Nepali books and novels have the best stories in them. There are lots of popular Nepali books that are awarded prizes.
If you haven’t read any Nepali books, then this might be the best list for you to start with and make an impression, and for literature lovers, you can see if you have missed any of these or relive them by reading the classics over again.
If you love reading Nepali poems, you can get a Nepali poem book online.
Best Nepali Books and Nepali Novels to Read
Books are always your best friend. They say books don’t want anything in return and give you company anytime you need. Thanks to many excellent writers who give us the best novels and stories to read. These books refresh you and sometimes make you a better person than who you were. We have many great writers and books in Nepal as well.
In this list, I list the names of unique Nepali novels you shouldn’t miss. These books have all the emotions. Some of them are based on life experiences, while some are fiction. But these are the best books in Nepal.
Radha
Radha is his best work, and Krishna Dharabasi is among those who made significant contributions to Nepali literature. Radha is a novelization of the classic Hindu epic Mahabharat, released in 2005. Krishna Dharabasi altered Krishna and Radha’s personalities for this book, giving Radha more of a central position. The characters of Radha and Krishna have undergone a complete transformation because of Dharabasi, also influenced by Jacques Derrida’s Theory of Deconstruction. Radha is now fearless, bold, dignified, and revolutionary.
Karnali Blues
One of the bestselling and most rated novels by Buddhi Sagar. Karnali Blues is an epic story about a young boy who travels to different phases of his life; with his parents. The readers are taken on an immensely emotional roller coaster over the entire journey of a young boy to adulthood. The son’s perspective has been used to study a father’s struggle. Characters: Parvati Didi, Ekraj, Mamata Didi, Sharmila, Chandre, Bhagiram, Batu, Sadham, Mandir, Ramesh, Shiva Shankar, etc.
The writer Buddhi Sagar has done an excellent job. It binds us throughout with different characters such as Parvati didi, Mamata didi, Sharmila, Chandre, Bhagiram, Batu, and so on. I read this book a year back, but I still remember them. That is the beauty of this book. Fine Print publication was the publisher of this book.
Karnali blues in English translation
The book has been translated into English by Michael Hutt, a well-known Professor of Nepali and Himalayan Studies at the School of Oriental And African Studies. It can’t capture the true essence of the book, but still, the translator has done a great job. The book is now being sold in South Asian countries India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives.
This is a perfect book, and I recommend this to everyone. The book has the beauty of childhood and moments of heartbreaking chapters that will keep you connected with the story.
Palpasa Cafe
Palpasa Cafe is one of the most famous and successful Nepali books and novels written by Narayan Wagle in Nepali literature. The story has two central characters, Drishya and Palpasa.
It depicts the period of the Nepalese civil war declared by Maoists. The story includes the artist’s life and love story with a first-generation American Nepali Palpasa who returns to Nepal.
The artist also sees the Civil War from his perspective, which readers get throughout the book.
The book received many honors and awards, including a literary award, the Madan Puraskar. It is also the first Nepali book available on Kindle. It comes in many portable and e-book forms like PDF and Mobi. The book has English and Korean language translations as well.
Seto Dharti
A young girl named Tara gets married to a boy at seven. Her innocence couldn’t differentiate between marriage and just another function at home. Child marriage was common practice from 1850 to 1950, and the Novel is about that period. Her husband dies when he goes to Banaras for further studies.
Since then, she has spent her entire life in loneliness. The story continues with the struggles she faces throughout her life. She lives in her husband’s house and lives with her parents. But her mother dies, and she has to face even more difficulties. She takes care of the house. And later in her old days, she moves to Devghat, a religious place for Hindus. This is a simple story, but the way it is written is commendable. The Novel speaks against child marriage, and all these made it worthy of Madan Puraskar. This is a must-read for everyone. Make sure to get this book and read it in your free time. You won’t regret it.
Cheena Harayeko Manche
Cheena Harayeko Manche is an autobiography of the Nepali Icon Hari Bansha Acharya. In this book, he elegantly describes his upbringing and the challenges he faced on the way to success. But the emotion of the book is due to the genuine difficulties of witnessing a loved one (his wife) die.
Jiwan Kada Ki Phool
Written by Jhamak Ghimere
Jiwan Kada Ki Phool, amazingly, depicts a moving tale. A significant motivator is Jhamak’s battle with her disabilities and her ascent to fame in Nepal. This is a powerfully written tale of tenacity. It has won many awards, including Madan Puraskar.
Pallo Ghar ko Jhyal
Govinda Bahadur Malla is the writer of this great Novel that tells a classic story about the struggle between social obligations and sexual passion.
Urgen ko Ghoda
Yog Pathak wrote Urgen ko Ghoda. It is about the Tamang community during the civil war in Nepal. It is a fictional story.
Prayogshala
Prayogshala is a wonderful book that describes the politics of Nepal during the Maoist insurgency, written by Sudhir Sharma, the deposed monarchy, and the role of New Delhi.
Damini Bhir
Damini Bhir was published in 2012. It is one of the best novels that includes circumstances, psychology, and different practices of Nepali society during the transitional phase. It is written by Rajan Mukarung.
Sirish ko Phool
Bishnu Kumari Waiba, Parijat is a writer of this book. It is one of the finest books ever written in Nepali literature.
Sirsish ko Phool, blue Mimosa, is a creation of the well-known writer Bishnu Kumari Waiba. Her literary name is Parijat, and she is a beautiful gem of Nepali literature. She has exceptional outcomes, and Sirish ko Phool is one of them. She was born in Darjeeling but spent most of her life in Kathmandu. Shirish ko Phool is a male narrative novel. She describes different happenings from the male perspective, and this flip of gender is what makes this novel extraordinary.
The book is one that everyone should read. It is pretty different from the usual Nepali novels. Her book Sirish ko Phool published in 1965, received Madan Puraskar. It is a treasure for Nepali literature. This book has been translated into English and is part of the curriculum in many colleges in foreign countries.
Seto Bagh
It is one of the most thrilling Novels written by Diamond Shamsher. With this magnificent literature, Diamond Shumsher brings you back to the reign of Rana Sasan. After Jung Bahadur Rana is killed, chaos ensues, and his older son Jagat Jung Rana meets a tragic end. Seto Bagh is a struggle for dominance with the twist of the royal love story between Jagat Jung and the princess. It contains all of that time’s crimes, betrayal, and murder.
Jhola
Jhola is a story about Nepalese society’s Sati culture back in the 1920s. This book is written by Krishna Dharabasi.
Jhola is another extraordinary piece of art by Krishna Dharabasi. The Novel Jhola is about the Sati Pratha that was prevalent in Nepalese society until 1920 AD. Sathi Pratha was a culture where women would immolate themselves on the death of their husbands by burning themselves on the funeral pyre. The story of a young woman who manages to escape from Sati Pratha. The Novel beautifully portrays the time harshness of Sati Pratha and also the eternal love between a mother and her son. The pratha was demolished by Chandra Shumsher. The movie has been made based on this Novel, and the film is also a masterpiece.
Pagal Basti
It is a fictional novel that includes love, affection, and belief. It is a Nepali book written by famous writer Saru Bhakta. One of the best works of literature in Nepal is Pagal Basti. The book may be “hard to understand,” but it’s time worth spending. Read it twice or three times to fully grasp the book’s message.
