Mayatar sits in the Chitwan hills where the heat of the Terai does not reach. This guide covers the Mayatar Homestay run by a returned migrant worker, what to see around Ichchakamana, local Gurung food, and how to get there from Bharatpur.
Most people who come to Chitwan stay in Sauraha. The lodges face the river, the jeep safaris leave at dawn, and the whole thing is well-organized and well-worn. Mayatar is 18 kilometres north of Shaktikhor in the Chitwan hills, and it is a different Nepal entirely. The temperature drops as the road climbs. The plains disappear below you. By the time you reach the village, the air is cool even in May when Bharatpur is sweltering below.
Mayatar sits in Ichchakamana Rural Municipality, a hill area of Chitwan district that most Terai visitors never reach. The community has been developing homestays over the past few years, and the result is a small cluster of family-run properties in traditional Gurung houses with views back toward the plains and forward into forested hills.
TL;DR
Mayatar is a cool Gurung hill village in Chitwan district, 2.5 hours from Bharatpur by road
The main draw is the combination of hill scenery, local food, and proximity to Upardangadhi Fort and Siraichuli sunrise
Mayatar Homestay is a verified listing on Nepal Homestays, run by a returned migrant worker in a renovated 1978 traditional house
Best time is October to April when Terai heat makes the cool hills especially welcome
A good option for travelers doing Chitwan who want one night away from the Sauraha tourist circuit
Quick Overview: Mayatar Chitwan
What Is Mayatar?
Mayatar is a hill settlement in the upper part of Chitwan district, populated primarily by Gurung and Chepang communities. It sits above the Terai plains in the forested hills that most Chitwan visitors never enter. Until a few years ago, reaching Mayatar meant a seven-hour walk from Shaktikhor. The road is paved now and the journey is 2.5 hours from Bharatpur.
The area around Mayatar is part of Ichchakamana Rural Municipality's push to develop hill tourism. Upardangadhi, the old district headquarters of Chitwan until 2018, is nearby. The Nepal Tourism Board lists the Ichchakamana circuit as an emerging destination within Chitwan district, alongside the more established Sauraha and Meghauli areas.
What makes Mayatar worth the drive is the absence of the Sauraha circuit. No touts, no packaged safaris, no menus in six languages. You arrive and the village continues around you. Even on Nepali holidays when the homestays fill up, it is a different crowd from the Thamel-to-Sauraha circuit. For travelers combining Mayatar with the broader southern Nepal loop, the top 10 places to visit in southern Nepal covers Lumbini, Janakpur, Bardiya, and the wider Terai circuit. The Tharu community homestay guide covers the Sauraha and Bardiya side of Chitwan if you want the plains-based version of the community staying in the same district.
Places to Visit in Mayatar and Around Ichchakamana
Seto Pahara Cave
A 15-minute walk from the main Mayatar settlement. The cave goes back about 30 metres into the hillside with a narrow entrance that opens into a larger chamber. The temperature inside drops noticeably and the walls have mineral deposits that catch your torch beam. Local guides from the homestay can take you there. No entry fee.
Rigdi Khola
Three kilometres from Mayatar, the Rigdi river runs cold and clear through a narrow valley. It is known locally for snow trout fishing. The walk down to the river and back takes about 2 hours and passes through terraced farmland and mixed forest. Even if you do not fish, the river itself is worth the walk on a hot afternoon.
Upardangadhi Fort
Ten kilometres from Mayatar, Upardangadhi was the administrative headquarters of Chitwan district until 2018. The old fort sits on a ridge with views across the Chitwan valley. The ruins are modest but the historical context is interesting. Chitwan was governed from this hilltop while the Terai below was still largely forested. A jeep from Mayatar gets you there in 30 minutes.
Siraichuli Viewpoint
Fifteen kilometres from Mayatar, Siraichuli is one of the best sunrise viewpoints in the Chitwan hills. On clear October and November mornings, the Himalayan range is visible from Dhaulagiri to Langtang. The drive from Mayatar takes about 45 minutes by jeep. Leave before 5 AM for sunrise. Your homestay host can arrange a jeep the evening before.
Ichchakamana Temple
A significant Hindu temple dedicated to Ichchakamana, a form of the goddess Bhagawati, about 20 kilometres from Mayatar. The approach is a forest walk through sal trees that the temple complex sits inside. Incense and marigold reach you before the building does. Families from Bharatpur visit regularly during Dashain and Navaratri. Worth combining with a Siraichuli sunrise trip on the same day if you have a full day and a jeep.
Where to Stay: Mayatar Homestay
Mayatar Homestay is the verified listing on Nepal Homestays for this area. The property is run by Tikabahadur Gurung, who spent a decade in Dubai working in hotels before returning to Mayatar and renovating his family's 1978 traditional house. The house sits on the main trail through the village, which historically served as a resting point for people trekking between Shaktikhor and Upardangadhi. For the Sauraha and jungle-side options in the same district, the best homestays in Chitwan guide covers Tharu community properties near the national park.
Deluxe rooms at NPR 2,000 per night. The property can accommodate groups and is popular on Nepali holidays, so booking in advance is recommended for weekends. Contact: 984-2770240.
