Budhathok Village Emerges as a Premier Community Homestay Destination in Baglung

Baglung. Located right next to the Mid-Hill Pushpalal Highway in Nisikhola Rural Municipality-6 lies the beautiful village of Budhathok.

Budhathok village gained prominence following the blacktopping of the highway. Currently, a well-organized community homestay is in operation there. Filled with traditional structures, the village has recently begun attracting domestic tourists.

Four households have joined together to operate the Budhathok Magar Nakha Community Homestay. They welcome guests by serving local delicacies. Since its inception in Mangsir, the homestay has seen growing interest from both domestic and international visitors.

In five months, 120 tourists have stayed at the homestay. The neat, traditional houses along the highway entice everyone who passes by. Bima Budhamagar, the operator of the community homestay, stated that the facility has the capacity to accommodate 20 guests per night. The Sustainable Tourism Promotion Project under BYC Baglung provided support for the establishment of the homestay.

“With the participation of various women in the group, we provide collective dining, welcomes, and cultural performances,” said Budhamagar. “Our main attractions are the hospitality and local food served in old stone-roofed houses.”

The homestay offers dishes such as corn, soybeans, millet and buckwheat porridge, bread, Marsi rice, local chicken, goat and mutton, dried mushroom, local bean soup, and potato dishes.

The cost for food and lodging per person per night is set at only 1,200 rupees. Muktiram Sapkota, a tourist from Malika, Baglung, described the village homestay as a model for the district. “The welcome and hospitality of the operators, and the experience of sitting on a straw mat in a purely traditional house to eat local food was wonderful,” said Sapkota. “Homestay is all about the management of tradition, culture, and local cuisine; more publicity is needed regarding this homestay.”