Saraswati Rana's family from Naya Katan, Bhimdatta Municipality-14 was engaged in vegetable farming. However, it was difficult to meet the household expenses from vegetables alone.

Since Shuklaphanta is a settlement on the edge of the National Park, the idea of ​​operating a homestay arose. A decade ago, a community homestay was started because it was possible to earn money by showing the original culture of the Ranatharu community to guests while preserving it. Initially, it was difficult to know how to welcome guests and how to arrange food and accommodation. Not understanding the dialect was also a problem. Gradually, through training and practice, the homestay has now become the main source of income for Saraswati's family.

Even though her family started a homestay, they have continued vegetable farming. They also produce the vegetables needed for the homestay themselves. They don't have to go far to sell their products and earn income from both the homestay and the vegetables. ‘We also produce vegetables, sell them in the market, and use our own vegetables in the homestay,’ said Rana, ‘but the homestay has now become the main source of our household expenses.’ According to Saraswati, more than 250 guests visited her house last season. They have generated an income of around Rs 150,000.

Guests do not come here for two to three months during the rainy season. Saraswati said that it is very difficult to manage expenses during that time. Guests start coming after Dashain-Tihar. Most of the tourists who visit Shuklaphanta National Park come to stay at the homestay. Since the park is close to the homestay, tourists are attracted to stay here because they can see some wildlife even while staying at the homestay. ‘Now, guests have started coming in droves. This time, not many guests came because the safari in the park was delayed,’ said Chetram Rana, secretary of Ranatharu Community Homestay. ‘The safari has just opened, now tourists are starting to come.’ According to him, guests coming to the homestay are welcomed with Ranatharu dance and are also given traditional attire. Guests are attracted to wear traditional attire.

Ranatharu Community Homestay is operated in Bhimdatta Municipality-14 and 16, where the Ranatharu community lives. The homestay, which was operated 10 years ago, has now become a major source of income. ‘A family is earning one to one and a half lakh rupees in a season,’ said Parashuram Rana, chairman of the homestay. ‘Now, the number of guests has also increased.’ According to him, most of the guests coming to the homestay are locals. They like the dishes of the Ranatharu community.

Homestays are operated in 8 houses in the Ranatharu settlement near the park. Each house can accommodate up to four guests in two rooms. Initially, the homestay was operated in a mud house. Now, a concrete house has been built.

Along with homestays, the Ranatharu community is also busy with farming. The vegetables, grains, milk and dairy products required for the homestay are produced at home. The vegetables produced at home are consumed at the homestay. The vegetables not consumed at the homestay are also sold in the market. ‘We are in vegetable production along with the homestay, that is why the house is running,’ said Chetram Rana, secretary of the Ranatharu Community Homestay. ‘Guests do not come during the rainy season, we are always free.’ According to him, 3,000 Harahari guests came to the homestay last year. The turnover has been around 1.5 million.