Kathmandu , Nepal ( CNN ) -- At an estimated 22 inches tall , Chandra Bahadur Dangi 's body is the size of a large infant . But Dangi , at 72 , is full grown . Sunday , he may be declared the world 's shortest man if Guinness World Records measures his height and indeed verifies he stands 22 inches tall . Dangi flew to the capital , Kathmandu , from his home in southwestern Nepal on instructions from Guinness World Records officials . Dangi , who sports a traditional hat and tailor-made clothing , is in high spirits . `` I feel good that I will be declared the world 's shortest man , '' he said . Dangi says he has never taken any kind of medication or been examined by a doctor . He has only suffered from fevers , coughs and colds , and when he does , he has a remedy : `` At such times I drink hot water and have tumeric power dissolved in water . The fever lasts for two to three days . '' He says the secret behind his health is his constitution . `` I have n't been ill probably because my body is good , '' he said , his eyes sparkling . The seventh sibling of a family of six brothers and two sisters , Dangi left his village for the first time five years ago . This is his first visit to the Himalayan capital . Asked why he did not stake a claim earlier to be declared the shortest man , he said his family was unaware of such a record because they are uneducated . Guinness World Records said the current record holder for the world 's shortest man is Filipino Junrey Balawing , 18 , at 23.5 inches tall . In his remote village in Dang district , about 350 kilometers ( 217 miles ) from Kathmandu , Dangi spends his days making placemats and head straps for villagers to carry heavy loads on their backs . `` He would also look after the buffalos and cows , '' said his nephew , Dolak Dangi . `` Although he could not chase them or tie them , he would call us if they strayed . '' After all , buffalo milk is Dangi 's favorite . He has been a teetotaler all his life and does not drink tea or coffee . Rather than rice , the staple food of Nepalis , he like chapatis , or flatbread , made of wheat . `` He eats in small portions , '' said his nephew . Although he never attended school , a teacher came to Dangi 's house . He has a fifth-grade education . Despite his height , no one has mistreated Dangi . `` Everyone has been good to me , '' he said in his high-pitched voice , which at times is barely audible . Sometimes , his nephew , who accompanied him , had to translate what Dangi was saying . A lumber contractor , Ram Bhadur B.K. , came across Dangi five years ago when he had gone to his village to clear the road to cut trees . `` I wanted to make him public , '' B.K . said . The first time Dangi left his village he went to a fair at a nearby town where thousands of people paid money to look at him . `` Now I want to go around the world , '' Dangi said nonchalantly . Dangi does not remember his father and his mother , who died when he was about 16 years old . His immediate older brother and his family have looked after him . Three of his five brothers were less than 4 feet tall , while his two sisters and two brothers are of average height . Dangi said that he does not have many wishes because he is small . `` I can never be tall , '' he said . But he does have one regret : never marrying . CNN 's Sara Sidner contributed to this report .
Chandra Bahadur Dangi lives in a Nepali village . He hopes to be certified world 's shortest man . A teetotaler , Dangi said he 's never taken medicine .