Bhotiya

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The Bhotiya are an ethno-linguistic group of people living in the trans-Himalayan region that divides India from Tibet. They are closely related to the Tibetans and Those living in Uttarakhand are generally referred to as Bhotiya, although they are sometimes also referred to as Bhutia; Bhutia more commonly means the related people of Sikkim. The Indian constitution recognises them as Bhotiya which actually is incorrect.

Bhotiya (Bhotia, Bhutia) is a name for a range of Tibetan-related ethic groups in south-Himalayan region that divides India from Tibet. Their name, Bhotiya, derives from the word Bod (བོད་), which is the Classical Tibetan name for Tibet.^[1] They include:

• Bhutanese Bhotiya - the main ethno-linguistic group of Bhutan speaking Dzongkha
• Sikkimese Bhutia - the main ethno-linguistic group of Northern Sikkim speaking Sikkimese Tibetan language (Bhutia language)
• Uttarakhand Bhotiya - several groups in the upper Himalayan valleys of the Kumaon and Garhwal of Uttarakhand Himalayas. These include the Shaukas of Kumaon and Tolchhas and Marchhas of Garhwal.
• Several dispersed groups in Nepal and adjacent areas of India including Tibetans proper, Sherpa and many other.

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