Tanahun Launches Innovative Homestay Circuit to Boost Rural Tourism

Tanahun. The process of constructing a 'Homestay Circuit' connecting the historic and cultural town of Bandipur with the religiously significant Vyas Municipality has been initiated. In collaboration between Vyas Municipality and Bandipur Rural Municipality, the 'Bandipur-Keshavtar Homestay Circuit' has been introduced as a new model for rural tourism development.

Rural Municipality Chairman Surendra Thapa stated that the initiative aims to promote tourism based on local products, traditions, and the environment, with cultural heritage as the core foundation. Once a major trading hub, Bandipur had faded into obscurity after the district headquarters was moved to Damauli.

Today, the town is being re-established as an open and vibrant cultural museum. Known as the 'Queen of the Hills,' the town has already carved out a distinct identity. Chairman Thapa noted that further efforts are now being made to promote local tourism through homestays.

“Following the success of the Bandipur Visit Year 2025, the rural municipality has declared 2026 as the Rural Tourism Visit Year. Accordingly, as part of developing new destinations by utilizing diverse natural, social, and cultural heritage, this 'circuit' concept has been advanced as a significant project,” he said.

Spanning a circular distance of approximately 75 kilometers, this 'circuit' will encompass 14 homestays and over 20 villages. Homestays operated by Gurung, Magar, Newar, as well as Chhetri, Brahmin, and Dalit communities will offer diverse cultural experiences.

The project covers most wards of the rural municipality as well as Ward No. 14 of Vyas Municipality. According to Thapa, this circuit will support homestay empowerment and help increase the income of rural communities through tourism.

The program is being implemented in three phases. In the first phase, tourism and culture experts, tourism entrepreneurs, and a technical team jointly conducted field studies, observations, and awareness programs in each homestay village on Chaitra 14 and 15.

Furthermore, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board Pokhara, the circuit will be promoted at the national and international levels through the Gandaki Province-level 'Village Tourism Mart 2083' to be held on Baisakh 18 and 19.

To facilitate rural tourism, the rural municipality has already launched a safari jeep service, which is expected to expand tourist access to various villages, said Suraj Bhattarai, Chief of the Rural Municipality's Tourism Branch.

Tourism expert Hari Singh Gurung stated that this 'circuit' is intended to be developed as Nepal's first model project, with the goal of establishing a new identity for Nepali rural tourism on the global stage.

He expressed confidence that the plan, initiated with the realization that tourism development while preserving local culture, traditions, and lifestyle is a necessity today, will contribute significantly to sustainable tourism promotion.

The circuit includes Mohoriya and Ramkot in Bandipur-2; Kulung, Keshavtar, and Rumsi in Vyas-14; Dharampani in Bandipur-6; Kamalabari in Vyas-12; Korikha in Bandipur-5; as well as the Bandipur Community Homestay, Bandipur's Dharampani Homestay, and the historic Huslangkot Gadi, among others.