Tags: Ethnic Group.
The Khambu Rais or Rais are one of the most ancient indigenous ethnolinguistic groups of Nepal the Indian State of Sikkim and Darjeeling Hills. They were Raipa meaning king (Rai means King in old Khas kura). Once someone was recognized as a ruler Hindus awarded them the title Rai. When the Nepalese Gorkha king Prithvi Narayan Shah couldn’t defeat Khambu king he somehow took them in confidence that the land is theirs forever and gave them the title Rai in around B.S. 1832 .