The house is traditional stone construction with wooden fittings and a courtyard. Tika serves locally grown food and can arrange jeep transport to Siraichuli, Upardangadhi, and the Rigdi Khola area. He takes bookings by phone, confirms arrival times, and has hot water ready when guests arrive. Small things, but after a 2.5-hour drive on a hill road, they matter.
What to Eat at Mayatar
The food at Mayatar Homestay comes from the surrounding land. Pumpkin, squash, fiddlehead ferns (niuro), local chicken, and goat meat are the staples. Dal bhat is the base of every meal but the accompaniments are different from what you get in Sauraha. The vegetables are grown in the family garden or sourced from neighbors. The niuro curry in particular, made from freshly foraged fiddlehead ferns in season, is something you will not find on any tourist restaurant menu. For travelers interested in how food culture varies across Nepal's Terai, the Nepali homestay food by region guide covers the differences between hill Gurung cooking and the Tharu food traditions found in the flatlands below.
Tika brews local raksi and can arrange tea made from herbs collected on the hillside. Ask in advance if you want any specific dietary accommodation.
How to Get to Mayatar from Chitwan
From Bharatpur: Take the Prithvi Highway west toward Mugling. Turn north at Hugdi Khola toward Shaktikhor. From Shaktikhor, continue 18 km north on the paved road to Mayatar. Total journey time is around 2.5 hours by private vehicle. There is no direct public bus from Bharatpur to Mayatar. The most practical option is a private jeep hired from Bharatpur or Sauraha, costing NPR 4,000 to NPR 6,000 one way.
From Kathmandu: Take the Prithvi Highway toward Mugling, then south toward Bharatpur. Total drive time from Kathmandu to Mayatar is around 4 to 5 hours. Alternatively, take a Chitwan-bound bus to Shaktikhor and arrange a jeep from there for the final 18 km. The Kathmandu to village travel times guide has realistic journey breakdowns for Chitwan and other southern Nepal destinations.
From Sauraha: Sauraha to Bharatpur is about 30 minutes. From Bharatpur follow the route above. Total time from Sauraha to Mayatar is around 3 hours. If you are combining Mayatar with a wildlife safari, the Chitwan safari cost guide covers what you actually pay for jeep safaris, park entry, and activities in Sauraha before or after your Mayatar stay.
For context on how Mayatar fits into a broader Chitwan trip, the Chitwan National Park guide covers the Sauraha and Meghauli side of the district. The Bardiya vs Chitwan guide is useful if you are deciding between the two national parks for wildlife.
Best Time to Visit Mayatar
October to December is the clearest window. The monsoon has ended, the hills are green, skies are sharp, and the Siraichuli sunrise views are at their best. The cool air is particularly welcome if you are coming from the heat of the Terai. Peak Nepali holiday traffic falls in October during Dashain and Tihar. Book in advance for those weekends.
January to March is cold at night, around 5 to 10 degrees Celsius, but clear and quiet. Fewer visitors, lower prices, and the forest trails are dry. The Nepal homestay packing list covers what to bring for a hill stay at this altitude in different seasons.
April to May is when Mayatar's main selling point kicks in most clearly. The Terai plains are 35 to 40 degrees. Mayatar is 25. The contrast is stark and the homestay books out on weekends with Nepali families escaping the heat.
June to September is monsoon. The road to Mayatar can get difficult in heavy rain. The hills are intensely green but the Siraichuli views disappear behind cloud for weeks at a time.
Final Thought
Mayatar is not a destination you stumble across. You have to decide to go there. The road is longer than Sauraha, the infrastructure is simpler, and the experience is more dependent on your host than on any attractions. But that is also the point. Tika Gurung gave up a second decade abroad to run this place. The food is from his garden, the stories are from his life in that village, and the house has been sheltering travelers since 1978.
Browse and book the Mayatar Homestay directly on Nepal Homestays.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mayatar in Chitwan?
Mayatar is a Gurung hill village in Ichchakamana Rural Municipality, Chitwan district. It sits in the hills above the Terai plains at around 800 to 1,000 metres, significantly cooler than the flatlands below. The area has been developing community homestays and is known for Upardangadhi Fort, Siraichuli sunrise, and the Rigdi Khola river.
How far is Mayatar from Bharatpur?
Mayatar is about 2.5 hours from Bharatpur by private vehicle via the Shaktikhor road. There is no direct public bus. A private jeep from Bharatpur or Sauraha is the most practical option.
What is Mayatar Homestay?
Mayatar Homestay is a family-run property in Mayatar village, Chitwan, run by Tikabahadur Gurung in a traditional stone house built in 1978. The property offers deluxe rooms at NPR 2,000 per night and is listed on Nepal Homestays. Contact: 984-2770240.
What can I do in Mayatar?
Main activities from Mayatar include visiting Seto Pahara Cave (15 minutes walk), walking to Rigdi Khola for trout fishing and river walks, day tripping to Upardangadhi Fort, and catching sunrise from Siraichuli viewpoint. A jeep arranged through your host covers all of these in two days.
What is the best time to visit Mayatar?
October to April. The coolest and clearest window is October to December. April and May are popular with Nepali families escaping the Terai heat. Avoid the monsoon months of June to September for road access and views.
Is Mayatar good for families?
Yes. The village is safe, the trails are manageable, and the homestay can accommodate groups. Nepali families regularly book the property on holidays. Confirm capacity and meal requirements directly with the host at booking.
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