Returning Migrant Worker Transforms Life Through Homestay Tourism in Chitwan

Chitwan. After spending ten years working in Dubai, Tikabahadur Gurung has abandoned plans to return abroad after establishing a successful homestay in Mayatar. He launched the venture from his own roadside home in Mayatar, Ichhakamana Rural Municipality-3.

The traditional house, built in 1978, has a long history of providing shelter to travelers. People trekking to places like Upardangadhi, Shakti Khor, Hugdi Khola, Ichhakamana Temple, and Fisling would often stay here overnight. Gurung noted, "Since this house is located on the main path, it has always been a resting place for travelers. We have been providing food and lodging to guests for a long time."

After returning from a decade of foreign employment, Gurung renovated the house four years ago to create guest rooms. Drawing on his experience working in hotels in Dubai, he decided to build a future locally rather than returning overseas. While he earned 100,000 rupees monthly in Dubai, he now earns around 80,000 rupees locally while providing employment to three others, leading him to cancel his plans to go abroad.

Following advice from friends, he converted his ancestral home into a homestay. He explained, "We started with two rooms in the first phase and later added two more, totaling four rooms." This was the same house where his family resided.

As homestays emerged in the hilly region of the district, foot traffic increased. He noted that demand grew during the summer and even in winter, as the location receives early morning sunlight, prompting him to expand. He has now added rooms outside the main house, bringing the total to eleven, four of which include attached bathrooms. "We are expanding based on guest demand," he said.

Reflecting on the past, he mentioned that despite being in an accessible district, Mayatar once lacked basic infrastructure like roads and electricity, resembling the remote Karnali region. With the arrival of electricity two years ago, Mayatar has become a viable tourist destination. Previously, guests had to rely on kerosene lamps and solar lights.

Crediting local journalists for the area's development, he said, "Journalists played a huge role in making Mayatar what it is today. Their reports helped bring electricity here and promoted it as a tourist destination."

For visitors, the scenic environment and the nearby Balgauri Pathibhara Temple are major attractions. The Seto Pahara Cave is a 15-minute walk away, and the tourist spot Rigdi Khola, known for its cold water and snow trout, is three kilometers away. Upardangadhi is also located nearby.

With increased publicity, the influx of guests has grown. He stated that the facility can accommodate up to 40 people per night and noted that others in the vicinity have also begun opening homestays. On holidays, bookings are often made in advance via phone.

Gurung emphasizes serving locally produced food to guests, including pumpkin, squash, fiddlehead ferns, local chicken, and goat meat, which visitors highly enjoy.

Even when the Terai region of Chitwan experiences extreme heat, guests at this high-altitude location often need blankets at night. Domestic tourists from Chitwan, Kathmandu, Makwanpur, Parsa, Nawalparasi, and Kaski frequently visit.

The area is situated at an altitude of approximately 3,500 meters above sea level. It can be reached in about an hour and 30 minutes from Bharatpur. The road via Shakti Khor is paved, connecting to Hugdi Khola on the Prithvi Highway, Mauwa Khola on the border of Dhading and Chitwan, and Fisling. Travelers can reach Mayatar from the highway in a similar amount of time.