Amazing welcoming session at Nuwakot

Community Service Project is a unique blend of various activities principally designed for students taking a gap year. This multi activities vacation includes a volunteering service spotlighting on the progress of local community in Nuwakot, cultural exchange activities, and an adventurous trek to the very rarely trodden part of Nepal, Mustang.

Got red and Khataa- during the hospitable welcoming session

For the Cultural Exchange and Community Service Project recently, a British group of ten students from Reading Blue Coat School accompanied by a teacher  is in Nepal. The group is led by an expert leader from the company called Wilderness Expertise.

Cutting the shrubs during garden cleaning session

Based at Shree Bhairavi Higher Secondary School in Nuwakot, the group is scheduled to get involved into several activities. Junior Red Cross Garden and Taleju Park has been maintained and cleaned by the group in collaboration with the locals. Cleaning of the historic site which, supplies drinking water to the natives; Tindhara will be undertaken.

For a team- it is simply a piece of cake

Sessions of lectures on how the tourists shall be treated will be conducted. Health Awareness Campaign as well as village sanitation program are supposed to be the integral parts of this community project. The visitors will also join the locals and rejoice during the cultural programs. During the 6 days stay at Nuwakot, the guests will be experiencing the home-stay accommodation where the three course meal will be provided by the Nepalese family.

Pet gets a clean playground.

Prior to this community service and cultural exchange project, the group had the 14 days long wonderful trek to the rarely trodden part of Nepal, Mustang.

Time for the photo shoot

Guests and natives for the shoot

Explore Himalaya with its partner Kipling Travel, Denmark has been working quite a lot to promote the villages of Nuwakot, Samari and Sele. Despite of tourism perspectives, these destinations are unable to achieve the significant recognition amongst the visitors to Nepal. Acknowledging, the possibilities, the duo of Explore Himalaya and Kipling Travel has been promoting these destinations for the last few years. The dual effort has showed the positive signs over the years as Nuwakot, Samari and Sele are starting to expect the noteworthy visitors.

Seven storied palace at Nuwakot.

Nuwakot has the major historical charm of the Shah dynasty. The seven storied ancient palace built between 1763 AD to 1770 AD by Prithivi Narayan Shah reflects the perfect cultural and civilization images of the region in the very ancient days. Samari, is a village rich with ethnical culture of Magar race and lies amongst the beautiful green forests. Sele is popular Tamang village rich with natural beauties and ancient Tamang culture. The village is a hilltop for the panoramic mountain views of Himalayan peaks like Mt. Manaslu, Mt.Langtang etc. from its ridge.

Home-stay house at Samari.

Nuwakot and Samari have been the popular home-stay destinations for the past few years.  The EH Kipling alliance owns two traditional old houses in Nuwakot and Samari to provide basic facilities to visitors in this region. The third linking point Sele had the camping accommodation facilities. Since the number of visitors is increasing every year, the companies has planned an alternate to Sele camping.

A team including a photographer and an architect were recently sent to visit all these sites. As per the organizational plan of constructing the new ecological resort in sele, the team took the necessary measurements at our location in Sele and the construction is expected to start very soon.

Construction site for ecological resort at Sele.

Pics: EH.

Tucked away just a few kilometres away from the bustling capital, Kathmandu are small villages filled with traditional houses, farms and fields. Surrounded by greenary and wonderful views of mountains, these villages offer respite from the hustle and bustle of city life and a wonderful  insight into  Nepalese village life and culture . The natural surroundings and peaceful ambience makes these  places perfect  to relax and unwind. 

En route Samari via Trishuli Bazaar

Homestay at Samari, a Tamang Village

En route Sele

Camping site – Sele

Boghteni village

Syabrubensi

Dhunche

Langtang National park permit check point

(Pics: Samir Shrestha)

To visit  Nuwakot & Samari Villages send an email at sales@explorehimalaya.com.

