Nepal boasts numerous diverse ethnical cultural groups, many of these having their own language and customs. These groups can be geographically categorized according to their habitats.

The higher hills of eastern and central Nepal are peopled by Sherpas, who are primarily Buddhists of Tibeto-Burman stock. The Solo Khumbu region, where Mt. Everest stands, is peopled mainly by these Sherpas who are famed for their mountaineering skills, which are used professionally on many major mountaineering expeditions. Of course, Sherpas are today also following other career routes, such as business, administration and politics. Other powerful and successful business people of Tibetan origin, are the Manangis from the arid region just north of Annapurna.

The mid-hills are home to a wide variety of ethnic groups. Rais and Limbus (Kirats), with their primarily animist beliefs, inhabit the east, where as Gurungs populate the Annapurna region. The latter are mainly Buddhists, as are the Tamangs who are found almost anywhere in Nepal, with Magars, Thakalis and Sunwars also inhabiting the middle hills.

All the above ethnic groups are Sino-Mongoloid people, whereas from the South have come the mainly Hindu Indo-Caucasians. These include Brahmins, Chhetris, Ranas, and Thakuris. Newars, who may be either Hindu or Buddhist, were probably the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley.

To the furthest south of Nepal, the lowlands on the Gangetic plain, may be found the Tharus, one of the original ethnic groups to inhabit the Terai. Tharus have their own unique religion, and practice animism. They have Mongoloid features and speak their own language.

There is increasing migration within Nepal nowadays, and the cultural definition of the Nepalese people by area is therefore difficult. Urban population is increasing annually, and most cultures have intermingled!

*Pictures courtesy of Laurent Bollinger