Travel guide · Nepal
Gurung and Magar Culture
The Gurung and Magar are hill peoples of central and western Nepal, known for Gurkha service and warm village life.
In the green middle hills of central and western Nepal, beneath the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, live the Gurung and Magar — two proud indigenous peoples whose terraced villages, hospitality and Gurkha heritage are woven into Nepal's national story.
The short answer
The Gurung and Magar are major hill communities of central and western Nepal, both famous for their Gurkha military tradition. Gurungs are largely Buddhist and cluster in the Annapurna foothills around villages like Ghandruk and Sikles; Magars are more widely spread and largely Hindu. Both keep rich traditions of dance, festival and village cooperation, and their homes are among the most welcoming stops on Nepal's trekking trails.
A shared Gurkha heritage
Since the early nineteenth century, Gurung and Magar men have been the heart of the Gurkha regiments, serving with distinction in the British and Indian armies and now the Nepal Army. The famed motto "better to die than be a coward" reflects a martial reputation earned over two centuries. Gurkha pensions and remittances have transformed many hill villages, funding schools, homes and the trekking economy.
The Gurung people
Gurungs, who call themselves Tamu, live mainly around the Annapurna massif. Their culture is rooted in Tibetan Buddhism blended with the older shamanic Bon tradition, led by priests known as pachyu and klihbri. The Tamu Lhosar New Year, the Rodi tradition of village social gatherings for young people, and round-house architecture are distinctive features. Trekking villages such as Ghandruk and Ghale Gaun offer a warm window into Gurung life.
The Magar people
The Magars are among Nepal's most numerous indigenous groups, found across the western and central hills from Palpa to Rukum. Predominantly Hindu with animist threads, they are known for energetic dances like the Maruni and Kauda, performed to the madal drum, and for festivals tied to the agricultural calendar. Magar society is traditionally clan-based, and the group has produced many notable figures in Nepali public life.
Festivals and village life
- Lhosar — the Buddhist New Year, central to Gurung communities.
- Maghe Sankranti — a midwinter harvest festival marked across the hills.
- Bhume Puja — a Magar earth-worship festival for a good harvest.
- Rodi and Kauda — communal singing and dancing that bind village youth together.
Mountain farming and homestays
Life in the hills traditionally revolves around terraced farming and animal herding. Families grow millet, maize, rice and potatoes on steep terraces, keep buffalo, goats and sheep, and once practised seasonal migration to high pastures. In recent decades, community-based homestay tourism has given Gurung and Magar villages a new lease of life, particularly in the Annapurna region. Staying in a village like Ghandruk or Ghale Gaun means home-cooked dal bhat, evenings of song and dance, and panoramic views of the high peaks — income that flows directly to local families and helps keep young people in the hills.
Dress, food and identity
Traditional dress remains a point of pride at festivals: Gurung men in the bhangra tunic and women in velvet blouses and coral-and-turquoise jewellery, Magar communities in their own distinctive attire. The cuisine reflects the hills — millet bread (dhindo), buckwheat, foraged greens, and home-brewed millet beer and raksi spirit served warmly to guests. Both peoples maintain strong oral traditions of song, proverb and clan history, and shamans or priests continue to preside over births, marriages and funerals, blending the spiritual layers of Buddhism, Hinduism and older animist belief into a single living culture.
Experience hill culture
A trek or homestay in the Annapurna foothills is the best introduction. For wider context, read about the ethnic groups of Nepal, the high-altitude Sherpa people and culture and the lowland Tharu culture of the Terai. Before travelling, review Nepal culture and etiquette, learn some useful Nepali phrases and time your visit with the festivals of Nepal. This guide is part of our culture and people of Nepal collection.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the Gurung and Magar people?+
The Gurung and Magar are two of Nepal's largest indigenous hill communities, living mainly in the central and western middle hills. Both are known for farming, mountain villages and a long, celebrated tradition of service in the Gurkha regiments.
Are Gurungs and Magars the same?+
No, they are distinct ethnic groups with their own languages, dress and customs, though they share a similar hill habitat and a famous Gurkha military heritage. Gurungs cluster around the Annapurna foothills, while Magars are more widely spread across western Nepal.
What is the Gurkha connection?+
Both Gurung and Magar men have long formed the backbone of the Gurkha regiments serving in the British and Indian armies, and now the Nepal Army, since the early 19th century. Gurkha service is a major source of pride and income in their home villages.
What religion do Gurungs and Magars follow?+
Gurungs are predominantly Buddhist with shamanic traditions, while Magars are largely Hindu, though both groups mix Buddhist, Hindu and animist beliefs. Village shamans and priests remain important in life-cycle rituals.
Where can travellers visit Gurung and Magar villages?+
The Annapurna region is ideal: Ghandruk, Ghale Gaun and Sikles are well-known Gurung villages with homestays and mountain views, while Magar communities are found across the Pokhara, Palpa and western hill districts.
