Units of Measurement in Nepal

Malla Regime was golden age in Nepali tradition since when measurement and coinage came into practice. Although MKS system of measurement was implemented in 1968 AD, traditional units of measurement are widely practiced in Nepal. As local workers are familier with FPS systems, in most cases engineer has to interprete/convert the value of MKS system to FPS. In Nepal, SI unit is official unit of measurement in contracting.

Here are all the units of measurement practiced till date:

 

Length 

Traditional Units

• 1 Angul      = approx. 0.75 Inch
• 4 Angul      = 1 Dhanu Graha (bow grip) (3 inch)
• 8 angul       = 1 Dhanur Mutti (one Fist with finger raised)
• 12 angul     = 1 Vitasta 
• 2 vittaa       = 18 inch
• 1 haath       = 1.5 foot.
• 1 Gaj          = 2.98 foot
• 1 Dand       = 4 Haath
• 2000 Dand = 1 Kosh
• 4 kosh        = 1 Yojan = 9 Miles = 14.48 km

Standard Units

• 1 line       = 1/12 inch
• 10 mm     = 1 cm 
• 2.54 cm   = 1 inch
• 12 inch    = 1 foot
• 1 yard      = 3 foot
• 1 meter    = 3.048 foot
• 1 Km       = 1000 meter
• 1 mile      = 1600 meter

Area 

• 1 Khetmuri = 25 Ropani

• 1 Bigha (बिघा) = 20 Kattha (कठ्ठा) 
                 = 6772.63 m²
                 = 72900 sq.ft.
                 = 13.31 Ropani

• 1 Katha (कठ्ठा) = 20 Dhur (धुर) 
                 = 338.63 m²
                 = 3645 sq.ft.
   
• 1 Dhur (धुर) = 16.93 m² = 182.25 sq.ft.

• 1 Ropani (रोपनी) = 16 Aana (आना)
                    = 64 Paisa (पैसा)
                    = 508.72 m²
                    = 5476 sq.ft.
                    = 256 Daam (दाम)
   
• 1 Aana (आना)  = 4 Paisa (पैसा)
                    = 31.80 m²
                    = 342.25 sq. ft.
                    = 16 Daam (दाम)
   
• 1 Paisa (पैसा)      = 4 Daam (दाम) 
                    = 7.95 m²
                    = 85.56 sq. ft.

• 1 Daam (दाम)     = 1.99 m²
                    = 21.39 sq. ft.
   

  Summary of Areas:

  1 Ropani (रोपनी)  = 74 ft. x 74 ft
  1 Aana (आना)      = 18.5 ft x 18.5 ft
  1 Bigha (बिघा)      =  13 Ropani + 5 Anna
  1 Kathha (कठ्ठा)    =  1/20 Bigha
  1 Dhur (धुर)          ‍= 1/20 Kathha
  
  
  
  

Volume

• 1 Mana = Approx 400 grams of food grains

• 1 Pathi  = 8 Mana
     = Approx 3.2 kg of grains
   
• 1 Muri   =20 Pathi 
      = approx 64 kg of grains
                =0.34 m3