His books specially portray the current situation in Nepal, which Upadhyay views largely through the lens of contemporary American realist fiction.
"[5] First published by Houghton Mifflin Company in 2001, Arresting God in Kathmandu is Upadhyay's first book.
First published by Houghton Mifflin Company in 2003, The Guru of Love is Upadhyay's second book and first full-length novel.
First published by Houghton Mifflin Company in 2006, The Royal Ghosts is Upadhyay's third book, a collection of nine short stories.
Using Nepal's political upheavals of the past century as a backdrop, it tells the story of an orphan boy, Raja, and the girl he is fated to love, Nilu, a daughter of privilege.