There is no recorded history of printed newspaper prior to Rana rule in Nepal. The first-hand press was imported by Jung Bahadur Rana after his visit to Europe; however, it was used only after 58 years for printing. It was used to print religious books and government notices.
The first Nepali language newspaper named Gorkha Bharat Jeewan was published in 1886 BS from Banaras. It was a monthly paper edited by Ram Krishna Barma. However, the printed copies of this magazine has not been found yet. Sudha Sagar was the first media printed in Nepal. It was published monthly from Thahiti Kathmandu. It started in Shrawan, . It was edited by Pandit Naradev Pandey, Moti Krishna Sharma, and Kapil Dev. Sudha Sagar was discontinued shortly afterwards. In 1901, the same editor, Nardev and Moti, started Gorkhapatra though Pashupat press from Thahiti, Kathmandu.
Before Rana period There is no recorded history of newspapers prior to the Rana rule. During Rana rule The list of newspaper published during the Rana rule are listed below: Sudha Sagar Gorkhapatra Sharada Udhyog Sahitya Shrot Gharelu Ilam Patrika Shikshya Kathmandu Municipal Patrika Nepal Shikshya Ankha Purusartha Jagaran Weekly Duniyakokhabar Weekly duhabi times
After abolishment of Rana rule There were about 170 newspapers prior to the Panchyat era and after the abolishment of Rana rule. Some of them are: Awaj was the first daily newspaper of Nepal. It was published in Falgun 8, 2007 BS, just one day after the establishment of democracy. It was published in Kathmandu. Gorkhapatra was published weekly at that time. Nepal Guardian was the first English monthly published from Kathmandu in . Motherland, an English daily, was started in January 1958. It was discontinued in 1990.
During Panchayat period In the Panchayat era, newspaper were divided into either pro-Panchayat or anti Panchayat. Gorkhapatra became daily from 7 Falgun 2017 BS ()
Note: Popular newspapers such as Samaj daily, Chetana weekly, Motherland, Halkhabar, and Diyala were shut down in this period.
Democratic era The constitution of Nepal 2047 BS, guaranteed press freedom and the right to information to people. Two major newspapers Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post were published by the private sector were published in . The list of notable current newspaper is below.
S.No. Newspaper Language FrequencyLaunch Owner/Affiliation References1. Gorkhapatra (गोरखापत्र) Nepali Daily 1901 (weekly)/1961 (daily) Gorkhapatra Sansthan2. The Himalayan Times English Daily 2001 International Media Network Nepal 3. Janakpur Today Nepali Daily 1991 Janakpur Today Media Group 4. The Kathmandu Post English Daily 1993Kantipur Publications 5. Himalaya Times Nepali Daily 1993Impression Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd. 6. Annapurna Post Nepali Daily 2002 Annapurna Media Network7. Majdoor Nepali Daily Nepal Workers Peasants Party 8. Naya Patrika Nepali Daily Naya Prakashan Pvt. Ltd.9. Nepal Bhasa Patrika Newari Daily 1955 10. República English Daily 2009 Nepal Republic Media11. The Rising Nepal English Daily 1965 Gorkhapatra Sansthan12. Jana Aastha National Weekly Nepali Weekly Aastha Prakashan Pvt Ltd.13. Nepal Magazine Nepali Weekly 2000Kantipur Publications14.People's Review weeklyEnglishWeekly1991Periwinkle Prakashan Pvt Ltd15. Himal Khabarpatrika Nepali Weekly 1998Himalmedia16. Nepali Times English Weekly 2000Himalmedia17. Saptahik Nepali Weekly 2000 Kantipur Publications18. Nari Nepali Monthly Kantipur Publications19. Rajdhani Nepali Daily Rajdhani News Publication Pvt. Ltd 20. Mithila jagaran Nepali Weekly Mithila jagaran21. Duniyakokhabar Saptahik English Weekly Duniyakokhabar Saptahik22.Sirshak | शिर्षकEnglishMonthly2026Alan Adhikari (Publisher)
Online-only NewspaperCompanyOnline sinceLanguage News Bureau Nepal Trinetra News Network Pvt. Ltd. 2017 Nepali eKantipurKANTIPUR PUBLICATIONS (P) LTD.2005-04-01NepaliAnnapurna PostAnnapurna Media Network2002-01-01NepaliSajilo PatrikaSajilo Media Group Pvt. Ltd.2024-01-01NepaliImage KhabarImage Channel Pvt. Ltd.2013-05-05NepaliThe Himalayan TimesInternational Media Network Nepal (Pvt) Ltd.2001-10-08EnglishOnline KhabarNepaliNepal Rastriya dainikEditorial Nepal Pvt LtdNepaliNepal National DailyEditorial Nepal Pvt LtdEnglishNepalkhabar.comनेपाल खबर प्रा.लि2014-07-07NepaliRatopatiDiscovery News Network2015Nepali and EnglishThe RitibleManoble Corporation Pvt. Ltd.2024-12-18English
See also Media of Nepal Newari Newspaper References