Jake and Lucy । UK
Hi, our names are Jake and Lucy, and we traveled to Nepal from the UK. Despite only staying four nights at Mount Mahabharat Homestay, we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. We visited in June, which is the start of the monsoon season, so we were worried about the rain taking away from our stay there. However, there was no need to worry; it was a great place to visit at this time of year. We were greeted by stunning scenery amongst lush mountains, and, luckily, the rain mostly came down during the night.
We stayed at the homestay as volunteers through WorldPackers, offering our help in the form of social media (this blog post) and manual labor on the farm. The homestay is situated on the mountain side at over 2000m above sea level. It is surrounded by small, independent farms and breathtaking views across the Himalayas. It is hard to describe what staying there is like without experiencing it yourself. The remoteness of it made it a great getaway from the business of Kathmandu. The noise of the cities was left behind, and we were left surrounded by nature.
Sustainability is at the heart of everything they do. Everyone lives off the land, and only a few items that can’t be grown at the farm are bought in. A huge variety of food is grown from vegetables, such as potatoes and onions, through to herbs and spices, such as coriander and garlic. Nothing is wasted! The weeds from previous crops are used as compost for the next, creating a renewable cycle. While we only stayed a few days, we had the opportunity to help with the harvest of potatoes and onions as well as weeding, making June an active time of year to visit. Be prepared to get stuck in and get dirty!
All of the food is vegetarian, and the produce comes straight from the farm. Even the milk is produced here from two cows they have, which are milked twice a day, producing up to nine liters each per milking! This is then used for drinks or turned into other food such as yogurt or ghee. The food is cooked traditionally over a fire in the kitchen and tastes incredible. We often ate in the kitchen, watching as more food was prepared. The meals were some of the best that we experienced in Nepal, and we were always asked if we wanted more at any point. We never went hungry!
For people concerned about eating food from another country, don’t be! We both loved every meal. Lucy also has a peanut allergy, which was easily communicated and accommodated for.
The family was incredibly kind and welcoming, and we were always looked after. There was a constant hive of activity around the homestay. Everyone was always doing something from cooking to farming to providing a hiking guide. They were always very smiley and happy to help. There was a strong sense of family and the feeling that everyone knew everyone else around. When we arrived at the airport, we were greeted warmly, receiving traditional scarves, before being driven to the homestay. Along the way we stopped for food at a place run by part of their family and even spotted a monkey on the drive up.
We had a wonderful stay at Mount Mahabharat; we felt welcomed from the moment we arrived. The distance from the main towns is what makes this place so special. There is an overwhelming sense of kindheartedness and peace when surrounded by the Himalayas, Kamal, Goma, and the rest of their family. Thank you all for sharing your lives with us for the short time we were there.
