Thread by @ChitrakarSanam

My thread on #Homestay in #Nepal is based on:
- More than 150 #homestay nights in the last 15 years+
- Assessed management and business modality as a CSR activity from @biruwaadvisors
- Hospitality industries as a market researcher
- A food enthusiast and recipe developer

Before beginning, this thread is NOT intended to those who:
- Are bothered by (mostly) below average accommodation and finicky about bed and bathroom
- Enjoy luxury more than rustic living
- Do not prefer to interact much with new people

I have noticed that people who enjoy hearing stories, enjoy home food and experience local hospitalities seem to prefer #homestay. They are different breed of people altogether!

However, staying at #homestay comes with responsibilities too:
-DO NOT DEMAND
-Be gentle! They will shower back love, unconditionally!
- Again, take homestays more than just a commercial exchange!
-They love to share their cultures! Be sensitive to them!

Having said this, I do not believe that the lower cost of living in Homestay should be the last justification. I go there to experience their culture, food, and hospitality!
And all the homestays (even homestays within a cluster) have their own characters! Appreciate them!

Homestays is just beyond commercial exchange for me! I am listing homestays that I have visited and I have permission to list their phone numbers (of those I have) and also dropping google pins.

When we are mostly bothered by covid-induced hospitality businesses’ problems, I have witnessed #homestay suffering silently.

They need more people experiencing their culture, hospitality and surroundings.

So, my intention is to let people know about the places I have stayed and their basic characters.
My biggest achievement from this thread will be people visiting the places I have listed here. I also urge others to mention homestays that I have not listed here.

I cannot start the thread without mentioning Ghalegaon (goo.gl/maps/4apkDUrdB…).

This place is very close to my heart as I met my wife here during my solo travel back in 2008!

Dirgha Ghale (9846193067) is the person to contact!

Epic Gurung heritage trail! Ghalegaon-Bhujung-Bagaicha-Pasikot-Pakhurikot-Begnas! This place is just breathtaking with amazing hospitalities from Gurungs! Food is just brilliant!
A five-day-long group trek is one of the best treks I had with our office team in 2013!

Thini Gaun, the eastern village from Jomsom is epitome of Thakali hospitality and the Thakali platter that I had there is still the one to beat, none has come even closer to this!

Hiking around Dhumba lake and caves had my stay extended there for 3 nights! Contact: Aasha Bahadur Thakali (9857650266)
goo.gl/maps/Nnhrx2v8N…

Dalla Khata homestay, Bardiya (my favorite terai district) is one of the most epic places to visit for wildlife lovers.
This humble village lies just by the side of Shiva Community Forest, where I had a chance to stay overnight in a treehouse.

Sudip Tharu (9848033984) is the Chairperson’s enterprising son; a certified nature guide and he has taken our team for a whole day jeep ride in Bardiya.
goo.gl/maps/s6UjHW924…

A magical place to live just by the side of their community forest where most of the animal migration takes place. Your stay will be filled with birds chirping all day!

Bhada homestay, Kailali is the epitome of Tharu culture with very less modern encroachment. Again, their food and hospitality are breathtaking!
goo.gl/maps/3BhXk992P…

Well, if you think you don’t have time to visit homestay, there are some that lie on the east-west highway.

Bagrahapur is few kilometers from Lalmatiya Dang eastwest highway. This new homestay is an ideal place to take a night's rest. Contact: Prem Lal Chaudhary 9847805628. I had a memorable stay and food here! Way better than staying in highway hotels.

Naya gaun, Dhakeri (the place known for local chicken bhaat) in Banke is just by the side of eastwest highway and my stay was pleasant. This is Banke National park’s buffer zone. Outstanding home food!
goo.gl/maps/FSHzMBQUT…

Gabhar Valley Homestay (Banke) has evolved from a homestay to more of “resort-ish” accommodation. A mixed culture experience. Home number 1 serves Tharu food.
Their achaar is the showstopper. I do not miss going to this place for snacks and authentic Tharu food.

I do not prefer to complain that this place has evolved as a touristic and resort-styled place because I have seen the whole community transformed from just a rural place to an economically prosperous place. That’s something that has happened over time.

This is from where I started exploring homestays in the western region! Krishna Lal Chaudhary is the one who helped me explore homestays! @Syartang posted his number back in 2017! Thanking you again!
goo.gl/maps/gGHABF8QC…

Maghi homestay, lies just by the side of Ghodaghodi taal. Very less visited. I enjoyed awesome food here! Not very far from the east-west highway again!
goo.gl/maps/DAsLMpsio…

Sonaha and Tharu homestay, Rajapur (Bardiya) is my new discovery! Run collectively by Tharu and Sonaha community (only 1k-1.2k population in Nepal) search for gold in rivers. Contact: Parbati Sonaha didi (9746541735).

Awesome food! Roti and jhinge maacha curry is still one of the best breakfast I have ever had at homestays! This is where it really struck me that I really have to promote these places and contribute to their economic prosperity.

goo.gl/maps/xkKE6jNjD…

The economic prosperity it brings, not just for the households, but also for the surrounding villages because of the emergence of new marketplaces like homestay has given these rural households something to cash on!

In the last 15 years and more, I have seen these homestay operators (esp. women) gaining priceless confidence, independence, and the community’s urge to save their culture.

This is something that the “meager” money they receive by hosting guests. In many cases, these women have motivated men to stay back in the village for economic opportunities.

All homestays may not have the best management but just being able to stay with them is something that I will cherish and extend to more homestays!

My wish list:
Aantu danda, Ilam
Amaltari Nawalparasi
Rana Tharu, Kanchapur
Unfortunately, I haven’t visited homestays around Mygdi, Kaski and Syanja!
Please help me discover more!