Namaste,
I am Kamal Nepal, the operator of Mount Mahabharat Homestay and Retreat Farm. I am also the operator of Mount Mahabharat Eco Organic Farm. I am a trekking guide recognized by the Government of Nepal, and I have also been writing on tourism-related issues from time to time.
Before dedicating myself fully to tourism, I worked as a database operator in an international non-governmental organization, and I was also involved in journalism and the information technology sector. While traveling across different regions of Nepal, I saw great tourism potential in my own birthplace—formerly Dhunkharka and now the Bethanchok area. That potential inspired me to leave my job and return to my village. Since then, I have been working to promote agriculture, tourism, and local opportunities in Bethanchok in both professional and social ways.
My childhood was deeply connected with the Mahabharat hills, dense forests, local rivers, waterfalls, farmlands, and the rural way of life. I used to go with my parents, local villagers, and friends to collect grass, firewood, and forest litter from those forests, hills, rivers, and waterfalls. Today, those same places have become the main destinations of my tourism journey. The places I visited in childhood for daily household needs are now the places where I take domestic and international guests for tours. In this sense, my tourism journey is not merely a business; it is a life journey connected with my childhood, my soil, my memories, and my identity.
Until 2015, there were no hotels or well-organized tourism services in Bethanchok, especially in the Dhunkharka area. Local tea and snack shops served food to travelers. Porters who came from the remote hill areas carrying khuwa and brooms, as well as people who traveled from faraway places to buy groceries in the local market, used to spend the night there. Although the village had beautiful nature, high hills, a peaceful environment, and magnificent views, there was no proper service structure for tourists.
Since childhood, I have had a strong interest in the media. Whenever the name of my village or any local news appeared on Radio Nepal or in newspapers, I felt extremely happy. I was also closely observing the efforts made by some seniors for the development of tourism in Bethanchok. However, most of those activities remained limited to news coverage. Everyone talked about the potential of Bethanchok, Dhunkharka, and Narayansthan, but there was no actual service facility for tourists in the village.
In this situation, I began researching how tourism could be started with a small investment. During that process, I found the homestay concept to be a suitable path. Even while working in an international non-governmental organization, I had already created a website and started promoting the homestay. After I received a few bookings from foreign guests through my own efforts, I decided to leave my job and return to the village.
In the beginning, when I said I wanted to start a tourism business in the village, many people did not believe me. Even some members of my own family were not confident that this work would succeed. In our society, when someone starts something new, people sometimes call that person mad or strange until the work becomes fully successful. But I was not discouraged by criticism. I continued working with dedication for the development and expansion of local tourism.
My determination to do something new for society became even stronger. I was active on social media. I started posting photos of foreign guests at the homestay, work in the house and fields, visits to local areas, and the natural beauty of the village. Those posts gained good attention on social media. National mainstream media also began publishing those activities, which further encouraged me.
The promotion I started in 2013 began to show clear results by 2015. The arrival of both foreign and domestic guests increased. To date, I am very happy to have had the opportunity to serve more than 1,000 international guests and more than 10,000 domestic guests through homestay, hiking, camping, and trekking services.
This journey also brought a major transformation to my family. My family, who once feared speaking English, is now able to have warm conversations with guests from around the world. Interaction with guests, cultural exchange, and friendly relationships have brought positive changes to our family’s thinking, confidence, and lifestyle. The homestay has strengthened our family not only economically, but also mentally, socially, and culturally.
In the early days, I also encouraged other villagers to establish homestays. I supported them not only with advice but also by sending both domestic and international tourists to them. Today, the number of hotels, homestays, farm stays, and resorts in this area has grown to more than 20. Now society has begun to understand that what was once seen as my “madness” was actually my faith in the future of Bethanchok.
I have continuously contributed to the promotion of Mount Mahabharat, Gajaram Parbat, Rocky Mountain, Narayan Khola, Tintale Waterfall, and especially Ratan Khola Waterfall in the tourism development of Bethanchok. I have dedicated my time, effort, and resources to promoting the natural beauty, adventure potential, and local identity of these places nationally and internationally.
Certainly, a place as beautiful as Bethanchok would have become a tourism destination one day. But I believe that my personal efforts, continuous promotion, and willingness to take risks in starting this tourism journey played an important role in helping this area gain recognition, increase tourism activities, and develop local service structures much earlier than it otherwise would have.
More than a decade of experience has given me even greater energy. In the coming days, I am firmly committed to developing this region as a destination for wellness tourism, retreats, yoga and meditation, camping, and spiritual rest, based on the beautiful nature, royal views, organic lifestyle, and local culture of Bethanchok.
With this goal, I am moving forward with the concept of donation-based retreat services and community-friendly tourism. I sincerely appeal to all well-wishers, guests, friends, and supporters living in Nepal and abroad for their support, cooperation, and goodwill in this campaign.
Although I am very happy to see the development of tourism and the growing movement of visitors in this area, some things also deeply sadden me. As the number of tourists increases in the Bethanchok and Mahabharat region, I feel disheartened to see some visitors carelessly throwing garbage, plastic, and glass bottles, drinking alcohol around temples and sacred places, using vulgar and inappropriate language, and roasting meat that is prohibited in such places. Such behavior goes against our nature, culture, faith, and local values. Therefore, I sincerely request all visitors, local communities, tourism entrepreneurs, and concerned stakeholders to stop such activities and help preserve the Bethanchok–Mahabharat region as a clean, peaceful, sacred, and respected destination. If our actions have caused any pain to Mother Nature, I humbly ask for forgiveness with deep remorse.
“Dear Mother Nature, from the depth of my heart, I ask forgiveness for the mistakes through which we have hurt you.”
Bethanchok is not just a place; it is a confluence of nature, culture, agriculture, warmth, and possibility. I express my commitment to continue working from this soil, together with this community, for the development of this region.
Kamal Nepal
Operator, Mount Mahabharat Homestay and Retreat Farm
Trekking Guide, Bethanchok–03, Dhunkharka, Kavre, Nepal
I really want to thank you Kamal and your wonderful family for allowing me to stay with you for two weeks and making me feel so welcome since the very beginning. Got to experience traditional nepali culture, work in nature, eat healthy organic food and take a breath from my everyday life. It truly was a return to nature experience. Until we meet again, take care dai.
Fantastic place! Amazing! I came here for stay a couple of days and stayed at the end for 6 months! Excellent food, excellent rooms, excellent view. 5 stars for sure
Adorable family, a unique experience in Nepal – true organic life and culture in the Himalaia mountains. The food is amazing!!!
We are stay only 4 days but we had a nice stay with this cute family. The grandma and Gauma are really attentive to us and they cooked really good food. Kamal was really helpfull and answered to our trip question. It’s was a pleasure to stay with a Nepalese family in this beautiful setting. The 2 boys are really cute and funny we enjoy to play with them.
