Things to do in Meghauli Village

JUNGLE ACTIVITIES

·       Jungle walk: the jungle inside the Chitwan National Park and the Community Jungle of Meghauli Village is a very rich ecosystem and a walk here gives you the chance to see deers, monkeys, wild boars, wild elephants, one horne rhino and many species of birds. Walking with a certified guide is mandatory as these animals can be very dangerous. Tharu guides also know about traditional indigenous medicine and can also explain the use of the different grass that the Tharu people collect from the jungle to build their houses, feed the animals, make baskets and produce utensils. In the Community Jungle there is a watching tower where you can spend the night for a small fee.

·       Elefant Safari: the safest way to see wildlife in the jungle is on top of one of the magnificent Asian Elephants. These huge animals make little noise when they move and from their backs you can see great distances and spot animals that sometimes hide behind the tall grass. You can take an Elephant Safaris inside the Chitwan National Park or in the Community Forest of Meghaulli Village.

·       Elephant bath: you can go on top on an elephant inside the Rapti River and help to bathe this beautiful animal.

·       Jeep safari:  going by jeep in the jungle will allow you to get deep inside the park. But keep in mind that the noise of the motors usually scares away the animals, reducing your chances of spotting wildlife.

·       Crocodile breading centre: any jungle activity inside the park can include a visit to the crocodile breading centre where is possible to come in close contact with the two type of crocodiles that lives in the area, the magger and the endanger gharial or fish eater.

·       Swimming in the Rapti river: any jungle program can end with a swim in the Rapti river, after the guides had checked that there are no crocodiles in the area. In some places is necessary to cross by canoe. 

VILLAGE & CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

·       Tharu cultural museum: this interesting museum was created in 2010 to preserve the cultural heritage of the traditional Tharu communities. It contains a small collection of objects used for fishing, farming and other daily chores and graphic representations of how the life was in the old times. Is a much more interesting experience with a Tharu guide.

·       Tharu Cultural Dance: a group of 37 villagers had created a beautiful and very interesting Tharu Cultural Dance show where they wear traditional dresses and perform 5 different styles of dances: Damphu (drums), Clapping, Holy, Ghumara and Stick dance. It last for about 1 hour and is held on request at the main square of Meghauli Village.

·       Village walk: Meghauli Village is a very well preserve example of a traditional Tharu settlement. Most of the houses are built in the traditional style, with mud, grass and cow dung, with little hands painted on the walls. Most of them also have stables where they keep the buffalos and goats, while the chickens and ducks wonder freely around the people. In some places you can find very picturesque pigeon houses, used by the Tharus to attract these birds to use them as offerings to the gods. Walking a little bit outside the village you can see the colourfully dress women working in the fields together.

·       Walk to Patihani Village: Just 15 minutes walk from Meghauli Village is the small Patihani Village which is another very well preserved traditional Tharu settlement. Is at the doorstep of the Sarang  Wildlife Sanctuary.  

·       Buffalo cart ride:  buffalo carts are an essential part of the life in Meghauli Village. They are used to carry everything possible and also to work the land. A tour on a buffalo cart along the villages and farmland is a very authentic and picturesque experience.

·       Horse riding: it is possible to take a horse ride around the area. The stable is located in Telauli Village and most of the tours go to the Golanghat area.

·       Bicycle tour: you can hire a bicycle and ride around the villages and fields or make the bumpy 45 minutes ride to the amazing sunset view point in Golanghat, at the confluence of the Narayani and Rapti Rivers. You can go there by yourself but is easy to get lost in the dark roads at night. Better ask a local to take you or make your way back right after the sunset and bring a torch.

·       Canoe riding to sunset point: a less painful option than riding a bicycle to Golanghat is to go down the Rapti River on a traditional Tharu style canoe while you have the opportunity to observe a wide variety of birds, wild deers and the endanger gharial crocodiles. Sometimes is even possible to spot one horn rhinos going down to the river to drink water.