A typical Newari village in the south of the Kathmandu Valley. The locals are friendly and eager to welcome guests into the village. The streets are narrow and twisted and amazing to wander around. Everywhere you look you see woodcarvers and the narrow alley of Bungamati offer opportunity to witness Newari people livelihood. 

ABOUT THE HOMESTAYS

This community is ideal for people who are traveling in groups. They can accommodate around 16 people in one accommodation, separated in 8 rooms. A few of these rooms have private bathrooms and others are shared. You’ll stay in the same house as the children from the Support Centre located on school property. There are also a few individual houses located in the center of Bungamati.

HIGHLIGHTS

The most interesting attraction is that in the majority of the houses the local people hang red chili and vegetables garland from top floor almost to the ground floor after the month of September. Despite of the swift changes in lifestyle of the urban population, the Bungamati locals have not been influenced by modern life. Therefore you will definitely experience authentic lifestyle and culture of locals in rural setting during your stay in Bungmati.

Wood carving workshop

Wood work is an intricate part of Nepali design and you can find it in any object but mostly in door openings or windows. In this workshop you learn the traditional process from a master wood carver. You’ll get the chance to choose a design and crave it out of a block of wood.

Teaching activities

Because the homestays are located near the Tri-Ratna School, it is possible to do teaching activities, even when it is just for one day. The school is eager to learn the students new cultures, languages and geography. With just a day course you can give a workshop in sociology (of your descent). Long term teaching activities are also possible.

Short term volunteering

With these short term volunteering activities, you can help out the community with cleaning the pond, help them with fencing or do construction work.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Bungamati: An Overlooked Hub of Newari Culture  by Inside Himalayas

Yomari: A Newari Food for the Gods by Inside Himalayas

Climate and weather

June is the hottest month in Kathmandu, with an average temperature of 23⁰C and the coldest is in January at 9⁰C. The most daily sunshine hours are in April. The raining season starts in June and is heaviest in July. The temperature in Kathmandu goes in winter below zero Celsius and rises to an average of 25⁰C in summer.