About
Pilachhen Homestay
Pilachhen is an ancient Newar settlement located near Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur, Nepal. The settlement was severely affected by an earthquake,2015 in the area.
Late Mr. Ramesh Maharjan, a visionary leader, the then Chairperson of Maya Foundation (NGO) and a successful jewelry businessman who vision gem in the rubbles and dreamed to bring the community and numerous like minded people together to rebuild and create a tourism model for sustainable development in the aftermath of the disaster.
Pilachhen under Reconstruction and Tourism Promotion Project laid the foundation for this Pilachhen Community Homestay. Now the Pilachhen Homestay is ready to offer an authentic and immersive experience for tourists, allowing them to learn more about the local way of life and interact with local residents. This could be particularly appealing for travelers seeking an alternative to more mainstream forms of tourism. Pilachhen Homestay also provide economic opportunities for the local community which is the main objective of the project to make the economic avenues of community sustainable through the Homestay Project. By offering homestays, residents could earn additional income and create jobs in the hospitality sector thereby supporting the livelihood.
Homestay is a great opportunity for International and local visitor to experience Lalitpur in a safe and supportive home environment. As a homestay provider you contribute towards positive memories of guest and providing once in lifetime experience to International and local guest in Nepal. Many homestay providers form long-lasting friendships with guest and their families all over the world. Our primary role as a homestay provider is to accommodate guest in a safe, welcoming and friendly home situation that supports their personal and educational needs. In return, guest is expected to show you and your household members respect, courtesy and consideration.
How the
homestay program works
Pilachhen Tourism development committee is responsible for approving the accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements for international and local guest in the Pilachhen homestay program. Pilachhen homestay procedures and guideline will be shared by the Pilachhen Tourism development committee. These procedures include the roles and responsibilities of homestay providers, guest and external agents and the steps to ensure appropriate homestay arrangements are maintained.
Heritage of Pilachhen
Pilachhen is one of Patan’s toles. Pilachhen is said to have been founded at the same time as Patan.
About 2 kilometers east of Pulchowk is the Pilachhen hamlet. Pilachhen is claimed to be named after the “Laakhey” known as “Pila” who used to dwell there, and “Chhen” is the home of this Laakhey. According to Newar’s believe, Laakhey is portrayed as deadly red wild face, big teeth, and unmanaged long thick hair, who is said to be the protector of the people in the Kathmandu Valley.
Pilachhen is a one-of-a-kind Newar settlement with its own culture, tradition and history. Pilachhen’s population is quite homogeneous, with Newars accounting for 100% of the population and Maharjans making up the single ethnic community group with roughly 108 homes.
Pilachhen has both tangible and intangible heritage sites such as Bhimchandra and Hemchandra Mahabihar, Pilachhen Manka Guthi, Ganesh temple, Pilachhen Manka and Sana Guthis, Falchas (Patis), Indra Jatra, Machhindranath Jatra, Ghantakaran Jatra, Khyak Nach, and others. Pilachhen’s concrete and intangible heritages are inextricably intertwined, making the hamlet extremely rich in history and culture.
Tangible Heritage
Pilachhen is home to several tangible heritage sites, including archeological, artefacts, and monuments that are significant to a community. These are the constructions that mimic Newar architecture.
Ganesh Mandir: The Ganesh Mandir (temple) at Lachhi tole is unique in its own right. It depicts Ganesh in a dance stance as an idol. In the Kathmandu Valley, it is the only one of its kind. If you worship the dancing Ganesh, it is said that you would be blessed with a son. It is venerated on a regular basis and is most popular during Indra Jatra, when the Golden Mukut (Crown) is on exhibit. Its origin date is said to have been in 832 B.S.
Falcha (Pati): Falchas are traditional public places, mainly used by elder people. The two Falchas in Pilachhen, Lachhi tole, are Tadha Flachi and Chidha Falcha. Every day, people come to the Falchas to recite Bhajans and devotional hymns. These Falchas are regularly visited by the local people either to recite Bhajans or simply take some rest.
The Bhajans sung in Tadha Falcha are chanted throughout the year except for the month of Asar (June-July). Majority of people in Pilachhen are farmers so the Falcha is closed during that month such that the farmers could focus on plantation during the month of Asar (June-July).
Every day in Chidha Flacha, Namsangati is chanted, which continues throughout the year (365 days) and it stops on the day when someone dies. In the Falchas, young generations are taught Namsangati. “Bhajans” are also chanted when someone is going through difficult times in their life.
