Neelam Karki Niharika (Nepali: नीलम कार्की निहारिका) (born April 9, 1975) is a Nepalese novelist, poet and short-story writer.

[1] Her works are highly sought by newspapers, television and radio media.

Her themes commonly cover male-dominated society, caste, class, poverty, corruption, and tyranny.

Yogmaya is based on the life of female protagonist Yogmaya Neupane (1860–1941), a religious leader and women rights activists born in Bhojpur, who fought against the autocratic Rana regime.

[3] Karki's research and book is attributed to being a large influence on bringing Yogmaya to the Nepali mainstream.