Far from Nepal’s famous Himalayan trekking routes and the busy streets of Kathmandu, the Terai lowlands reveal a different side of the country — one rich in wildlife, culture and warm hospitality. Home to the Tharu people, this southern region offers sprawling farmlands, national parks filled with rhinos and elephants, and the sacred birthplace of Buddha, Lumbini.
Visitors can experience daily life through the Community Homestay Network, which supports local families and offers immersive cultural stays. In the village of Bhada, travellers are hosted in traditional adobe homes and invited to cook, celebrate and join in local customs. One visitor helped prepare starfruit pickle and later took part in Auli, a post-harvest festival where villagers dance, drum and feast together. A rice-field rat barbecue — part of a ritual asking for protection of the next year’s crops — symbolised gratitude to nature, while cups of homemade chhyang rice liquor flowed freely.
Hospitality runs deep in Tharu culture. “Atithi devo bhava — the guest is god,” explained local hosts, proud that tourism is helping revive traditions and bring new opportunities to their community. In the Terai, visitors don’t just watch local life — they’re invited into it.
