Sherpa people

Sherpa
ཤར་པ་; shar pa
	Young Sherpas in traditional attire at West Bengal Sherpa Cultural Board
Regions with significant populations
Nepal	520,000
India	65,000 (above)
Bhutan	10,700
United States	16,800
China	2,000
Languages
	Sherpa, Tibetan, Nepali
Religion
	Predominantly Buddhism (93%) and minority: Hinduism, Bön, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
	Tibetans, Tamang, Hyolmo, Jirels, Rai and other Tibeto-Burman groups

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The Sherpas are one of the Tibetan ethnic groups native to the most mountainous regions of Nepal and Tibetan Autonomous Region. The term sherpa or sherwa derives from the Tibetan-language words ཤར shar ('east') and པ pa ('people'), which refer to their geographical origin in eastern Tibet.^[4]^[5]

Most Sherpa people live in the eastern regions of Nepal: Solukhumba, Khatra, Kama, Rolwaling, Barun and Pharak valleys,^[6] though some live farther West in the Bigu and in the Helambu region north of Kathmandu, Nepal. Sherpas establish gompas where they practice their religious traditions. Tengboche was the first celibate monastery in Solu-Khumbu. Sherpa people also live in Tingri County, Bhutan, and the Indian states of Sikkim and the northern portion of West Bengal, specifically the district of Darjeeling. The Sherpa language belongs to the south branch of the Tibeto-Burman languages, mixed with Eastern Tibet (Khamba) and central Tibetan dialects. However, this language is separate from Lhasa Tibetan and unintelligible to Lhasa speakers.^[7]

The number of Sherpas migrating to Western countries has significantly increased in recent years, especially to the United States. New York City has the largest Sherpa community in the United States, with a population of approximately 16,000. The 2011 Nepal census recorded 512,946 Sherpas within its borders. Members of the Sherpa population are known for their skills in mountaineering as a livelihood.

^ POPULATION MONOGRAPH OF NEPAL VOLUME II (Social Demography). Government of Nepal, Central Bureau of Statistics. 2014. pp. 10–156. ISBN 978-9937-2-8972-6. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
^ "Rai-Peoplegrouporg".
^ "Gurung Ghaleg in Bhutan".www.joshuaproject.net
^ ashish (29 May 2023). "Sherpas Of Solukhumbu". Radiant Treks. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
^ "Sherpa - Everest Education Expedition | Montana State University". www.montana.edu. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
^ "People of Nepal | Plan Your Trip". ntb.gov.np. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
^ "Journée d'étude : Déserts. Y a-t-il des corrélations entre l'écosystème et le changement linguistique ?". Lacito.vjf.cnrs.fr. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2012.

[1] POPULATION MONOGRAPH OF NEPAL VOLUME II (Social Demography). Government of Nepal, Central Bureau of Statistics. 2014. pp. 10–156. ISBN 978-9937-2-8972-6. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2019.

[2] "Rai-Peoplegrouporg".

[3] "Gurung Ghaleg in Bhutan".www.joshuaproject.net

[4] shish (29 May 2023). "Sherpas Of Solukhumbu". Radiant Treks. Retrieved 2 March 2024.

[5] "Sherpa - Everest Education Expedition | Montana State University". www.montana.edu. Retrieved 3 March 2024.

[6] "People of Nepal | Plan Your Trip". ntb.gov.np. Retrieved 13 March 2023.

[7] "Journée d'étude : Déserts. Y a-t-il des corrélations entre l'écosystème et le changement linguistique ?". Lacito.vjf.cnrs.fr. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2012.

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