{"id":24318,"date":"2024-07-04T12:22:45","date_gmt":"2024-07-04T11:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/?p=24318"},"modified":"2024-07-04T17:24:28","modified_gmt":"2024-07-04T16:24:28","slug":"saras-travel-story-connecting-with-communities-in-nepal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/saras-travel-story-connecting-with-communities-in-nepal\/","title":{"rendered":"Sara\u2019s Travel Story: Connecting with Communities in Nepal"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1720092137578{padding-top: 60% !important;background-image: url(https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/community-homestay-nepal-blog-scaled.jpg?id=24336) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]This story was written by Asia specialist, Sara<\/a>, on her latest off-piste adventure in Nepal.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”chino”][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_column_text]There\u2019s so much more to Nepal than mountains and trekking (though these are pretty amazing). For one, connecting with the wonderfully welcoming communities that call it home was a real highlight of my adventure. Nepali hospitality is some of the warmest I\u2019ve ever experienced, as people live by the Hindu philosophy Atithi Devo Bhawa<\/em> (\u2018Guest is God\u2019) and treat you as family. I know this sounds corny, but it’s true!<\/p>\n

The absolute best way to interact with the lovely people here is by slotting in with their way of life, and staying at a homestay.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”24322″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

The Network of Community Homestays in Nepal<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s an array of community homestays throughout Nepal, giving you the chance to choose from a variety of environments \u2013 whether it\u2019s the subtropical lowlands, the Himalayan foothills, tiny little towns, or very remote countryside. Scattered around these regions are several different ethnic groups, each with their own distinct customs, dress, food, and dialects.<\/p>\n

Each community offers multiple households for homestays. While the standards are similar, the layout of accommodation and demographic of the host family may vary. I had the pleasure of staying with two communities in the Kathmandu Valley \u2013 one in Nagarkot and one in Panauti \u2013 with friendly and attentive Newari families.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”24323″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Cultural Experiences at Homestays<\/span><\/h2>\n

Both communities welcomed me warmly with a coloured powder tika<\/em> (spot) daubed on the forehead, and a garland of marigolds as a kata<\/em> (greeting scarf). There are great immersive cultural experiences to be had at all the community homestays \u2013 you learn from your host mothers as they share their heritage and handicrafts, and it\u2019s a wonderful way of connecting with them as these activities transcend language barriers (and are great fun!).[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”24324″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]During my stay, my hosts treated me to performances of traditional songs and dances from their region and gave me cooking lessons: in Nagarkot, I learnt to cook on an open fire stove and in Panauti, I tried my hand at making momos<\/em> (stuffed steamed dumplings). I also loved creating topari<\/em> (bowls made from leaves, stitched together with bamboo thread), and learning about Ranjana Lipi<\/em> (the ancient script that decorates most of the prayer wheels found around the Himalayas). To break up the journey between the homestays, I stopped off in a lovely little town called Thimi, known for its ceramics \u2013 where I was welcomed into a potter\u2019s home to have a go on the wheel.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”24325″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Outdoor Adventures in Rural Nepal<\/h2>\n

There are plenty of opportunities to get out and about into the fresh air here, too \u2013 it’s an especially good destination for yogis, hikers, and cyclists. While staying in the Nagarkot region, my hosts took me on many adventures throughout the scenic surroundings, where pristine pine forests give way to tumbling waterfalls and paddy fields. We laced up our walking boots and headed into the hills to visit the beautiful Buddha Peace Park, and a picturesque Hindu temple with several deities to make offerings to Ganesh, which involved filling my topari<\/em> with powder and petals. En route, we passed many farms and traditional villages of the Tamang people, who’re originally from Tibet.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”24326″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]This Buddha Peace Park is the go-to serene setting for a morning yoga session, (but as it was raining, we used the community hall instead \u2013 where we enjoyed a fun session, which included doing ‘lion roars’ for throat health!). From the park, the route down to Panauti town makes for a challenging but captivating mountain bike ride as the foothills are full of hairpin bends, bumpy roads and suspension bridges linking farming villages together. Cycling was a real highlight of my time here, as you see so much more detail and you have the chance to interact with passers-by along the way. It reminded me why we\u2019re such fans of slow travel here at ETG.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”24328″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Recommendations for an (Extra) Memorable Stay<\/h2>\n

I\u2019d recommend staying a minimum of 2 nights at a community homestay, so you have enough time to properly connect and build trust with your hosts. Forsaking creature comforts and luxury to learn from your hosts is a worthwhile trade.<\/p>\n

I have so<\/em> many special memories from my stay: from listening to the daughters of the household singing to me, being shown family photo albums, having henna painted on my hands, eating all together, and even chatting to family members over Zoom that were working overseas for remittance…! l left feeling as though I\u2019d been genuinely accepted into the fold.<\/p>\n

(If you prefer a higher level of comfort, there are luxury hotels in Kathmandu within easy reach of these communities. You can then take day trips into the valley to meet some families and enjoy this level of cultural immersion).[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”24329″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Boosting Local Economies with Thoughtful Tourism<\/h2>\n

Far from just enjoying a cultural exchange, tourism is a powerful force for good in this part of the world. When you choose a homestay, your money goes directly to the heart of the community \u2013 the mothers who run these houses. As Nepal is a patriarchal society, this empowers women and formalises an already supportive culture. Regular meetings in the communities make sure that everyone benefits: improvements are discussed, finances are transparent, and guest assignments are rotated for an even share.<\/p>\n

My host in Panauti, Shila, exemplified this. With 12 years of experience, she not only ran her homestay but also visited and trained communities setting up their own.<\/p>\n

What’s more, 20% of the homestay fee is invested in community development projects, like scholarships and sanitation training, to improve the overall standard of living for everyone. Also, the benefits are far reaching and support other villagers, from shuttle drivers and cooks to dancers and even people working on new restaurant initiatives.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Professional imagery courtesy of Amir Shrestha.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”chino”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

FEELING INSPIRED TO MAKE CONNECTIONS IN NEPAL?<\/h2>\n

Please get in touch on 020 7924 7133<\/span>\r\n \t.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, fill out an online enquiry form to start your journey<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What happened when Asia specialist, Sara, headed into the hills of Kathmandu Valley to stay with two different communities? Read about her wonderfully immersive experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":24336,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1348,1317,1344,1427,1314],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1219],"class_list":["post-24318","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-across-asia","category-sustainable-travel","category-the-etg-take-on-travel","category-travel-inspiration","category-your-travel-story"],"aioseo_notices":[],"views":2820,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24318","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/56"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24318"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24318\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24318"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=24318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}