After entering the inner lane 50 meters east of the traffic intersection in Butwal, you will see the 'Chiawala' under the shade of green trees. The view after entering through the ordinary gate is beautiful. Benches and tables made in attractive designs from waste materials. Hundreds of years old iron tea kettles decorated on the walls.

From lanterns used to light lamps before electricity reached the village, to old windows and doors used in rural homes, one can see them. There are also artistic materials made from bamboo. The tea shops of 'Chiawala' are original and artistic.

Once upon a time, this alley inside the traffic circle was considered an unsafe area for street children to consume drugs. However, it has changed its identity in the past four years. Tea connoisseurs reach 'Chiawala' from early morning. 'Chiawala', run by 45-year-old Naresh Pandey, currently offers 90 types of tea. The most popular is 'Ghanshyam' tea. Then 'Mero Khushi Tea', 'Terai Tea', and 'Matka Tea' are also equally famous. Naresh says that Marwari families from Gorakhpur in India visit 'Chiawala' just to taste tea. 

Naresh is the third generation in the Pandey family to continue the development of tea culture. His ‘tea seller’ is not only connected to the tea business, it is also a legacy. The tea brewed by his grandfather Yagya Prasad in Karikot, Syangja was famous almost 90 years ago. Yagya Prasad also played politics.

When no one came to listen to his political talk, Yagya Prasad came up with a trick, to serve sweet tea to those who listened to him! Then the rumor spread, ‘Let’s go have tea to listen to Yagya Prasad.’ And then, a crowd of people started coming to have tea. Yagya Prasad won the seat of the Municipal Assembly (NASAS) by serving tea and talking politics. Then he turned that same trick of serving tea into a business and started the tea business in 1956.

Naresh’s father Ghanshyam brought the legacy of Yagya Prasad’s tea culture to Butwal. Within two years of moving from Syangja to Butwal in 2023, he started a tea shop from a wooden tank in Amarpath. The tea shop run by grandfather Yagya Prasad for politics, the tea shop run by father Ghanshyam, has now been handed over to the grandsons.

The eldest son Ganeshdev Pandey, who grew up with the tea shop run by father Ghanshyam, has succeeded in ‘branding’ it across the country as ‘Chiawala’. Along with the Pandey brothers, all the family members are expanding branches across the country under the name ‘Chiawala 1956’. And, Naresh is running ‘Chiawala’ in Butwal. Ganeshdev is running it in Kathmandu. 

Ghanshyam has two sons, Ganeshdev and Naresh, and two daughters, Shanti and Sirjana. Now, all four of them have separate tea shops. Ganeshdev’s daughter Palpasa Pandey is also involved in the tea shop. ‘Ghanshyam Tea’ is the main brand in all the outlets, including the main ones in Butwal and Kathmandu. The sons named the tea after their father. "Although we have 90 types of tea, most people prefer Ghanshyam tea and Mero Khushi tea," said Naresh. "While Ghanshyam tea is a tea that we prepare ourselves, Mero Khushi tea is a tea prepared according to the customer's wishes." According to Naresh, milk teas such as Ghanshyam, Mero Khushi, Terai, Matka, Honey Ginger, Honey Cinnamon, Lemon Milk, Kesar Milk, Gava Milk, and Royal are available in Butwal. Similarly, black teas include plain, masala, manarupa, mint lemon, and lemon honey tea. Green teas include pearl green, sencha, kanchi, classic, and Darjeeling tea.

Ilam tea, Ruby Black, Himalayan Gold, Pathibhara Black, and Golden Tips are also available under Orthodox. Three separate types of tea are also available in Orthodox. Naresh said that orthodox tea, which is prepared by rolling young tea leaves and drying them in the sun or in a machine, is also considered beneficial for health and many people like its taste. 

Here, you can choose from a variety of teas ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 450 according to your taste. Naresh and Ganesh have maintained uniformity in tea dishes in Butwal and Kathmandu. Apart from that, other dishes are placed on the menu according to the place. Mam is not available in the Kathmandu outlet, but Naresh has also placed veg Mam in Butwal. Chaat is made in Kathmandu, not in Butwal. Instead of chaat, Naresh has placed batuk and potato chop. 

Female employees are given priority in ‘Chiawala’. All six people from making tea to receiving the money are women. Customers who reach ‘Chiawala’ first go to the counter and ‘order’, pay the amount, and then go to get the tea themselves. ‘Chiawala’ has established the same ‘self-order’, ‘pay first’ and ‘self-service’ rules in all its shops. Naresh said that 450 to 600 people come to drink tea here every day.

Meghraj Bhandari, a dairy entrepreneur from Butwal, who was discussing business plans along with the taste of tea, said that ‘Chiawala’ has changed the identity of the inner lane of the traffic intersection along with the culture of the tea business. ‘Our thinking was that tea can be a business only,’ he added, ‘but, Ganesh and Naresh proved that tea can also be a special business.’ Now, there is a good gathering of people who enjoy tea here.

‘Chiawala Chautari’ reading books while drinking tea

‘Chiawala Chautari’ opened five years ago in Sukkanagar, Butwal, with the aim of not just serving tea but also making it a place for intellectual debate, like ‘Chiawala’. Where there is also a 'book cafe' for book lovers to read. 'Chia Chautari' has become a favorite place for many in recent times, as you can sit in the cafe and read a book while sipping tea/coffee. People can be found here reading books for hours while drinking tea.