In Nepal, it begins in mid-April and marks the start of the solar new year. Again in Western India the same era begins with the first day after the new moon in the month of Kartika which usually falls in October and November in the Gregorian calendar. In Northern India the calendar starts with the first day after the new moon in the month Chaitra, which usually falls in March/April in the Gregorian calendar.
For example, the year 2056 BS began in CE 1999 and ended in CE 2000. The Vikram Samvat calendar is 56.7 years ahead (in count) of the solar Gregorian calendar. It is a lunar calendar based on ancient Hindu tradition (see Hindu calendar and Vedic time keeping).
The Vikrama Samvat was founded by the emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain following his victory over the Sakas in 56 BCE, although it is popularly (and incorrectly) associated with the subsequent king Chandragupta Vikramaditya. It is a popularly used calendar in India and the official calendar of Bangladesh and Nepal. Vikram Samvat (Bikram Sambat, Vikram Samvat or Vikram Samwat, Devanagari:विक्रम संवत्, abbreviated 'V.S.') is the calendar established by Indian emperor Vikramaditya.
