PALPA: Jantilung and Maramkot, located in Ward No. 5 of Tinau Rural Municipality in Palpa, are gaining popularity as emerging tourist destinations.
With their scenic beauty and panoramic views stretching from the Himalayas to the Terai, these locations are drawing both domestic and international visitors.
Tourists visiting Tansen in Palpa, Butwal in Rupandehi, and Bardaghat in Nawalparasi often pass through this area to enjoy the natural surroundings.
In response to the growing number of tourists, local communities have started offering organized homestay services. The Jantilung Community Homestay currently provides a package that includes a welcome program, dinner with local chicken, and breakfast for Rs. 1,200 per person.
The Tinau Rural Municipality, in coordination with the Lumbini Provincial Government, is working to further organize and promote homestays in Jantilung and Maramkot.
A week-long training program on homestay operation, management, and cooking has been launched under the Chief Minister’s Innovation Partnership Program. The training is facilitated by Empowerment Development Nepal Palpa with financial support from the provincial government and the rural municipality.
Rural Municipality Chairman Prem Shrestha said that the aim is to turn Jantilung and Maramkot into reliable sources of income through tourism.
“While the heat in Butwal, Bhairahawa, and other cities is becoming unbearable, these hill areas remain cool and refreshing. We see great potential to attract visitors seeking relief from the heat,” he said.
“We have started promoting homestays where guests can enjoy local hospitality and cuisine in a peaceful natural setting.”
Homestay tourism is thriving, with guests increasingly preferring authentic local experiences over luxury. Vice-chairman of the village council, Lal Bahadur Thapa, noted that the homestay model has been designed to reflect the preferences of visitors.
“The environment in Jantilung and Maramkot is excellent. If locals can offer heartfelt hospitality, this will become a sustainable source of income,” he said.
The accessibility of Jantilung has also improved, with roads from Jhumsa, Churchre, and Dumre making the area reachable within half an hour. Vice-chairman Thapa added that this connectivity makes the homestay business a viable way to promote the local economy.
Dhanishwar Basyal, central vice-chairman of Homestay Nepal, emphasized the economic potential of homestay tourism. He believes that increased tourist activity will stimulate agricultural production, livestock farming, and other employment opportunities in the village, ultimately reducing the need for labor migration abroad.
To accommodate tourists, Tinau Rural Municipality is constructing seven new guest houses in Jantilung and two in Maramkot. Angina Khanal, chairperson of Empowerment Development Nepal Palpa, informed that training programs in beekeeping and pig farming have already been conducted.
In the coming days, residents will also receive training in vegetable and goat farming, cooking, hospitality, guest room decoration, and guided observation tours.
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