INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
Getting Local in Nepal’s
Community Homestays
by Elen Turner
While luxurious hotels with all the mod-cons can be a nice
way to travel, travellers interested in getting to know local
people and culture can find this a limiting way of experiencing
a country. If you’ve seen the inside of one generic hotel you’ve
pretty much seen them all. But in Nepal, the Community
Homestay programme (CommunityHomestay.com), an
initiative of Royal Mountain Travel, offers an innovative and
unique service for travellers wanting a comfortable place
to sleep as well as local flavour, warm hospitality and
the chance to see and experience things not otherwise
accessible to travellers.
The flagship Community Homestay programme was
established in Panauti, a charming and very well-preserved
Newar town around 40 kilometres outside the Kathmandu
Valley. With the success of Panauti, Community Homestay
networks are now operational in Patan, Nagarkot, Nuwakot,
Patlekhet, Palpa, two locations in Chitwan (Barauli and
Sauraha), and along the Annapurna Community Trekking
route in the mountains.
One of the main goals of the Community Homestays is the
empowerment of local women. Most hosts are housewives
without another independent source of income. After joining
the Community Homestay networks, many of these women
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end up making just as much money as their husbands.
Women’s financial strength and independence has been
proven to be good for families and communities. The women
are also given access to English language classes and other
training, and their self-confidence and skills have improved
through their involvement.
Accommodation Food
Every homestay is different, as these are real homes.
Some buildings are newer and on the edge of town; others
may be older and located in the centre. But each home
is required to meet a good standard before opening its
doors to travellers, and must provide private rooms and
modern bathrooms. Guest rooms are simply furnished
but comfortable, with attached bathrooms with hot water. The food will also differ across the country. While dal
bhat (lentil curry and rice) is the favourite of almost all
Nepali people, the way it is prepared varies, as does what
accompanies it. Side dishes are usually seasonal and
made with locally grown vegetables. In the Newar towns
you may get a chance to try local Newari specialties. This
local cuisine is full of meat curries and can be very spicy,
but is unlike any other cuisine that you are likely to try,
so dig in!
At the Barauli and Tharu Community Homestays, in
different parts of the Chitwan area, guests stay in their
own huts, within the vicinity of the host’s. These are built
in the traditional style with mud and natural materials, but
come with modern attached bathrooms.
You will also get the chan ce to participate in a cooking
class, joining the women in their kitchen and then eating
the results afterwards. Whether you’ve never made
Nepali food before or consider yourself an excellent
chef, you’ll certainly learn something new from your
hosts. You might come home with a new pickle recipe, or
a better understanding of how to get your roti perfectly
round. Your hosts will enjoy teaching you (and, if those
roti aren’t so round, they’ll laugh along with you).
Activities
A major benefit of staying at a Community Homestay over
a hotel is that you will get the chance to be involved in all
kinds of local activities. If you’d prefer a more relaxing time,
there’s no pressure to sign up for everything (although
this is definitely recommended!) Activities and excursions
vary depending on the location, and that’s a good reason
to stay at Community Homestays throughout Nepal.
To establish a homestay network in any particular area,
ten families or households need to collaborate. These are
not just individual homes that have opened their doors to
travellers, but truly collaborative community efforts that
run on a roster system. Further, each community homestay
collective must choose a cause to support, such as the re/
building of a school or community centre, or the sponsorship
of a child’s school fees. Twenty percent of proceeds must
be put directly back into the community. The ‘community’ in
Community Homestay is not just a name.
If every traveller to Nepal was to spend just one night at one
of the nine Community Homestay venues, the effects on local
families and communities would be enormous. Travellers
would also leave Nepal with a greater understanding of
ordinary Nepali life and culture. So, what can guests at
Community Homestays expect?
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