A 20-minute drive from Baradi on the Prithvi Highway leads to the picturesque tourist village of Giranchaur, located in Aanbu Khaireni-1. The well-maintained stone-paved settlement, with its traditional houses, immediately captivates visitors. Residents are actively working to develop Giranchaur as a tourist destination to attract both domestic and international visitors. After the rural municipality declared it a model tourist village, the locals have been striving to attract more tourists.
Om Maya Gurung, a resident, shared that with the support and encouragement of the rural municipality, they have started homestay services. “The chairman of the rural municipality, Shukra Chuman, motivated us to run homestays, and we have now embraced the initiative,” she said. Currently, 20 houses offer homestay services, with expansion plans. Initially unfamiliar with homestay operations, the locals were trained by the rural municipality. “At first, we didn’t know how to run homestays, but our chairman taught us and even started sending guests,” she added.
Recently, around 100 school teachers stayed in the village, and well-known artists such as Bhatbhate Maila and Balchi Dhruve have also visited. Guests are served local delicacies, including free-range chicken, homegrown potato dishes, fermented greens (gundruk), roasted soybeans (Bhatta), and millet bread (Kodo roti). In the evenings, traditional Chudka dance performances entertain visitors. Resident Naresh Gurung stated that they welcome guests in a warm, family-like environment. While he works as a mason, his mother and wife assist in running the homestay. Over 300 guests have already spent nights in the village.
Chairman Chuman stated that Aanbu Khaireni Rural Municipality aims to develop Giranchaur as a model tourist village. The Gurung-dominated settlement consists of 60 households, to establish homestays in all of them. A budget of NPR 4 million has been allocated to transform the area into a tourist hub, to create sustainable income opportunities for locals.
Additionally, the rural municipality plans to establish a tourist village in each of its six wards. “We also plan to paint the houses in a uniform color and enhance the village’s beauty with flowers, in partnership with residents,” Chuman added. Currently, the road from Baradi to Samastipur is paved, but the remaining stretch is unpaved. Efforts are underway to upgrade the road for better accessibility.
