Culture
 
The diversity of ethnic groups that make up the Nepali population is amazing. Their distribution reflects the geography of the country with the Mongolians people of Tibetan origin occupying the higher regions while the majority who are of Indo-Aryan stock live in the lower regions. A large part of the population is made up of Brahmins (Bahuns) and Chhetris. Other diverse groups consist of Tamangs, Gurungs, Magars, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas, etc. who live mostly in the hilly and mountainous regions. Newars are concentrated in the Kathmandu valley but are also found in many other parts of the country. The Tharus predominate in the tarai (plains) where Danuwars, Darais and Rajbanshis also live. They are collectively known as the Madhesi.
 

Religion 
Hinduism and Buddhism are the two major religions practiced in Nepal. They co-exist in an amazing harmony, often even overlapping as devotees lay offerings and pray at both Hindu and Buddhist shrines. Being the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the country encompasses many Buddhists. Muslims, Sikhs and Christians make up a small portion of the population. While the first Muslims were invited to the country in the 12th century by a Malla King, Sikhs migrated more than 300 years ago, and the Christian population is made up of converts as well as migrants.  There are however, others who follow their own religious practices which are unique to their ethnic groups.
 

Art & Architecture:
Nepal is a land of migrants who in centuries past, came from various parts of Asia, and settled in the hills, valleys, the plains and the high mountains. They brought with them their diverse cultures, beliefs, art and architecture. What we see today is an amalgamation of all these influences. The reign of various dynasties like the Kirantis (Saivites), Licchavis (Vaishnavites) and especially Malla Kings (Hindu) influenced the religions beliefs of the Nepalese people. The harmonious existence of Hinduism and Buddhism side by side, have endowed Nepal with a rich heritage of Art and Architecture. Much of the exquisite woodcarvings, sculptures and architectural designs seen in the temples, palaces, stupas, road-side shrines, water spouts and religious objects are unique to Nepal, and can easily enrapture any art lover. Over the centuries much of the monuments had deteriorated and some structures had even collapsed completely. 

Thanks largely to generously funded projects like the Bhaktapur Development Project and subsequent projects under local municipalities; NGOs and UNESCO, much of the old monuments have been restored. The most impressive architectural works are found in the three Durbar Squares that house the old palaces and temple complexes. Apart from these, the two great stupas, the Swoyambhunath and Boudhanath as well as the famous Pashupatinath temple stand testimony to the creative genius of Nepali craftsmen.Buddhist religious scroll paintings developed to a high degree in Nepal. These remarkably detailed paintings known as thangkas are made in all three cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur and many of the artists are Tamangs. Fetching very high prices, thangkas are made for both religious as well as commercial purposes. Similar paintings made by the Newars, known as pauba may also include images of Hindu deities along with images of Buddha.  

There are many thangka schools where the skill of painting them is taught even today.The art of statue making has reached a high degree of sophistication in Nepal and ranks high among the handicrafts exported to the west. Statues are made of metal, stone and wood, but it is the metal ones that are exemplary. Woodcarving has proliferated and woodcarvers can be seen everywhere in the valley while stone carving is today limited to making chaityas and images of lions.

The art and architecture found in the Durbar (palace) Squares of  Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur are predominantly from the Malla period and enable one to visualize what the palace complexes looked like in the 18th century. The vast number of beautifully crafted temples and other shrines that one encounters in every corner of Kathmandu Valley have moved people to call it the ‘Valley of the Gods’.