Village Homestay Panchase - Pokhara - Room 2

Dar Kumari’s Homestay is nestled on the side of a mountain considered sacred to many Nepalese, yet they’ve somehow kept this gem hidden from the mainstream tourist and trekking community. Looking for a true village experience please read our reviews The space Although some foreign travellers hear about Panchase, most take the bus directly to the top of the mountain and bypass dozens of spectacular villages dotted along the way. Staying at Dar Kumari’s homestay you will be one of the few travellers to reach beyond the Pokhara tourist bubble and connect with the generous, vibrant and earthly Gurung people as you are welcomed into their community at the foothills of the Himalaya. Dar Kumari’s family have two rooms with three beds available in each private, upstairs bedroom of their two story traditional mudhouse. As the village is relatively untouched by tourism, there are no restaurants or shops nearby. However all meals are included in the cost of the room and Dar Kumari will serve you more food than most people are ever able to eat! Most of what you will find on your plate has come from within 300 metres of their house and the rice from the area is reputed to be some of the best in Nepal. We can accommodate up to six persons as we have two private rooms available with three beds in each. For more than three people, please visit our second listing titled: Village Homestay Panchase - Pokhara - Room 1 Guest access There is a clean, porcelain squat toilet and separate washroom next to the house and an ample water source in the family’s courtyard. People in the villages don’t use hot water for anything other than cooking, but if you really feel that you need some hot water for washing, please let the family know the day before or in the morning, and they will be happy to boil some for you. Dar Kumari has opened her home to more than 100 foreign travellers, some staying one night, others staying for up to three months. With a curiosity of other cultures and a passion for sharing her own, Dar Kumari understands the requirements of foreigners and provides ample blankets, bed sheets, towels, food and clean, boiled drinking water so you have everything you need to enjoy your stay. There are a few waterholes where you can go swimming or fishing with villagers in the local river. There is a local school just outside of the village, but please keep in mind that this is a place of learning and that visitors can cause a lot of excitement and therefore distraction. Please only visit the school if you were invited by a local villager or by one of the teachers. You might wish to join the locals in their daily activities. You can learn to make honey, brew the local alcohol ‘raksi’, see how people spend their days working the fields or around the house, or you can simply relax and enjoy the views over the Annapurnas. Either way, this can be a great opportunity to learn about different ways of living or simply recharge your batteries and connect with nature. During your stay Gurung people are known for their generous hospitality and you will not need to lift a finger while you are here. Only one member in the family speaks English, Rabindra, but his mother, Dar Kumari, has developed a unique sign language to use with foreigners so you’ll somehow find yourselves able to communicate even when Rabindra is not around. Nights might be spent chatting (ie playing charades!) around the fire, drinking tea and rice wine, stargazing or sometimes dancing, singing and drumming under a full moon. Other things to note This is an authentic experience living amongst the Gurung people of Nepal who are all trilingual in Nepali, Gurung and Hindi but speak very little English. There is phone reception in the village and you may pick up a weak 2G signal. The village was relatively cut off until recently with electricity only connected in November 2012 and the road constructed in 2010. Staying with the family requires an open mind and a sense of adventure but it will probably be the most unique and magical experience of your time in Nepal. The family asks that you respect their culture and customs by following some basic house rules which are standard for most families in Nepal. Communication about bookings and transport will all go via Dar Kumari’s son, Rabindra, so there may be one or a couple of days delay in responding to enquiries. Electricity supply is also restricted in Nepal and phone network can be moody so the turn around time for bookings may be longer than usual for Air BnB. Please be patient, when you arrive we think you will agree it was worth the wait!