Travel guide · Nepal
Sirubari Village Homestay
Nepal's first community homestay: a Gurung village in Syangja with family stays, culture and forest walks.
Sirubari is the village that started it all — widely recognised as Nepal's first organised community homestay. Tucked into the hills of Syangja district south of Pokhara at around 1,700 metres, this immaculately kept Gurung village pioneered the model of welcoming travellers into ordinary family homes and sharing the income across the whole community. A stay here is the original, and still one of the most authentic, community tourism experiences in Nepal.
Why Sirubari matters
Launched in the late 1990s, Sirubari's homestay scheme proved that an entire village could host visitors with dignity and share the rewards fairly. Its success rippled outward, inspiring villages from Ghale Gaun in Lamjung to Briddim near Langtang and the Newar towns of the Kathmandu Valley. To stay in Sirubari is to visit the source of Nepal's whole community homestay movement.
What to expect
You stay in a tidy Gurung farmhouse, with a simple, clean room and meals cooked over the family hearth — generous dal bhat, seasonal greens and local produce. The village is famous for its spotless flagstone paths, flower-filled yards and the warmth of its hosts, many from families with a proud tradition of service in the Gurkha regiments. Evenings often bring a cultural programme of Gurung song and dance, performed by the community rather than staged for tourists.
Things to do
Days are unhurried. Walk to the village viewpoint for a sweep of the western hills and, in clear weather, distant Himalayan peaks. Wander the surrounding pine and rhododendron forest, visit the school and small temples, and learn about Gurung and Magar culture directly from your hosts. Many travellers simply slow down — helping with farm chores, joining a cooking session, or sitting with the family over tea.
How to get there and book
Sirubari is reached by road from Pokhara or from Putalibazar, Syangja's district headquarters, followed by a short uphill walk into the village. Arrange your stay through the village homestay committee, which places guests with host families in turn; booking ahead via community tourism networks or a local operator is wise, especially for groups. As a flagship of responsible travel in Nepal, Sirubari rewards visitors who come with patience, respect and a willingness to share village life. Bring cash and a warm layer, and pair a night here with a stay at the equally welcoming Gurung village of Tangting for a fuller picture of hill-country hospitality.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Sirubari?+
Sirubari is a Gurung village in Syangja district in Nepal's western hills, south of Pokhara, at roughly 1,700 metres. It is reached by road from Pokhara or Syangja's district headquarters at Putalibazar, followed by a short uphill walk into the village.
Why is Sirubari famous?+
Sirubari is widely regarded as Nepal's first organised community homestay, launched in the late 1990s. Its success in spreading tourism income across an entire village made it the model for later community homestays such as Ghale Gaun, Briddim and Panauti.
What can you do in Sirubari?+
Guests stay with Gurung families, share home-cooked meals, watch cultural programmes with traditional Gurung dance, and walk to the village viewpoint and surrounding pine and rhododendron forest. The pace is gentle and the focus is on rural life rather than sightseeing.
How do you arrange a Sirubari homestay?+
Stays are arranged through the village homestay committee, which assigns guests to host families so that hosting is shared fairly. Booking ahead through community tourism networks or a local operator is advised, especially for groups, and confirms a warm welcome on arrival.
