- published: 17 Sep 2015
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The Tamangs (Devnagari: तामाङ; tāmāng) also called "Tamags" are indigenous inhabitants of the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Nepal and India. They form one of the major Tibeto-Burman speaking communities and trace their ancestry from Tibet, and beyond, to the ancient Kirat people (Kiratis) 10,000 to 30,000 years ago. They have their own distinct culture, language and religion. Through the centuries, due to foreign invasions, they moved to other parts of South Asia. Today, they inhabit practically the entire mountainous regions of Nepal and also adjoining regions of India, Myanmar and Bhutan.
In Nepal, Tamangs are predominately found in the districts of Sindhupalchowk, Rasuwa, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Dhading, Makwanpur, Nuwakot, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Chitwan and Kavreplanchowk. Living mainly in the north and east of the country, they constitute 5.6% of Nepal's population, which places their population at 1,280,000, slightly higher than the Newars.
In India, Tamangs can be found in Darjeeling, Dooars, Dehradun, Dharamsala, Sikkim, Kalimpong and its neighboring regions.