Western Pahari languages

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July 23, 2026

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The Western Pahari languages are a group of Indo-Aryan languages spoken in the lower ranges of the Himalayas, specifically around Simla in Himachal Pradesh, India. The term "Pahari" itself means "of the mountains" in Hindi.1

These languages are part of a larger classification of Pahari languages, which are divided into Eastern, Central, and Western groups. The Western Pahari group encompasses numerous dialects, with Sirmauri, Kiunthali, and Mandeali being some of the more prominent ones. These dialects share linguistic similarities with Rajasthani and Kashmiri languages.1

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Pahari languages
…spoken in Uttarakhand state; and Western Pahari, found around Simla in Himachal Pradesh state. The most important language is Nepali (Naipali), also called Khas-kura and Gorkhali (Gurkhali). Because many of the inhabitants of Nepal speak Tibeto-Burman languages, Nepali has borrowed many Tibeto-Burman idioms.
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…spoken in Uttarakhand state; and Western Pahari, found around Simla in Himachal Pradesh state. The most important language is Nepali (Naipali), also called Khas-kura and Gorkhali (Gurkhali). Because many of the inhabitants of Nepal speak Tibeto-Burman languages, Nepali has borrowed many Tibeto-Burman idioms.
Read More