With around 9 homes that can house around 20 guests, Kapan Gyanmala Homestay is located in Kapan, one of the urban areas in the periphery of the ring road of Kathmandu City. Established in 2009 AD, it is run exclusively by a women’s group named Parijat Mahila Samuha, with mixed language and ethnicity. Besides this being the major highlight, this homestay also gives opportunities for guests to experience what it feels like to live in an urban space in Nepal.
Most of the women involved in this community homestay are housewives who also run the women’s group as their community service. The women’s group runs workshops and training like Montessori training, and pot gardening for other women in the community. You can also experience these training on your stay with the community while on the other hand, you will definitely enjoy the outcomes as many homestays live them on their day to day basis like the vegetables from pot gardening and curtains from tailoring training.
Although during the start, the women had a hard time convincing their family to take this project up, the homestay has become one of the major sources of income nowadays. Another major project the women are currently doing is to start a community park in the neighborhood.
Most of the houses have twin bedrooms, WiFi, Western toilets and hot shower. You can also request a private bathroom if required.
ABOUT KAPAN
Kapan can be considered as one of the new settlements of the valley as the urbanization took place rapidly. Although the community is of mixed ethnicity and languages largely, one can find flavors of Buddhist communities in terms of food and religion since it is home to various monasteries like Kapan Monastery and Fulhari Monastery along with being closely located to Boudha, one of the biggest Buddhist pilgrimage sites.
Home to the famous Kapan Monastery, Kapan is one of the newest settlements of the valley, home to people all over the country. You will find the community to be of mixed ethnicity with the equal influence of Hinduism despite being on the periphery of Buddhism.
Some Major Attractions around Kapan
- Kapan Gumba
- Vajrayana Gumba
- Phulhari Gumba
- Jagdol Park
- Boudhanath Stupa
Climate and weather
June is the hottest month in Kathmandu with an average temperature of 23 C and the coldest is January at 9 C with the most daily sunshine hours at 12 in April. The raining season starts in June but is at its heaviest in July. The temperature in Kathmandu goes in winter below zero Celsius and rises to an average of 25 degree Celsius in summer.
Best Time to Visit
Since Kathmandu has pleasant weather all over the year compared to other places in Nepal, you can visit Kapan Gyanmala Community Homestay anytime you want to. But if you want a clear view and less slippery roads, then monsoon (June-August) is the season you probably want to avoid.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Kapan homestay village – Live the simple life by Inside Himalayas