Bhujel language

Bhujel
Bujhyal
Region	Nepal (Tanahu District) Sikkim
Native speakers	22,000 (2011 census) [1]
Language family	Sino-Tibetan Chepangic Greater-Magaric Branch Bhujel
Writing system	Devanagari Kharpa
Official status
Official language in	India Sikkim (additional)
Language codes
ISO 639-3	byh
Glottolog	bujh1238

Bhujel, also called Bujhyal, is a Chepangic language of Greater Magaric Branch spoken in central Nepal and Sikkim in India. It is a semi-tonal language, employing a complex array of affixes. Bhujel are from Tibetan burman family. Bhujel people normally are with Mongoloid features rather than with Caucasoid features. Due to the social structure & social development, this term has been the identity of many other ethnic people too. Bhujel was granted additional official status in Sikkim in 2022. ^[2]

Map of the Tanahu District, the only Bhujel language is widely used in Nepal.

Geographical distribution

Bhujel is spoken in the following villages of Nepal ( Ethnologue ).

• Tanahun District, Gandaki Zone: Kulmun, Arthumpka, Andimul, and Baniyatar
• Gorkha District, Gandaki Zone: Beltar
• Nawalparasi District, Lumbini Zone: Dhodeni
• Chitwan District, Narayani Zone: Chanaute

Dialects

Ethnologue lists the following dialects of Bhujel.

• Kulmun
• Arthumpka
• Andimul
• Baniyatar
• Beltar
• Dhodeni
• Chanaute

References

1. Bhujel at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
2. "The Sikkim Official Languages Act" (PDF). sikkim.gov.in. Government of Sikkim. Retrieved 27 June 2025.