Maadal (Nepali: मादल) is a popular folk musical instrument which originates in Nepal. It is made of wood or clay. Both heads are played, holding the Madal drum horizontally. It is the most popular and widely used hand drum in Nepal. It is made of leather with a wooden body. Most Nepali folk songs are accompanied by the playing of Madal.

Nepal and living in the Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Pithoragarh, Nainital and Uddhamsinghnagar districts of Uttarakhand, India and the adjoining districts of Doti, Baitadi, Kanchanpur and Darchula of the Mahakali Zone and the Seti Zone of Nepal. There is evidence that the hills of Kumaon have been inhabited by mankind for a millennia, and the people of Kumaon today are the descendants of different waves of Nepali lok dance.

Hill people live in the hills or mountains. There are hill people around the world, many of whom live in stone houses and herd goats, sheep or camelids or have small farms. Musical instruments of the hill people, such as various forms of bagpipe and horn are notable for their ability to be heard at great distances. The hill people are often divided into tribes that have a tradition of feuding among each other while resisting control by any central government. Often the hill people are minorities in their countries, and are divided by political borders.