VILLAGE HOMESTAY HOLIDAY (Eastern Himalaya)

If you have ever wanted to live, work and support an Indian village - here is your chance.

In the green midranges of the Himalayas - with a stunning backdrop of towering snow capped peaks - lies the village of Samthar, tucked in a remote part of the mountains. The village stretches across 12 kms, with scattered homesteads loosely grouped into hamlets, adjacent to terraced farmland. The valley then plunges down steeply to the Samthar Khola (river).

The people who live in Samthar are a blend of ethnic groups - Lepchas, Sherpas and Nepali. The ethnic groups are fused. They have adopted Nepali as a link language, yet maintained their diverse cultural identity.

After 15 years in rural tourism based from his home in Samthar, retired General Jimmy Singh is working with Insider Tours to start village homestay holidays. Guests live in homestays within the village, learning with the local craftsmen - who in turn get a direct income from their trades. The wider project includes educational support for school children and vocational training.

During your stay in the village, you'll be able to join in village activities such as ploughing, sowing, harvesting, collection of firewood and fodder, cow herding, goat care, cooking, mat and basket making, and blacksmithing.

You can explore the countryside, join in the cricket and football matches, play cards with the village elders, or relax in peace in your homestay (a separate self contained home).

*************************************

Sample village homestay holiday, Eastern Himalaya:
8 days/7 nights. Samthar village, near Kalimpong, West Bengal (with optional extension either trekking in the Himalaya or staying in a homestay in Sikkim)

Cost for Indian Himalaya village holiday, excluding international flights: £489 for a single person; £731 for a couple (not per person); £1461 for a small family of four. All our tours are private - you won't be part of a group.

The price quoted is for pick up from the local airport (or train station), full board, local English guides. There are additional charges for activities - ranging from around £30 for cooking for two people, to £3 for learning.

This is a sample Eastern Himalayan village holiday. We can mix and match according to the dates and places you would like to visit. Note that we don't arrange air flights.

Day one
Is your arrival at Bagdogra Airport. We will meet you at the airport and take you to Samthar village - four and half hours drive (or we can pick you up from the train at Nee Jalpaiguri). In either case, the journey through the Himalayan foot hills is beautiful - river valleys and forests. Dinner and overnight stay: Samthar Farm House, hosted by General Jimmy Singh.

Day two to Day Seven
We'll take you to your homestay hosts and get you settled. For the rest of your stay you will have a flexible program. You choose what you want to do on a daily basis with your host family. General Jimmy Singh will help you coordinate with your host families.

Options include:
- Sunrise watching: the panorama includes the Khangchenganga group of peaks - Simvo, Siniolchu, Lama Anden, Chomoyomo and Paunhari - and the passes of Chola, Natula, and Jalepla, leading into Tibet

- Guided and non guided walks through the village to meet people in their homes and fields - Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist. You can hear more about their work, beliefs and customs

- Visit the homes of local artisans and craftsmen and watch (or join) them working with traditional skills, such as blacksmithing, basketmaking, and mat weaving

- Learn Indian cooking (including pickle making) - and cooking with a solar cooker

- Watch housewives show how they extract mustard oil using a press made of wood, bamboo and stone; husking of paddy using hand and foot pounding tool; and grinding of corn using stone grinder

- Learn cutting and stitching of Indian dresses. You can visit the village tailors for made to measure clothes for yourself

- Learn about traditional methods of bee keeping using hollow tree trunks and how to prepare Chang (millet beer)

- Participation in village chores - ploughing, sowing, harvesting, collection of firewood and fodder, care of the family livestock (cow and goat milking and herding)

- Learn about traditional frame and thatch houses and watch their construction

- Learn about the institution of Bomthang and Jhakri - nature doctors, shamans, and faith healers. A chance to meet these men and watch demonstrations

- Enjoy several day treks - walk amidst nature, with good views and opportunity for more interaction with village folks of the surrounding areas

Day eight
After a farewell meal, we'll take you back to Bagdora or Kalimpong for your journey home.

Optional extensions
We recommend optional extensions - either trekking up the Himalayas, or staying in a homestay in Sikkim. Please ask us for these schedules.


GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT

The homestays
You have the option of being hosted by Nepali or a Lepcha family. The two families are based in different hamlets:

- Gaire Gaon host hamlet
Gaire Gaon - meaning village in deep valley is reached by a 10 minute steep "tumble down" trail from the Samthar Farm House located at the road head. Once there you will see a cluster of 36 homes creeping down to the lower valley through a series of fairly wide and flat terraces. It is a sunny location with cool breezes during the summers, and a full view of the snow ranges. The people are all Nepali Hindus from the Bhujel community.

You will be hosted by Krishna Kumar Bhujel, aged 61, the head of the family. His wife Pavitra Bhujel is 50 years old. They own 6 acres of farm land and grow a mixed crop of paddy, millet, maize, ginger, pulses and vegetables. They own oxen, cows, goats, pigs and poultry. Pavitra has brought up a family of 9 children. Of these two are still dependent on the parents.

Three of the elder daughters are married outside the village. Tara Bhujel, the elder unmarried daughter, is 28 years old. She has been working at the Samthar Farm House as a chef for the last 8 years. Pushpa the younger daughter studies at the Samthar High School in the 9th class. She is a gifted singer and a good dancer. Tilak, 19 years old is a school drop out and now works as a carpenter's apprentice. The youngest son, Deepak is 13 years old and studies in the 6th class.

