Meghauli Village is a small settlement
in the Chitwan District of the low Terai region of Nepal, 172 kilometres
southwest of Kathmandu. It is also the western gateway for the famous Chitwan
National Park, home of a fascinating wildlife that includes royal bengal
tigers, one horn rhinos, asian elephants, leopards, gharial crocodiles, more
than 600 species of birds and a long etc. The eastern entrance for the Chitwan
National Park is located in the touristy town of Sauraha, where the big
majority of the visitors base their exploration of the park.
The original inhabitants of the Meghauli
area are the Tharus, an ethnic community of the lowlands that lived in
isolation for centuries, developing a unique way of living in these wild lands.
Today they live alongside the Pahadiya, migrants that came from the mountains
to these fertile lands when the malaria was eradicated in the 1950s. Meghauli
Village is a well preserve example of an old Tharu settlement, with most of its
houses built with natural materials, with stables to keep the buffalos and
goats and high wooden pigeon houses.
For decades there were only expensive
jungle resorts in the Meghauli area so backpackers and midrange travellers had
no more option than going to the touristy town of Sauraha and share their Chitwan
adventure with dozens of package tourist. But with the creation of the Tharu Homestay
Program in Meghauli Village in 2011 it is possible to have a much more intimate
jungle experience, learn about the Tharu culture and live the real rural life
of Nepal. Even those with a more limited budget can opt for a walk in the Community
Jungle of the village instead of going inside the National Park, where there
are still good chances of spotting wildlife (although is less pristine nature).
But remember that rhinos, tigers, wild board and other animals of the jungle
are very dangerous and people have being attacked here with deadly consequences.
Always walk in jungle areas with certified guides and don’t wander around the
fields in the night and mornings.
