The Khasas or Khas (Hindi: खस) or Khasiyas are an ancient people, believed to be a section of the Indo-Aryan who originally belonged to Central Asia from where they had penetrated, in remote antiquity, the Himalayas through Kashgar and Kashmir and dominated the whole hilly region. They are believed to have given their names to Kashgar, Kashi (Central Asia), Kashkara, Kashmir, Khashali (south-east of Kashmir) Kashatwar, Khashdhar (Shimla Hills) and other recognizable colonies at the present day in the hills from Kashmir down to Nepal as also in various plains. A small section of the existing inhabitants of Kumaon and Garhwal belong to the ancient Khasa or Khasiya race though speak Kumaoni and Garhwali which are languages of the Indo Aryan Central subgroup of Pahari languages. Unlike in Nepal they are of pure Aryan stock. In Nepal Khasas married among Mongoloid stock, they are thus partly of Aryan stock in Nepal. Most of Brahmin, Chhetri and so called 'low cast' people of Nepal are Khas people speaking 'Khas' language also known as Nepali. Immigrants Rajputs and Brahmins from the Indian plains made Khasa a small minority in Uttarakhand.
Read more about Khasas: Antiquity and Origin, Iranian Aryan Tribe, Khasas in Epic Literature, Khasas in Puranic Literature, Khasas in Brihatsamhita, Khasas in Tibetan Chronicles, Foreign References On Khasas, Geographical Distribution, Khasas, Kambojas in Bengal, Miscellaneous, Epilogue