The Kathmandu Valley provides a sharp contrast to the very fresh appearance of westernization found in Ladakh. The west has had a strong influence in the Valley and in Nepal as a whole dating back to the Chinese invasion of Tibet. As a front-line state in the Cold War it was the beneficiary of substantial support from the US and other western powers. This has generated a relatively cosmopolitan atmosphere. The other great influence felt in the Valley is the mixing of religious cultures. Kathmandu is home to three distinct populations: the Tibetan Buddhist; the Nepali Buddhist; and the Hindi of both Nepali and Indian decent.