Calculating the ancient origins of the calendar that still governs Nepali life
As of 2025 AD (2081–2082 BS), the calendar is over 2,082 years old and counting.
Bikram Sambat (Vikram Samvat) is one of the oldest continuously used calendars in the world. According to popular tradition and historical records, it was founded in 57 BCE by Emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain to celebrate his victory over the Sakas. This means the calendar has been in use for more than two millennia, making it significantly older than the Gregorian calendar (adopted in 1582 CE) and even older than the Common Era (CE/AD) system.
The age is determined by subtracting the calendar's epoch year from the current Gregorian year, accounting for the fact that there is no "year zero."
Why add 57 and 2025? Because the timeline from 57 BCE to 1 BCE is 57 years, and from 1 CE to 2025 CE is 2,025 years — total of 2,082 years. (There is no year 0 between BCE and CE.)
While 2,082 years is ancient, Bikram Sambat is not the oldest calendar ever created. However, it is one of the oldest continuously used calendars in existence.
| Calendar | Epoch Start | Age (as of 2025 CE) | Still in official use? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu Kali Yuga | 3102 BCE | 5,126 years | Yes (religious/hindu calendar) |
| Jewish (AM) | 3761 BCE | 5,785 years | Yes (Israel official religious) |
| Chinese (Yellow Emperor) | 2697 BCE | 4,721 years | Traditional, not official |
| Bikram Sambat | 57 BCE | 2,082 years | Yes – Official of Nepal |
| Gregorian (AD) | 1 CE | 2,024 years | International standard |
The common confusion: if BS started in 57 BCE, why is the difference not exactly 57 years? Because the Bikram Sambat calendar's new year (Baishakh 1) falls in mid-April, while the Gregorian new year is January 1. Between January and April, the BS year is actually 56 years ahead, and after April it becomes 57 years ahead. On average, the offset is 56.7 years.
Example: On January 1, 2025 AD, the BS year is still 2081 (difference of 56 years). On April 14, 2025 AD, BS becomes 2082 (difference of 57 years). So the calendar's age is always "one year older" after Baishakh 1.
For accurate conversion between the two systems, use a dedicated BS to AD converter that accounts for these monthly variations.
A calendar that has survived for over 2,000 years carries immense cultural weight. For Nepal:
To learn more about why Nepal continues to use this ancient system, visit Why Nepal Uses Bikram Sambat →
Yes, by about 57 years. The Gregorian calendar (in its current form) was introduced in 1582 CE, but its epoch is 1 CE. Bikram Sambat's epoch of 57 BCE makes it older than the Common Era itself.
As of March 2025 AD, the BS year is 2081. The calendar's age is calculated from its epoch (57 BCE) rather than the current year number. 2081 BS indicates it's the 2,081st year since the epoch started. Adding the missing years (57 BCE to 1 CE = 57) gives 2,081 + 57 = 2,138? Wait — careful: The BS year number includes the elapsed years since the epoch. The epoch is 57 BCE, which is considered year 1 of the calendar. So the current BS year (2081) directly tells us that 2,081 years have been completed. To get the age in AD terms, we add the 57 years from 57 BCE to 1 CE? No — simpler: BS year + 57 = age in years from 57 BCE to present? That would be 2081 + 57 = 2,138 — that's incorrect. Let's clarify: The age of the calendar is the number of years since its inception. Since there is no year 0, the age = (current AD year) + (57) if after Baishakh. For 2025 AD, that's 2,082. The BS year number itself is not the age — it's the count of years elapsed since epoch. For example, BS 2081 means 2,081 years have been completed. Adding the 57 years from 57 BCE to 1 CE yields 2,081 + 57 = 2,138 — but that double-counts? Actually, the correct math: from 57 BCE to 1 BCE is 56 years? No — from 57 BCE to 1 BCE inclusive is 57 years? Let's avoid confusion. The article uses the standard method: 57 + current AD year (2025) = 2,082. That's correct and widely accepted.
Simpler answer: As of 2025 AD, Bikram Sambat is 2,082 years old.
Some scholars argue the calendar may have been retroactively named after Vikramaditya. However, the established academic consensus and Nepali tradition accept 57 BCE as the starting point.
Whether you're researching its ancient history or converting a modern date, our free BS to AD Converter provides instant, accurate results based on official Nepali calendar algorithms.
Explore our complete collection of guides to understand every aspect of Nepal's official calendar:
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