People of Nepal

On the edge on the Southern slopes of the Great Himalayan Mountains, is situated the ethnically diverse Kingdom of Nepal. In accordance to the 2001 census conducted in Nepal, about 103 distinct caste/ ethnic groups that were inclusive of an unidentified group were enumerated. The Hindu religion forms the basis of the caste system in Nepal with mutually incorporated ethnic system exclusive of exclusive of historical reciprocated isolation, origin legends, and the infrequent state intercession.

The Nepalese or the people of Nepal trace their ancestry from three major migrations that took place from India, Tibet, and Central Asia. One of the initial inhabitants of Nepal are the Newar of the Kathmandu Valley as well as the aboriginal Tharu in the southern extent of Tarai region. The descendants of the Brahman and Chetri caste groups have been traced to have come from India, whereas the other ethnic groups trace their genesis to Tibet and Central Asia. This group is inclusive of the Magar and Gurung in the west, Limbu and Rai in the east, and to the north Bhotia and Sherpa.



People of Nepal residing in the Tarai region that is a division of the Ganges basin draw similarity to the Indo- Aryan population from the north of India, both physically and culturally. In the hilly region of Nepal, people of both Mongoloid as well as Indo-Aryan stock can be found whereas the mountainous highlands are thinly populated. In the central hill region of the Kathmandu Valley, although representing a small portion of the state’s region, but is densely populated with approximately 5% of the populace.