About the Tharu People

Tharu man making a fish trap.

The Tharus are the largest and oldest ethnic group of the Terai Region (in the southern plains of Nepal) and they are the original inhabitants of the Chitwan area. For centuries this lands where infested by malaria -to which the Tharus are genetically resistant- so they remain isolated for years, allowing them to develop their own unique culture, language and traditions. But during the 1950s the Nepalese government eradicate the malaria in the Terai region and thousands of migrants from the mountains came here to claim these fertile lands, changing forever the traditional life of the Tharus. This people are known as Pahadya.

Tharu woman with traditional dress. 

The Tharus are very attached to nature and even now they get much of what they need from the jungle: different types of grass, wood, clay, bamboo, plants and herbs. They use these natural materials to build their thatched houses, elaborate baskets, produce organic fertilizers for the soil and also for medicinal purposes.

Tharu woman from different families work the land
 together during harvesting season.

Tharus are great farmers and they still farm in traditional ways in these very fertile lands. They grow barley, wheat, maize, rice, lentils and vegetables and also raise chickens, goats and ducks. They are very good fishers as well, using large nets and bamboo traps to catch fishes from the nearby rivers. Since the old times the Tharus have lived in groups for protection against enemies and wild animals and to help each other with the farm job. Until today they are still organized in several families to work together the land during the busy times.

Tharu girls painting hands on the mud houses during Diwali Festival.

The Tharu gastronomy is famous among the Nepalese and there are many local tourists that come for holidays to the area just to savour local delicacies like fish and duck curry, sticky rice, spicy river snails and the local roxi (rice based alcohol).

Traditional Tharu dish: river fish curry, sticky rice, rice bread,
vegetable curry, pickle, dhal and pop corn. 

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