Tharu Culture
Chitwan National Park is the Homeland of the Tharu people who are the original tribe of this region. They have their own language, culture and traditional beliefs. They were the only inhabitants of Chitwan up until the late 1950s.
The Tharu culture excursions offer you insight into the daily life of the Tharu people. Many Tharu think they should do everything in the western way and, by doing so, they abandon their own culture. These excursions aim to make the Tharu feel proud of their culture again.
We also try to preserve the culture by giving the local community an economical base for preserving it. 50% of the earnings of these excursions go directly to the local people. The other 50% supports other Sapana projects.
OUR ACTIVITIES:
OVERNIGHT STAY IN A TYPICAL THARU VILLAGE
USD $60 per person
Duration: overnight
Transportation, dinner, tattoo included.
THARU VILLAGE VISIT
USD $8 per person
Duration: max 2 hours
Maximum: 6 people in one group
With guide
During this trip you learn about the local people, culture, tradition, religion and heritage. You will visit the village by oxcart or jeep and walk through the village in the morning or evening. Visit a house, share a cup of tea, and get know the Tharu.
THARU BIKE TOUR
USD $20 per person
Half day, bike included
With guide
USD $32 per person
Full day, lunch & bike included
With guide
After having your breakfast in Sapana village, ride your bicycle for an half or full day riding. You will see, many unexplored Tharu places and villages, take time to enjoy and be the witness of the countryside life.
You will have your lunch into a Tharu village, where one family prepares your lunch.
After a break, you will continue your tour and come back at Sapana village.
THARU COOKING AND DINNER
USD $18 per person (50% amount of the program directly go to the women group)
Approximately 3 hour program
Imagine how much fun and excitement it could be to prepare your dinner at a Tharu house in the village being together with women and children. They dress you up with their traditional uniforms while performing the culture dance. (Don’t scare, uniforms are only for women guests). Highly appreciated and recommended by most of our visitors, this unique Tharu cooking and dinner program benefits the local people.
THARU STICK DANCING
USD $7 per person
Duration: 45 minute
Visit traditional Tharu stick dances at the cultural centre. These are cultural and traditional dances with long and short sticks performed by local Tharu people. They represent the different festivals and ceremonies.
You will be amazed by these war-like dances.
THARU FISHING
USD $9 per person
50% of price goes to the village
Duration: 1-2 hours (depending how much lucky you are for fishing!)
Maximum: 5 people in one group
Learn to fish in a Tharu style with a net or a basket while walking through the river. After you have returned, you can share great stories over typical rice wine and Tharu appetizers.
FIELD WORK
USD $7 per person
50% of price goes to the village
Max: 5 people
Duration: max 2 hours
Join the women on the field and plant rice, cut grass, carry leaves and become a Tharu for a few hours.
THARU HOUSE DECORATION
USD $8 per person
50% of price goes to the village
Max. 10 people
Duration: 2 hours
Learn how to make your own Tharu decorations while being taught by Tharu women. With a group or individually, you make beautiful creations with your hands on the walls of a Tharu house.
The Tharu make these decorations to bring good luck to the family. By helping them, you become, just for a little while, part of the family.
THARU HENNA TATTOO PAINTING
USD $10 per person
50% of price will go to the village
Duration: 1 hour
The Tharu are known for the many tattoos on their legs and arms, especially the women. It is possible to get your own Tharu tattoo painted by one of the local women. Don’t worry, ‘tattoos’ are made with henna and will fade and disappear after a few days.
THARU RELIGIOUS TOUR (Dev Ghat)
USD $32 per person
Minimum: group of 3 people
Duration: half day program
With guide
We drive you by jeep with a guide. This tour takes you to visit the Tharu religious and Hindus historical place called “Dev Ghat” close to “Narayangarh” City. This is also the place where two very famous rivers called “Trisuli” and “Kali Gandaki” join. The Tharu people use this place for funeral processions and cremations.
A GOOD TASTE’ OF YOUR OWN’
With a map provided by the Lodge you can explore the surroundings by bike or by foot. Bikes are available for rent at Sapana Village Lodge.
Please respect the people and their privacy. We kindly ask you no to enter a house uninvited and to respect the dress-code when visiting a village by covering your shoulders and knees.
If you want to take a photo of someone, please ask permission first. Not every local wants to be photographed. If you take the photo with a digital camera, we suggest you to show the person the result. This is a very nice way to communicate with the people and you also return the favor. Children especially find the pictures highly amusing.
Nepali people really appreciate it when you greet them. Nepali people say ´Namaste´ and fold their hands in front of their forehead or chest.
We kindly ask you not to offer the local people money.
If you would like to help the locals in a constructive way, please contact our staff details of sustainable ways to contribute.