Guthi Buildings: The Pilachhen Manka Guthi is a Guthi building in Pakha Keba. The “Dyo” in the Guthi Building is venerated during Dashain festival. The Guthi buildings are used during the special events for Guthi members.
Lachhe is home to the Pilachhen Sana Guthi. It is utilized by the residents of the neighborhood for special feasts on special occasions. It is also utilized for ceremonies when members of the community pass away.
Bahal: In Pilachhen, there are two well-known Bihars, Bhimchandra and Hemchandra Mahabihar, both of which are in Bacha.
Intangible Heritage
Non-physical behaviors, beliefs, traditions, and folklore that are part of a community’s legacy are known as intangible heritages. Pilachhen has its own set of beliefs and customs that are exclusive to Pilachhen and cannot be found anyplace else in the Kathmandu Valley.
In Pilachhen, there are a variety of Jatras and festivals take place throughout the year. Pilachhen’s Jatras and festivals include Indra Jatra, Machhindranath Jatra, Ghantakaran, and Dashain. The locals of Pilachhen still follow the traditional way of celebrating these festivals and are still authentic unlike the ones performed by people elsewhere in the Valley.
Every year, a puppet play called “Khyak Nach” is shown during Indra Jatra in Pilachhen. The performance takes place at Pilachhen Manka Guthi’s residence and is displayed through its window. A ritual ceremony is performed in front of the Ganesh Mandir before the puppet show starts.
Although the Khyak Nach is exclusive to Pilachhen, it has been imitated outside of Pilachhen in Patan in recent days. The Khyak Nach is a very old custom, and it has been a major source of entertainment to the people of Pilachhen since many centuries. The origin is not known to people. However, speculations is that it started during the Rana Dynasty since the puppet show mostly involves the dancing of the puppet with no dialogue which is quite like how the Rana’s treated the civilians when they used to rule the country.
The people of Pilachhen host a number of rituals and ceremonies around the year like rice feeding ceremony for new-born babies, “Ketapuja” (performed before the boy becomes a teenager), “Ehee” (pre-adolescent girls are married to the Bel, which is a kind of fruit) and “Baara” (performed for a girl between 12-14 years old before menstruation).
Historical Places (Temples, Ponds etc)
The Ganesh Mandir (temple) at Lachhi tole is unique in its own right. It depicts Ganesh in a dance stance as an idol. In the Kathmandu Valley, it is the only one of its kind. If you worship the dancing Ganesh, it is said that you would be blessed with a son. It is venerated on a regular basis and is most popular during Indra Jatra, when the Golden Mukut (Crown) is on exhibit. Its origin date is said to have been in 832 B.S.
Falchas are traditional public places, mainly used by elderly people. The two Falchas in Pilachhen, Lachhi tole, are Tadha Flachi and Chidha Falcha. Every day, people come to the Falchas to recite Bhajans and devotional hymns. These Falchas are regularly visited by the local people either to recite Bhajans or simply take some rest.
The Pilachhen Manka Guthi is a Guthi building in Pakha Keba. The “Dyo” in the Guthi Building is venerated during Dashain festival. The Guthi buildings are used during the special events for Guthi members.
In Pilachhen, there are two well-known Bihars, Bhimchandra and Hemchandra Mahabihar, both of which are in Bacha.
Tadha Nani is the biggest “Nani” (Open space) of the Pilachhen.
Chidha Nani is the smallest “Nani” (Open space) of the Pilachhen.
Tadhau Bachha is a term derived from two words ‘Tadhau’ which means biggest and ‘Bachha’ which means ‘buddhist stupa’ in Newari language. And this small buddhist chiba is available with attractive color decoration.
Dadhu Bachha is a term derived from two words ‘Dadhu’ means ‘middle’ and ‘Bachha’ means ‘buddhist stupa’ in Newari language.
Chidhau Bachha is a term derived from two words ‘Chidhau’ means ‘small’ and ‘Bachha’ means ‘buddhist stupa’ in Newari language.
An ancient design well is also available in Pilachhen where the local people used the water for various purposes excluding drinking.
Pond of Pilachhen is one of the most attractive area of tourism which can be seen by staying in open space just above it. Pond is decorated with golden tap and beauty is added with fishes inside it and falchha at the side of pond.
M89J+RF5, Bhinchhe Bahal, Lalitpur 44600, Nepal
Tel.: 977 9766445630
Email: [email protected]
