Lakhman Tamang, an orange farmer from Salakpur, Rong Rural Municipality-6, once had an orange orchard spread over an area of ​​more than 100 ropanis. However, Tamang's years of hard work went to waste when the entire orchard was destroyed by an unknown disease. Disappointed in orange farming, he started looking for an alternative way to earn a living - the homestay business.

This business has now taken a new turn, in the form of ‘jungle stays’. ‘Many tourists come to stay at homestays’, Tamang said, ‘Those who come to stay at homestays will not come to the jungle stays.’

From cowshed to jungle stays

Tamang had a simple cowshed in Langkep Valley, a dense forest area near Salakpur. That shed, built for daily animal husbandry, has today become the basis of a new tourism concept called ‘jungle stays’. There are many homestays across the country, but jungle stays are the first in Ilam. Jungle stays, which include the experience of spending the night in the forest and being one with nature, were first started on Tamang’s initiative.

‘I have managed the cowshed and converted it into a jungle stay,’ says Tamang, ‘We are ready to welcome anyone who wants to get closer to nature with full service.’

Here, guests can spend the night in the forest by paying a fixed fee. There are tents, scaffolding, and sleeping arrangements in safely reconstructed sheds. Local food cooked on a stove fire, the surrounding forest aroma, the Mechi River flowing all night, and the chirping of birds and wildlife will make the jungle stay even more exciting.

A biological heritage site on the border

The Mechi River flows near the jungle stay, which separates the Nepal-India border. This forest area along the river is considered very rich in biodiversity. ‘You can also see wild elephants roaming across the Mechi,’ said conservationist Shankar Luintel. ‘This area is rich in biodiversity as it is a habitat for rare wildlife and birds.’

The biological importance of this place has increased recently. Bird explorer and Mechi Bird and Wildlife Conservation Society President Deven Kharel and conservationist Luintel found the rare mammal mountain tree chuchundro and the endangered bird Kailo lahanche here for the first time.

‘Although the mountain tree chuchundro is said to be in Nepal, there was no official photo-record,’ says Kharel, ‘The Kailo lahanche was recorded for the first time after about 44 years.’

Lahanche was found with a nest in this area. Similarly, the first officially recognized photo-document of the mountain tree chuchundro has also been made public from here. This has strengthened the demand to declare the Langkep area a ‘hotspot’ for biological research, says Satyam Rai, ward chair of Rong Rural Municipality-6.

According to researchers, more than 300 species of plants, rare butterflies, reptiles, birds and mammals are found in this forest area, which is spread at an altitude of 250-800 meters above sea level.

Conservation and tourism potential with jungle-stay

Langkep Mechi Kinner has the potential to attract world attention due to its well-preserved natural area and new scientific discoveries. Kumar Moktan, founder president of the local ‘Golden Valley Community Study Center’, says, ‘It is not uncommon to find the Kali Lahanche and the hill tree Chuchundro. There should be no delay in declaring this area a conservation area.’

Rong Rural Municipality Chairman Manikumar Syangwo (Subas) also agrees with Moktan. He says, ‘The rural municipality is eager to cooperate in the conservation and promotion of this area rich in biodiversity.’