Rana Tharu Community Homestay is found in a village outside of Bhimdatta (formerly known as Mahendranagar), the ninth biggest city in Nepal. It is just 5 kilometers east of the Indian border but around 700 kilometers west of Kathmandu. The village is found tucked beside Suklaphanta National Park that has been recently redesignated as a national park.

IMPACT

Formerly a nature reserve, it means now the important grassland area where the largest population of endangered swamp deer live is given a much higher level of protection than previously. The national park is also home to tiger, leopard, wild elephant, one-horned rhino, many kinds of deer and more. The Tharu people who live in the Terai are rich in cultural heritage and have their own special costumes, unique ways of living, language and religious belief, which make them different from other indigenous communities in Nepal. The Rana Tharu are thought to have migrated from the Thar Desert to Nepal's Far Western Terai region. Although there is controversy over their origin, legend has it that they were formerly members of a high caste in Rajasthan who fled after the Moguls invaded India in the 16th century. There are other theories however,

suggesting Tharu people were of Nepalese origin and were descendants of the Śākya and Koliya peoples living in Kapilvastu.

The Rana Thapa have a different dialect which means that though they can generally understand their Tharu neighbors just 50 kilometers away in Bhada Community Homestay, they cannot speak easily.

There are several different groups of Tharu with the eastern Morang Kochila Tharu in Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts; the Kochila Tharu in Udayapur and Saptahari; the Kotharia or Dangaha Tharu in the central and mid-western Terai; and ; and the Rana Tharu in the far western region of Kailali and Kanchenpur.

ABOUT THE HOMESTAY

The Rana Tharu villagers offer purpose-built rooms in eight homes with attached bathrooms. Rooms all provide

basic but clean and comfortable accommodation, with beds all equipped with mosquito nets. The houses have attractive gardens with flowers and are well-cared for. Most of the houses are brick-built rather than with mud walls, but are built in a traditional style, except the flat roofs that are used to very practical purpose to store grass for the animals.  Rana Tharu prefer living together in large extended families of many generations where the members of the family all pool their labour, income and expenses, using one kitchen. The cuisine of the Tharu people has many special dishes. In particular Dhikri, which is made from rice flour and is steamed, to be eaten with chutney or curried vegetables.

The Rana Tharu clothes are particularly colourful and beautifully embroidered; they buy scraps of left-over fabric and each woman puts her own dress together in a unique and gorgeous fashion. The traditional dances too, are quite different from those of the other Tharu groups.

HIGHLIGHTS

Rana Tharu village culture

Even their language is different from other Tharu groups. The dances are especially colorful and many of their dances that are different from their Tharu neighbors.

Suklaphanta National Park

No visit to this area should go without a visit to the national park. This is an important habitat of swamp deer, as well as spotted, hog and barking deer; wild boar; tiger; leopard; rhino; elephant; over 400 species of birds. The vegetation is a mix of Sal forest and grassland, the largest area in Nepal covering about a fifth of the total area of the national park. You can go on a jungle walk or jeep safari to explore this beautiful national park.

Village walk

Quite compact, the village is laid out on a simple grid of unpaved roads where you might see the odd bullock cart or cycle, but very few other vehicles. Exploring the village, you will see the local villagers going about their day to day activities.

Tharu cuisine

The Tharu cuisine includes a number of local specialities and you are welcome to join your hosts in the kitchen to learn how to cook with them.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Climate and weather

In Nepal climate varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south. On average its climate is tropical monsoon type, but Nepal has a great deal of variation in climate. This has to do due the altitude difference. The climate in the west is almost always hot and humid because it is nearby the Indian border.