April 25th marked the 10th anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck 50 km outside Kathmandu, Nepal, killing close to 9,000 people and destroying thousands of homes and local businesses.
Today, at Nagarkot Community Homestay, located 27 km outside Kathmandu, travellers have the opportunity to visit a community that has demonstrated remarkable resilience post-earthquake – and post global pandemic – via the Community Tourism Network’s program of trips and experiences.
Through tourism, the community has been able to rebuild and strengthen their local economy after the earthquake destroyed their village, which first started offering homestays in 2011. This positive economic impact has resulted in improved healthcare for children, the preservation of culture and traditions, and more children now able attend university.
In 2017, Nagarkot Community Homestay joined the Community Homestay Network, Nepal’s foremost social enterprise supporting local community development and empowerment via homestay programs.
To find out more about the recovery in the ten years since the earthquake, what travel advisors should know about booking stays through the Community Homestay Network, the power of community tourism and more, Travel Courier caught up with Shiva Dhakal, the founder and managing director of Royal Mountain Group, which encompasses Community Homestay Network.
“Locally owned and operated, the award-winning Community Homestay Network currently has 50 different experiences available for travel advisors to book, made up of 40 community homestays and 10 experiences focussed on spending time with local artisans. This year, Community Homestay Network was named as one of TIME’s ‘World’s Greatest Places of 2025.’
–Shiva Dhakal, the founder and managing director of Royal Mountain Group
The Nagarkot Community Homestay village before and after the devastating earthquake on April 25, 2015.
Can you share some insights into how tourism helped Nepal rebuild in the 10 years following the earthquake?
April 25, 2025 marked 10 years since the catastrophic earthquake that struck 50 km outside Kathmandu, Nepal, killing close to 9,000 people and devastating thousands of homes and local businesses. Tourism was dramatically impacted in the immediate wake of the disaster, prompting the government to invest in both tourism and infrastructure to help entice visitors back.
This has proven a success and Nepal has demonstrated resilience as it has recovered, with the government working closely with tourism stakeholders and local communities impacted, to increase tourism’s contribution to the national GDP.
Community Homestay Network has helped Nepal to help build back the right way, with tourism dollars supporting local people in the country, which has suffered from zero dollar tourism. While the pandemic presented a new challenge, Nepal received one million visitors in 2024, which shows its continued appeal.
Tell us a bit about Nagarkot Community Homestay, what the recovery has been like and how they came to join the Community Homestay Network?
At Nagarkot Community Homestay, travellers have the opportunity to visit a community that has demonstrated remarkable resilience post-earthquake. Through tourism, the community has been able to rebuild and strengthen its local economy after the earthquake destroyed their village, which first started homestays in 2011. This positive economic impact has resulted in improved healthcare for children, the preservation of culture and traditions, and more children now able attend university.
After the earthquake it was like a new door opened for Nagarkot Community Homestay. Previously, they had small traditional houses which could only accommodate travellers in one room. Following the earthquake, the hosts realized that it was important to have more rooms as well as earthquake resistant buildings, so they rebuilt concrete houses instead. This changes the traditional look, but allows for the better provision of facilities for more travellers, meaning an improved experience, more local income for the community, and most importantly, better safety precautions.
Following the earthquake, Nagarkot began to host domestic travellers in small numbers, but they also wanted to host international travellers. They heard that Panauti Community Homestay [a successful nearby homestay initiative] was receiving international travellers and that is how they connected with Community Homestay Network, which they became a part of in 2017. From this point forward Nagarkot has continued to host international travellers in the rebuilt community.
The colourful Nagarkot Community Homestay today.
How does Community Homestay Network work with Nagarkot Community Homestay?
Today, Community Homestay Network acts as a valuable partner, connecting the Nagarkot community with international travellers with nearly 50 per cent of the international guests they’ve hosted being booked by them. They consistently put in effort to promote the community and send travellers their way. Together they have co-developed a wide range of activities that go beyond just accommodation. These include hiking, storytelling, and hands-on cultural experiences like making traditional leaf plates, crafting cotton wicks, participating in farming activities, practicing yoga, and engaging with hosts in their daily lives. Community Homestay Network’s product development team works closely with Nagarkot to position their homestays as more than just a place to sleep, but as an experiential stay, offering guests meaningful interactions and authentic cultural immersion.
Tell us more about the Community Homestay Network and what kind of experiences travel advisors can book for their clients?
Community Homestay Network was developed to bring tourism to Nepal responsibly and sustainably, and to encourage entrepreneurship in local communities significantly benefitting women, youth, and marginalized communities while safeguarding local culture and tradition. With a strong focus on co-creation, Community Homestay Network collaborates with 50 communities across Nepal, actively engaging local residents to assist in developing and managing their tourism services. Locally owned and operated, the award-winning Community Homestay Network currently has 50 different experiences available for travel advisors to book, made up of 40 community homestays and 10 experiences focussed on spending time with local artisans. This year, Community Homestay Network was named as one of TIME’s ‘World’s Greatest Places of 2025’.
Examples of the experiences that await travellers at the Nagarkot Community Homestay.
Do you work with any tour operators who offer stays as part of their itineraries?
Yes, we work with a number of other tour operators who build our homestays into their tour programme offerings to enhance the experience for their guests. [G Adventures is one of the tour operators whose itineraries involve stays with the Community Homestay Network.]
Is there anything important that you think the Canadian market or travel advisors should know?
Nepal is more than just mountains and trekking! Travellers visiting the Nagarkot community from Canada will have the unique opportunity to experience the rich diversity of ethnicities, food, and lifestyles, offering them a deeper understanding of Nepal—just 27 kilometers from the capital, Kathmandu. Despite being so close to the city, the village offers a peaceful escape where visitors can fully immerse themselves in local culture, traditions, and natural beauty.
There is sometimes a perception that homestays might be cramped or intrusive, however as hospitality providers, our hosts are also mindful of the need for personal space and privacy and do their best to accommodate travellers’ preferences, as long as the requests are within their capacity. Their goal is to ensure a comfortable and culturally enriching stay for everyone.
What are some of the memorable or unique experiences that await travellers in Nepal?
Nepal is well-known for its hiking, so travellers should not miss trekking in the serene forest overlooking the Himalayas near Nagarkot. Of course, a community homestay is a must, to live like a local person, interact with the community, and maybe learn some new skills. Nothing beats hearing about the life and traditions of the Nepalese like being invited into their homes. The food is also excellent, so don’t miss the famous momos!
