Power plugs in Nepal
Nepal uses Types C, D and M sockets, running at 230 volts and 50 Hz.
- Socket types
- C · D · M
- Voltage
- 230 V
- Frequency
- 50 Hz
Will your charger work?
| Travelling from | Verdict |
|---|---|
| United States & Canada | Adapter needed |
| United Kingdom & Ireland | Adapter needed |
| Continental Europe | Fitsyour Type C plug goes straight in |
| Australia & New Zealand | Adapter needed |
This is about the shape of the pins only. "Fits" means the plug goes in and carries power — it does not always mean it earths, and it never means the voltage is right. Both of those are below.
The sockets you will find in Nepal
Type C unearthed
CEE 7/16 — the Europlug
The most widely accepted plug in the world: it fits sockets across continental Europe, much of Africa, Asia and South America. Unearthed, and limited to 2.5 A — fine for chargers, not for a kettle.
Type D earthed
BS 546 (5 A)
The old British 5 A standard, still the everyday plug in India and Nepal. Around thirty countries list it, and several are phasing it out — Sri Lanka has permitted only Type G to be imported since 2017. The pins are much fatter than a Europlug's.
Type M earthed
BS 546 (15 A)
The big brother of Type D, and the traditional South African socket. Nothing else fits it — a Europlug is far too small.
Voltage and your devices
Nepal runs at 230 V. An appliance built only for 120 V will be damaged here, usually within seconds of switching it on. A plug adapter will not protect it: it changes the pins, not the voltage. You need a converter, or you need to leave it at home.
Almost every phone charger, laptop brick and camera charger made this century is dual voltage. Look for "100–240V" in small type on the body of the plug: if it is there, the voltage is not your problem and you only need the right shape. Anything that makes heat — a hairdryer, a travel kettle, curling tongs — usually is not, and is where people get caught.
The supply is 50 Hz. Frequency only matters to things with a motor or a mains-driven clock; electronics do not notice it.
The same adapter works in
These places use the same sockets as Nepal, at a comparable voltage. One adapter covers the lot.
Plug, voltage and frequency data from Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country. See all countries
The other questions travellers ask at midnight
Plug sockets are the easy one — it does not change while they are in the air. Flight times, gates and transfers do. Viaquo gives an agency's travellers a concierge that answers from the actual booking, so the questions that do change get answered without waking anybody up.
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