Aana, ropani, dhur: Nepal's land units, explained

The lalpurja (land ownership certificate) is the foundation of every property transaction in Nepal. Before any token payment, confirm three things.

First, that the name on the certificate exactly matches the seller's citizenship document — a mismatch, even a spelling difference, must be resolved at the Land Revenue Office before you proceed.

Second, that the plot number (kitta number) and area on the lalpurja match the trace map (blueprint) and what you actually walked on during the site visit. Boundary disputes almost always start here.

Third, check the back of the certificate and request a records check at the Malpot office for any encumbrances — mortgages, court holds, or pending inheritance claims stay invisible until you look. A same-day records check costs little and has saved our clients from deals that looked perfect on the surface.

If anything feels unclear, pause. A genuine seller will never object to verification — and if they do, that itself is your answer.