THE PEOPLE
In Nepal, ethnical cultural groups are diverse and many of them have their own languages and customs. However, they can be geographically categorized according to their habitats. A wide variety of ethnic groups occupy the mid-hills. The Sherpas who are of Tibeto-Burman stock mainly occupy the higher hills of eastern and central Nepal. The world’s tallest peak Mt. Everest is inhabited by Sherpas. The Tharus are one of the original ethnic groups to inhabit the Terai.  The Tharus have their own unique religion and practice animism. They have Mongoloid features and speak their own language.
CULTURE
Anyone who is more than casually acquainted with Nepal will be able to testify that is not that easy to grasp what exactly constitutes being a Nepali. There are Nepalese whose features look highly Caucasian while there are others who would not look out of place among the Eskimos; and in between are millions whose looks are as indeterminate – from Japanese to South Indian. It is not only in physiognomy that the diversity of the Nepali people becomes evident. It is for reasons far more profound that Nepal lives up to its appellation of being the "melting pot of Asia".