Understand Nepal > adventure > Spend the Night at Home Stay
One of the famous and local accommodation ways in Nepal is a homestay. Usually, the Nepal villages are full of cultures and natural beauty that attracts a lot of tourists. So, in such places, the houses are converted into homestays where you can stay as a pay-guest but feel like part of the home.
To fulfill the visitors' wish to experience the genuine concept of living like one in the village, the homestay approach was introduced. Locally, the homestay is called Gharbas and is not a new thing for villagers. Nepalese believe the guests are gods and treat them in the same way. Even in ancient times, the travelers used to ask for a stay in the house of the strangers at night, and it was accepted. The same concept with a little modification today is homestay.
Nepal is rich in culture, and there are several ethnic groups that have their own cultures and traditions, which differ from other ethnic groups. The best way to peek into the lifestyle of any ethnic group of people in villages is to be part of their homes. In a homestay, you might miss services like in restaurants and resorts, but you will get a lifetime memory that nothing else can provide. You will be served with the same food that the family eats, and the bed is local, with the non-ac room, and you will have to compromise on certain things to experience the village lifestyle.
The benefits of staying in a homestay are meeting people from different backgrounds, associating with their culture, getting the authentic taste of the local cuisines, and understanding the true essence of living like locals in a unique geographical location. You can be part of their cultural programs, dance alongside them, wear traditional costumes, and learn some words in their language. While returning, you can take some locally produced food items or locally prepared goods as souvenirs. By being part of a homestay, you are also promoting tourism in that area and helping the families with some genuine income.
Different villages have their specialty. Living in a village homestay can be completely different from living in a homestay of another village. The festivals can be modified, with various traditional costumes, musical instruments, languages, food items, and drinks. There is no limit to exploring Nepal's homestays as there are great homestay communities from east to west of Nepal, which are all unique in their ways.
If you are looking homestays in Kathmandu Valley, you can try Bhardev Homestay, Community Homestay, and others around the valley can be found in Dhulikhel, Kavre, Namobuddha, and Panauti. Pokhara also boasts homestay, and there are several around Pokhara too. Dhampus, Sikles, Ghandruk, Ghalegaun, Sirubari, Australian Base Camp, and Bhujung are some of the popular homestay destinations near Pokhara Valley.