Homestay Experience

    In a country where 80% of the people lives in rural villages, staying at a homestay is a fantastic way to experience the real Nepalese life. It is also a way to promote a sustainable way of tourism, where the benefits of the visitors goes directly into the communities that actually make this place so unique and special.

The 5 Tharu Homestays in Meghauli Village were created in 2011 to encourage village tourism in the area (though little resources were put to promote the destination among foreign travellers). They are spread along a few blocks in the most traditional part of the town and offer simple but clean rooms, delicious homemade food and hours of conversations about jungle anecdotes.

Map of Tharu Homestays in Meghauli Village

When staying at any of the Tharu Homestays you will be living in the owner’s houses with their families, right in the middle of a village where life goes around the goats, the daily house cores and the farm. As is their tradition, guests are treated with great attention and the women of the house will spoil you with delicious homemade food. Most of the rooms are in a separate area of the house and were built specially to receive guests with electricity, fan and mosquito net (some even have attached western toilet).

All the owners are native Tharus of the Chitwan Valley. Some of them had worked previously in the jungle resorts so they speak English and have experience dealing with tourists so they can arrange all the activities you want to do while in the area.

Somlal and Sanu Mahato with their daughter, Tharu Homestay #1

Jeeban and Debi Mahato, Tharu Homestay #2

Thaghani and Rusma Mahato, Tharu Homestay #3

Buddhinram and Ratna Mahato, Tharu Homestay #4

Asaram and Sony Mahato, Tharu Homestay #5

Services

November 2015

Accomodation

Budget: at the time of writing there were 5 Tharu Homestays and two budget guest houses in Meghauli Village.

¨ Tharu Homestay #1: Somlal Mahato & Sanu Mahato

                                          3 rooms. +977 9845672961

¨ Tharu Homestay #2: Jeeban Mahato & Devi Mahato

                                          9 rooms. +977 9845180941

¨ Tharu Homestay #3: Thaghani Mahato & Rusma Mahato

                                          2 rooms. +977 9845160886

¨ Tharu Homestay #4: Buddhinram Mahato & Ratna Mahato

                                          2 rooms. +977 9845837251

¨ Tharu Homestay #5: Asharam Mahato & Sony Mahato

                                          2 rooms. +977 9845145808.

¨ Rhino Horn Lodge and Restaurant: around the corner from Homestay #1, beside the ex Meghauli Airport. 

¨ Jungle View Restaurant and Lodge: on the ex Meghauli airport road, in direction to the Sarang  Wildlife Sanctuary Lodge.

Midrange to High-end:  there are 8 jungle resorts in the Meghauli Village offering from midrange to luxury accommodation. They are easily found on internet.

Restaurants

All Tharu Homestays are ready to provide all meals for their guest (basic breakfast, dhal bat and typical Tharu food on request). For more alternatives, there are a few restaurants in Meghauli, Telauli and Golaghat villages. Most of their signs are in Nepalese but they are easy to recognize as they have photos of dishes or the animals they cook and some of them have English menus. Some of the specialities of the area are duck or buffalo meat with beaten rice, peas and chutney and river fish served in a spicy curry.

Money

There are no ATMs or money changers in Meghauli Village. The closest one in in Narayangarh, 1.5 hours by bus.

 Shops

Meghauli Village have a few small shops where you can find simple items like shampoo, toilet paper and cookies. Telauli Village has also pharmacy, clothes and tailors.

Going ahead from the Friendship Clinic in Telauli Village there is a small sculpture workshop called Bishwokarma where Tara makes wooden sculptures of rhinos, tigers and elephants.

Travel agencies

At the time of writing there were no travel agencies in Meghauli Village but most homestay owners can arrange all type of activities for their guest. Most of them have years of experience as tourist guides and they have all the necessary contacts to organize elephant/jeep safaris, horse riding, canoe trips, cultural dance, buffalo cart tours, etc.

Bicycle rental

Most homestays can arrange bicycles for their guest.

Laundry service

All accommodation can provide laundry service for their guest.

Internet

At the time of writing there weren’t internet cafes or wifi available for tourist.

Medical facilities

There are limited medical facilities in the Meghauli Village area where simple ailments can be treated. For more complex situation, the closest big hospital is in Bharatpur, about 1.5 hours by bus from Meghauli Village. There are pharmacies with limited stock in the neighbouring Telauli Village. It is a good idea to carry a First Aid Kit and extra supplies of specific medications.