers”)

Nepal's current national anthem was adopted in 2007, replacing the royal anthem “Shreeman Gambhir Nepali” (which had praised the king). Written by Byakul Maila and composed by Ambar Gurung, the new anthem reflects Nepal's diverse communities and its republican identity.

The anthem is short — only two stanzas — and celebrates Nepal's natural beauty, cultural diversity, and the unity of its people across regions and communities. It replaced the royal anthem when the republic was declared.

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National language

Nepali (नेपाली) is the official language of Nepal, used in government, law, education, and public life.

Nepal is a linguistically diverse nation — the 2011 census identified 123 languages spoken as mother tongues. The Constitution recognises all of these as “national languages” while Nepali serves as the official language of inter-community communication and government.

The Devanagari script, in which Nepali is written, is also used for Sanskrit, Hindi, and several other South Asian languages.

National flora and fauna

Nepal's national animal, bird, and flower

Nepal's national natural symbols reflect its extraordinary biodiversity — from Himalayan highlands to Terai lowlands.

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National Animal: Cow (गाई)

The cow is Nepal's national animal. Sacred in Hindu tradition as a symbol of the earth, prosperity, and nurturing, the cow holds deep cultural significance across Nepal. Nepal was formerly a Hindu kingdom where slaughtering cows was prohibited by law. The cow remains revered in contemporary Nepal.

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National Bird: Danphe (डाँफे)

The Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus), known as Danphe in Nepali, is Nepal's national bird. One of the most spectacular pheasants in the world, the male Danphe has iridescent plumage in shades of green, purple, red, and blue. Found in the forests of the Himalayan foothills, it is also the state bird of India's Uttarakhand state.

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National Flower: Rhododendron (लाली गुराँस)

The Rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum), called Lali Gurans in Nepali, is Nepal's national flower. Blooming in crimson across Nepal's hills in spring, it gives the landscape a distinctive character celebrated in Nepali poetry and song. The flower's crimson matches Nepal's national colour and appears on the national flag.

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National Tree: Peepal (पीपल)

The Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa), known as the Sacred Fig, is Nepal's national tree. Deeply sacred in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions — the Buddha attained enlightenment under a Peepal tree at Bodh Gaya — the Peepal is found throughout Nepal's cities, villages, and temple courtyards, often forming the centre of community gathering spaces.

World's only non-rectangular national flagCrimson and dark blue coloursNational motto: “Motherland is greater than heaven”Anthem: “Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka”123 languages spoken in Nepal