The Himalayan white-headed snake has a total length of 600-800mm. It is a venomous snake with tube teeth, which are short and small and have no buccal sockets. The back is dark brown, with 10-15+3-4 pairs of vermilion horizontal spots, the left and right horizontal spots are staggered or meet each other in the dorsal midline. The ventral surface is olive gray, scattered with small white spots.

Head and nape of the Himalayan White-Headed Snake Yellowish-white with dark brown markings. Head and back with typical 9 large scales; preorbital scales 3(2), retroorbital scales 2; temporal scales 2+3(2); upper lip scales 6, 2-1-3 type; lower lip scales 8(7- 9), the first 3 (4) pieces are cut into the anterior jaw. The dorsal scales are smooth, 17-17-15 rows; the ventral scales are 168-205, the anal scales are intact, and the lower caudal scales are 39-53 pairs.