Far from Nepal’s crowded Himalayan trails lies the Terai, a lush lowland region bordering India. Known as the homeland of the Tharu people, it offers wildlife-rich national parks, sweeping farmland and the sacred birthplace of Buddha, Lumbini. Unlike the well-trodden paths of Kathmandu and Everest, the Terai remains largely undiscovered by international travellers — but its growing community homestay network is changing that.
In the village of Bhada, visitors stay with local families through the Community Homestay Network, an initiative that supports rural households while offering authentic cultural experiences. During one such stay, host Shyam Chaudhary welcomed guests into her adobe kitchen, preparing spiced fruit pickle and festival dishes for Auli, the annual celebration marking the end of the rice harvest. As drums echoed across the fields, villagers gathered to raise a marigold-garlanded bamboo pole and feast on traditional foods, including roasted rice-field rat — eaten symbolically to protect crops in the coming year.
Guests are invited to dance, share chhyang (local rice or flower liquor), and participate in rituals led by the village Guruwa, an animist priest. The homestays — all run by women — have brought new income and recognition to Bhada, encouraging visitors to experience Terai culture firsthand.
“Our saying is Atithi devo bhava — the guest is god,” said Hariram Chaudhary. “People come to see our traditional life, and we get to welcome them with Tharu hospitality.”
