MYAGDI: A community-run homestay has begun welcoming visitors in Toripani, Beni Municipality–9, in a move local residents hope will boost rural tourism and household income.

The Sayapatri Community Homestay, launched across five households, can host up to 21 guests a day. The homes of Juna Khatri, Rashmi Chokhal, Sujana Chokhal, Yuva Giri and Jamuna Shrestha have been adapted to receive visitors, according to the group’s chairperson, Sita Khatri.

She said the aim was to offer guests a family-like environment while showcasing local culture and traditions. “With the growth of tourism, we plan to expand the homestay to more households,” she added.

Each participating home has built separate guest rooms equipped with beds, mattresses and toilets. One or two rooms in each house are reserved for visitors, many of which offer views of surrounding mountain ranges.

Toripani is home to diverse ethnic communities and is known for its natural scenery, biodiversity and cultural heritage. Visitors can observe traditional rural lifestyles and take part in local cultural programmes.

Meals feature locally produced food, including Gauriya Gudura rice, millet and buckwheat dumplings and bread, timur chutney, local chicken, goat meat and dairy products. “All vegetables, fruits and animal products are grown in the village itself,” said homestay operator Yuva Giri. Guests are also treated to performances such as Yanimaya dances, Panchebaja music and devotional songs.

The area is especially known for timur, or Sichuan pepper, which has become a signature feature of the homestay. Visitors are given small gift packs containing timur and local produce to take home. A night’s stay costs Rs 1,500.

The initiative has been supported by Eco Himalaya, which provided training and infrastructure assistance. Its director, Narayan Dhakal, said each household received materials worth Rs 70,000, while the group received an additional Rs 200,000. The organisation is also helping promote and improve the quality of local timur production.

Toripani lies at an altitude of about 1,750 metres and offers views of the Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Machhapuchhre and Manapathi ranges, particularly at sunrise and sunset. The village is about nine kilometres north of Beni Bazaar and can be reached by a 30-minute drive.

Road access is improving, with a blacktopped road already connecting Beni to Kirakhor, and further sections toward Toripani under construction.

Nearby attractions include Todke, the historical Dholthan Durbar and several religious sites. Dholthan once served as a monsoon capital during the Baise–Chaubise era, and its ruins remain. The village also lies close to Galeshwor Shivalaya Temple, regarded as a gateway to Muktikshetra.