Lost in Time:  8 Lesser-Known Indian Tribes

Cholanaikkans (Kerala) They live in the Nilambur forest, speak a rare dialect and survive by hunting and gathering

Toto Tribe (West Bengal) They lives near the Bhutan border, speaks its own language and follows strict marriage customs

Van Gujjars (North India) They are nomadic buffalo herders who live in forest camps and eat only plant-based food

Rabha Tribe (Northeast) They loves nature, crafts bamboo items and drinks homemade rice beer

Siddi Tribe (West & South) They have African roots, perform Afro-Indian music and dance and practice martial arts

Lepcha Tribe (Sikkim) They worship mountains, use their own script and protect nature passionately

Dongria Kondh (Odisha) They live on Niyamgiri Hills, grow crops on slopes and resist mining projects

Kolam Tribe (Central) The Kolam tribe uses oral storytelling, performs grain rituals and practices shifting cultivation