The Magar, also spelled as Mangar, and Mongar, are ethnolinguistic groups indigenous to Western Nepal and Northeast India, representing 6.9% of Nepal's total population according to the 2021 Nepal census.
The original home of the Magar people was to the west of Gandaki river and, roughly speaking, consisted of that portion of Nepal which lies between and around about Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, and Palpa. This part of the country was divided into twelve districts known as "Bahra Magarat" (Confederation of Twelve Magar Kingdoms), which included the following regions of that period: Argha, Khanchi, Bhirkot, Dhor, Garhung, Ghiring, Gulmi, Isma, Musikot, Pyung, Rising, Satung, and Pyung. During the medieval period, the whole area from Palpa to Rukum Rolpa was called the "Magarat", a place settled and inhabited by Magars. Another Confederation of Eighteen Magar Kingdoms known as "Athara Magarat" also existed, and was originally inhabited by Kham Magars.
There are mythical stories describing the origins of Magars.
The Magar of the Bahra Magarat east of the Kali Gandaki River are said to have originated in the land of Seem. Two brothers, Seem Magar and Chintoo Magar, fought, and one remained in Seem, while the other left, ending up in Kangwachen, southern Sikkim. The Bhutia people lived at the northern end of this region. Over time, the Magars became very powerful and made the northern Bhutia their vassals. Sintoo Sati Sheng ruled in a very despotic manner, and the Bhutia conspired to assassinate him. Sheng's queen took revenge and poisoned 1,000 Bhutia people at a place now called Tong Song Fong, meaning "where a thousand were murdered". The Bhutia later drove the Magars out, forcing them to again migrate further south. As part of this migration, one group migrated to Simrongadh, one group moved towards the Okhaldhunga region, and another group seems to have returned to the east. No dates are given.
The origins of Kaike Magars end up with the mystical tales told and retold by local people.