The elder son of the family 35 years old Hik Bahadur, lives in a separate house close by, with his 36 years old wife, Krishna. They farm their own two acre plot. They have two boys - Anil (20) and Deo Kumar (12) - both are studying at school. Anita the only daughter is 15 years old and is also in school

The guest room is on the first floor. It is build of natural stone and bricks, with wooden floor and ceiling. The bed room is spacious with attached tiled toilet and bath. The toilet is a western style. The bed room opens to a 6 feet wide verandah with direct view of the snow ranges. The room is fully furnished and comfortable. A secluded garden with lawn is being developed by the host family.

- West Kabi Host hamlet
The West Kabi host hamlet is spread on a large terraced spur extending from the top of the valley, steeply down towards the lower valley overlooking the Samthar Khola. Its upper end rests on the main road as it enters the Samthar area. It is a sunny location, with its 48 homes spreading down to the lower valley. The people are primarily Lepcha -Christian and Buddhist. Also there are 19 Nepali Bhujel Hindu Houses.

You will be hosted by 26 years old Charles Lepcha and his 20 years old wife, Judith, in their newly built home. Charles works as a local guide with Jimmy Singh, helps his father with farming chores, and works occasionally for social organizations. Charles parents Mangal Lepcha ( 64) and Helen Lepcha (59) live close by.

The guest room is on the first floor. It is build of natural stone and bricks, with wooden floor and ceiling. The bed room is spacious. There is a tiled toilet and bath. The toilet is a western style WC. The bed room opens into a verandah with direct view of the snow ranges. The room is fully furnished and equipped for comfortable living. A secluded garden with lawn is being developed by the host family.

Duration: The duration is flexible. However it should be a minimum of 10 days

Number of guests: Ideally a couple or a family group. We are happy to host individuals, at a higher fee.

Languages spoken: Nepali is the main language of the people. Large sections speak Lepcha and Tibetan. In the towns most people can communicate in English. All of our local guides and us are English speaking

When: Available year round. To select your time of visit see the seasonal cycle below:

SEASONAL CALENDAR IN SMATHAR

June and July
Life in the community revolves around the monsoons and the sowing of the paddy crop. The monsoons start during early June and continue till mid October. The heavy down pour is used for flooding the terraced paddy fields. Seedlings are transplanted in June-July. Sowing is a big occasion - entire families participate on a cooperative basis.

August and September
Weeding of paddy and Kodo crop (black millet to make Chang beer), a back breaking job. The maize crop is harvested.

October and November
By the end of October the monsoons will have stopped and the dry season begins. The weather is mellow, with some showers. It is a Hindu festival season. Dashain (Durga puja) is fifteen days of celebration during the lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon. Goddess Durga in all her manifestations is worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and animal sacrifices.

In preparation every home is cleaned and decorated as an invitation to Godess Durga and Laxmi, so that they may visit and bless the house with good fortune. Family members come together, with gifts of new clothes, temple offering for the gods, and food for the feasts. Sheep, goats, ducks, chicken and even water buffalo are prepared for the sacrifice.

Tihar (Diwali) - also called Laxmi Puja - is the five day festival of lights and one of the most dazzling Hindu festivals. In this festival Goddess Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth, is worshipped. During the festival, houses are lit with traditional oil lamps. Goddess Laxmi was formed from the ocean and has the wealth of the seas. She sits on a full-grown lotus and her steed is the owl. On the third day of the festival at the stroke of midnight it is believed that Goddess Laxmi will fly around on her owl to see how she is being worshipped.

In October the mustard crop and potatoes are planted. In November the paddy and Kodo millet is harvested.

December and January
This is the cold spell, with clear blue skies, and the occasional periods of fog. Christmas is celebrated by the Lepcha Christian community with the usual rituals and festivities.

In December, Lepcha New Year, called Namsong, is celebrated by the Lepchas. It is a day of prayers, feasting, and archery competitions. Potatoes, spinach and some other vegetables are planted. People go out on picnics and outings, and it is time to collect firewood for the year.

February and March
Winter still lingers on. The weather is clear but visibility remains a bit hazy due to dust from the plains. Snow fall in the higher regions brings cold spells in its wake. There are occasional short spells of rain and hail. In February, the Buddhist New year, called Losar, is celebrated by Buddhist Lepchas and Bhutias with prayers, song and dance and feasting. The mustard and potato crop is harvested

By March, spring flowers start blooming and the forest trees get new leaves. Water springs start drying up and there is an acute shortage of water. Maize and ginger is planted.

April and May
In pre-monsoon time - thunder showers occur in the evenings with lightning lighting up the skies. The weeding of maize and ginger takes place.

Preparations for planting paddy starts in May, when the days are warm, followed by short bursts of evening rain. Paddy fields are rebuilt by refilling soil and repairing water dykes and channels. The farmers and oxen toil hard in the hot sun and pray for timely rain

Contact us about the Eastern Himalayan village holiday to Kalimpong, West Bengal, North India

***************************
OTHER TOURS THAT MAY INTEREST YOU...

Peru tours
Click here for our Peru Insider tours

North India tours
Click here for Rajasthan and Delhi Insider Tours
Click here for Himalayan and Darjeeling Insider Tours

South India tours: Kerala
Click here for Kerala culture tour
Click here for Kerala backwaters tour

South India tours: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
Click here for Wilderness west of Bangalore tour

South India tours: food tour and birding tour
Click here for South India bird tour
Click here for South India food tour

Sri Lanka tours
Click here for schedules and prices for Sri Lanka tours

Weddings in India
Click here for schedules and prices for alternative weddings