The motto of the Patlekhet Community Homestay is, “Far from your home but close to your heart”, and that sums up the experience you’ll have in this small farming village. Revolving around principles of organic farming and dotted with picturesque brick farmhouses, Patlekhet may be very different from your hometown, but you’ll receive a warm rural welcome and will feel like part of the family in no time.
Sixteen homes in Patlekhet cater to visitors with homely homestay accommodation. Like at all accommodation in the Community Homestay network, you’ll get a private room with a comfortable bed and basic furniture, and access to a bathroom with running water and a Western or Nepali-style squat toilet. Clean linen and bathroom towels will be provided. You’ll share the home with your hosts, but will have plenty of privacy too.
As this is a farming community, your hosts will likely have space in parts of their home compound for their animals. Don’t be surprised if you wake up to the snorting of cows just outside your window, or the scrabbling of chickens. That’s all part of the experience of being in the countryside!
Meals will be prepared from fresh local ingredients, such as honey, milk, vegetables, and eggs. You won’t go hungry at the Patlkhet Community Homestay, with an abundance of fresh and tasty food available.
ABOUT PATLEKHET
Patlkhet is conveniently close to Kathmandu, at about 40 kilometers away in Kavre district. The journey takes 1.5-2 hours. It’s an easy destination for a quick farm stay around Kathmandu, or as a start (or end) point for treks in the area to places like Panauti, Namo Buddha, and Dulikhel.
The hillside farmland here is very dramatic. Although this is a ‘hill’ area, in almost every other country of the world, these hills would be called mountains! The terrain is steep, and just walking around the village is a good work-out. You’ll gain a new appreciation for the fitness of Nepali hill-dwellers, as well as their ingenuity at creating flat farmland in such a steep area. And, on a clear day, you’ll be treated to fantastic views of the real mountains on the horizon, snow-capped Mt. Jugal, Mt. Ganesh, and others.
The major attraction of Patlekhet are the organic farming activities you can witness and even participate in. Help hand-milk the cows, visit the beehives and see how honey is made, and hike to an organic orchard with many fruit trees.
Climate and Weather
Patlekhet’s climate is similar to Kathmandu’s, although without the density of people and buildings that makes the capital more uncomfortable. June to September are quite wet as they are the monsoon months. Autumn (October-November) is warm but comfortable, with clearer skies and little rain. Winters (December-February) are cool but crisp. Spring (March-May) is warm and increasingly humid.
Best Time to Visit
Patlekhet is a year-round destination, but for the best mountain views, come in the cooler months of November or December. At other times of year, the humidity in the air tends to obscure the views, but in the cooler months, the air’s clarity can mean you’re treated to a wonderful panorama from Patlekhet.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Patlekhet Community Homestay: Village of milk and honey by Marianne Heredge
Meet the true colors of Life at Patlekhet Community Homestay
A Homestay in Nepal Changed My Life by Michelle Welsh