On January, Explore Himalaya organized a trip for Lund & Helle from Denmark. They travelled to the rural villages of Nuwakot, Samari & Sele. These little known villages on the central region of Nepal have much more to offer to travellers. The historical and legendary palaces of Nuwakot, the unforgettable experience of the typical Nepalese lifestyle from the villages located on the high hills and still untouched by tourist and the incredible Mountain scenery makes these places perfect to relax.

Visit our Nuwakot, Samari & Sele homestays

Experience traditional Nepalese hospitality at Nuwakot & Samari the eco-friendly way.

Homestays at traditional Nepalese Villages of Nuwakot & Samari
The villages of Samari and Nuwakot both lie in Nuwakot district of Nepal. Although these villages lie  just a few hours drive from Kathmandu, life over here moves at a much slower pace than in the city.  Filled with old traditional Nepali houses and farms these villages are no different from the many mid-hill villages in Nepal . Explore Himalaya with its partner  Kipling Travel, Denmark have renovated and opened the doors of two very old houses in these villages for tourists desirous of experiencing traditional Nepalese lifestyle. Run on the principles of sustainable tourism both these properties have been renovated using local materials and man power (the mud-finishing on the walls and floors of these houses were done by the  local  Mother’s Association (Ama Samuha). The kitchen at both these properties use organic vegetables grown at the kitchen garden or purchased from nearby farms.
Visiting Samari & Nuwakot villages offers a unique opportunity to experience Nepal outside the classic tourist areas. Devoid of tourist groups, you enjoy a leisurely stay at these villages, interacting with the villagers and exploring the village on your own. Options for volunteering services are also open for those wishing to help in the development of the village.
Samari (1250m/4101ft) Homestay – A Retreat in the Midst of Nature

Samari Village

Located about 35 km from Kathmandu, Samari Bhanjyang under Nuwakot district is a traditional Nepalese village, situated in one of the last mountain passes on the caravan route to Kathmandu. Though the village has a mixed population comprising of Chettris, Newars ,Tamangs and Magars, the latter two communities are in majority.

Samari Homestay

Our retreat at Samari is a traditional Magar-house, built in the early 19th century. The house has been renovated, trying to keep intact as far as possible its original design. Additions to the house include a kitchen & dining area and a bathroom. A window has been inserted in the rooms and the ceiling height increased by just under 10 centimeters. While mud has been used to build the wall  of the house, roofing has been done using clay tiles. The lower storey of the house has a dining area and kitchen and the upper storey the sleeping quarters. As in all Nepalese traditional houses, the upper storey of the house is entered via a small wooden staircase which connects the lower storey of the house to the upper storey.

Dining Area

Dining, Cooking area & restroom

Comfortable beds

The building’s upper storey, which was traditionally used as a storage for crops, is supported by very strong wooden beams. The upper storey has been partitioned into two rooms (with three beds each).
We have a beautiful garden overlooking the village and terrace fields. There are showers and toilets in a separate building – and other facilities are simple but amazing. Food is prepared using fresh and organic produce from the kitchen garden or bought from the villagers.

Retreat at Nuwakot Village
Nuwakot is a small thriving village situated on the way to Langtang Valley. King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified Nepal in 1767, started his unification campaign from Nuwakot , when he merged the two kingdoms of Gorkha and Nuwakot.

Nuwakot Village

Nuwakot has a nice, clean main street that leads up to Saat Taale Durbar, the beautiful old castle, which in its historical importance is equal to the Hanuman Dhoka Palace in Kathmandu. A stone throw away from the durbar is the area’s main temple, Nuwakot Bhairabee Temple and Jalpadevi Mandir.

Nuwakot Homestay

Our home stay in Nuwakot, a traditional Nepali house is at Chettri Bhanjyang, located near the royal palace in Nuwakot. The old house which had fallen into disrepair has been renovated and given a new lease of life. While the, lower storey has a verandah/ lobby and kitchen, the upper storey has three rooms. The rooms are cosy with comfortable beds. You can enjoy views of the mountains and the village from the windows.

Living/Dining room

Bed room

(Photos Courtesy: Samari-  Lars Gundersen, Nuwakot: Valeri Yerkal)