 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2018) |
,_RP-F-2001-7-1122A-55_(cropped).jpg) A man from the Bhutia tribe in 1860s. Here he can be seen wearing a "Tibetan Amulet" to protect him from evil spirits. | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 60,300 (2001)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Sikkim | 41,889[2] |
 Nepal | 10,087 |
 Bhutan | 6000 |
| West Bengal | 4293 |
| Languages | |
| Sikkimese, Nepali, Dzongkha, Tibetan | |
| Religion | |
| Buddhism, Bön | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Tibetan, Sherpa, Tamang, Yolmo Other Tibeto-Burman groups | |
,_RP-F-00-5347-4A_(cropped).jpg)
The Bhutias (exonym; Nepali: भुटिया, "People from Tibet") or Drejongpas (endonym; Tibetan: འབྲས་ལྗོངས་པ་, Wylie: Bras-ljongs-pa, THL: dre jong pa, "People of the Rice Valley") are a Tibetan ethnic group native to the Indian state of Sikkim who speak Drejongke, a Tibetic language which descends from old Tibetan. In addition to the majority of them living in the state of Sikkim, significant numbers of them also reside in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of northern West Bengal as well as in countries such as Nepal and Bhutan.
- ^ Lewis, M. Paul, ed. (2009). "Sikkimese". Ethnologue: Languages of the World (16th ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
- ^ "Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues - 2011". www.censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 7 July 2018.