The Tamang (Devnagari: तामाङ; tāmāng), or Tamag, are indigenous inhabitants of the Himalayan regions of Nepal. They are one of the major Tibeto-Burman speaking communities and trace their ancestry from Tibet, and even further back to Mongolia. They have a distinct culture, language, and religion. Due to foreign invasions throughout the centuries, they have 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, Dolakha, Rasuwa, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Dhading, Makwanpur, Nuwakot, Ramechhap, Chitwan and Kavreplanchowk. Living mainly in the north and east of the country, they constitute 6.6% of Nepal’s population, which places their population at 1,128,000, slightly higher than the Newars. In India, Tamangs can be found in Darjeeling, Dooars, Dehradun, Dharamsala, Sikkim, Kalimpong, Assam and its neighboring regions. Tamang are rich in socio-cultural perspectives. However, many years of marginalization and discrimination have hindered the progress of the Tamangs. Many Tamang clans do not permit intermarriage with other ethnic groups, although some clans do permit intermarriages with other closely related groups such as the Gurung, Bhutia, Magar, Kiratis, and Sherpas. Their descent is traced patrilineally.
