Guests at the Tharu Community Homestay have private thatched-roof cottages with attached bathrooms. In many ways, the homestay is more like a simple resort than a homestay! Although the rooms are relatively simple, you’ll enjoy all modern conveniences like running water, comfy beds, mosquito nets, ceiling fans, and Western-style toilets.
The cottages create a compound beside the Budhi Rapti River, of which there are great views. The attractively landscaped gardens demonstrate the care that the residents take with their land. When you’re not out and about exploring the park or the community, retreat to the shade of your cottage and watch the farmyard animals scampering around.
You’ll dine in the communal dining hall, which is an especially convenient space for larger groups. The food is sourced from the local land and community. While Tharu people like to eat dal bhat just like other Nepalis, you’ll probably notice that their version is a bit different to what you’ve tried in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Activities to enjoy at the Tharu Community Homestay revolve around village life and the nearby Chitwan National Park. You could easily spend several days here and find plenty to do.
ABOUT THE LOCATION
The Tharu Community Homestay is beside Chitwan National Park and near the town of Sauraha, a base for many travelers who want to spend time in the park. Homestay guests can enjoy a number of wildlife and nature-focused activities. Take a canoe ride along the river, go fishing with your hosts, and spot animals and birds on a safari. A highlight of visiting Chitwan is spotting one-horned rhinoceros, of which there are more than 600.
This homestay is near Sauraha, a transport and accommodation hub to the east of the Chitwan National Park. As well as being in a very convenient location, it’s also very peaceful, on the banks of the Budhi Rapti River. Thanks to the homestay’s riverside location, there are opportunities to go fishing here with a local guide.
Coming from the larger cities of the Nepali hills, you’ll immediately notice a different pace of life. Take a guided village walk, go fishing, ride a bicycle around the village and farmland, and get a real feel for the ordinary way of life behind the popular tourist destination.
Climate and Weather
The climate around Chitwan on the Terai is more like the climate of North India than that of the Nepali hills. That is, it’s extremely hot between March and September (upwards of 35° C), uncomfortably humid during the monsoon (June-September), and cool in winter (as low as 7° C), although daytime is usually quite warm.
Best time to Visit
Most travelers feel most comfortable visiting Chitwan between October and February, when the weather is cool or warm but not uncomfortably hot. Your chances of spotting wildlife, including tigers, is best between January and March, when tall grass is cut, thus improving visibility.
