Mahendranagar. The homestay run by the Rana Tharu community, which lives only in Kailali and Kanchanpur, is flourishing. The homestay established 10 years ago at Naya Katan of Bhimdatta Municipality-14 in Kanchanpur district has become a source of income for the Rana Tharu community.

Homestay operators said that the guest house adjacent to the Shuklaphanta National Park, which is known for the world’s largest flock of deer, can easily observe deer, deer, peacock, boar and other species of birds during winter.

Parshuram Rana, chairman of Rana Tharu Community Homestay, said that the wildlife can be observed as it is connected to the national park. “When the park did not install wire nets, spotted deer and wild boar used to cause a lot of damage to our farms,” said Rana, adding, “Most of the visitors come to the park for homestay.” ’

He said that although domestic and foreign tourists are coming and going here, the necessary publicity is not yet there. “People coming here from other national parks and nearby areas of the country stay here”, Rana said, adding, “Last year alone, around three thousand tourists visited the hospital”. ’

According to him, the homestay operators in eight houses earn between one and a half to two lakh rupees annually per household. Apart from the park, tourists staying in homestays are also close to the distance for watching elephants in Dodhara, Chandani, Suspension Bridge and Hattisar in Pipariya.

“A large number of tourists come here for accommodation during the winter season and from February to May”, said Rana, adding, “The Rana Tharu people enjoy the dishes, attire and cultural programs here.” More than two hundred tourists have been staying here since last July, he said. According to Rana, the donor agencies have been supporting the operation of homestay sporadically.

“We had received support from donors even when we started the homestay 10 years ago,” he said, “The demand for Tharu dances here ends up in many programs.” Most of the tourists coming to Shuklaphanta National Park used to stay in homestays due to the ease of living. Tourists coming here can also taste the local products.

Along with the new cutting of Bhimdatta Municipality, homestay is also in operation in Bani of Krishnapur and Jonapur of Shuklaphanta Municipality. Rahul Bhatta, secretary of Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that homestays are convenient and useful for tourists coming to the district.

“The private sector is also making efforts to promote the tourism destinations in the district by running tourist-friendly packages”, he said, adding that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry has always been active in publicizing the tourism sites here. He also stressed the need for the cooperation of the private sector in the development and operation of homestays.