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 [2]
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. ^[3]

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.
3. "The Sikkim Official Languages Act" (PDF). sikkim.gov.in. Government of Sikkim. Retrieved 27 June 2025.