Host since ...
2021
Guests are welcomed as family to the farm and can get involved in any of daily activities β foraging, Organic Tea processing, listening to old Lepcha stories, Lepcha music, and participating in spiritual rituals. They encourage children to learn about the culture, farming processes and animals in a safe, natural and nurturing environment.
The beautiful two-storied wooden home is known as Thulo Ghar by locals, which translates to βA Big House” in Nepali. There are 3 options at the homestay β
A single room with a queen-sized bed with attached toilet and bathroom.
The standard room has with a queen-sized bed and a single bed with attached western toilet and bathroom and another Indian-style toilet. We can provide extra beds in this room.
Lastly, their Dormitory room has two queen-sized beds and two attached western toilets, and one bathroom.All meals are cooked by the head chef, Mr Dilliram Chettri, who has a great interest in gardening, foraging and farming. All ingredients are locally grown and sourced from the farm. Moonbeam can organise local excursions, tours and community visits. Farm activities include farming, Mushroom foraging, cooking from the farmβs food crops and cattle reared by the family, and Organic Tea processing. Fardeβs aunts share old Lepcha stories in fluent Lepcha language and can teach guests some of the language. Ongden Lepcha is a Bungthing (a healer who performs various spiritual rituals of the Lepcha tribe) and a gifted musician with various instruments.
During my travels to the Northeast, I purposely sought out the most secluded villages to experience a truly immersive journey. It was a remarkable opportunity to reside among the villagers, embracing their way of life and partaking in their daily activities. This unique experience opened my eyes to the realization that extensive efforts are not required to promote tourism in these areas. All the necessary elements are already present; the key lies in establishing a tourism framework that preserves the pristine essence of these villages.
As I integrated myself into the community, I recognized that these places hold a profound connection to our ancestral heritage and our natural surroundings. However, if this connection remains unshared, it will inevitably fade away. I became determined to ensure that others, like myself, could also experience and learn from this profound connection with nature.
Moonbeam Farmstay is run by Farden Lepcha with his Aunts that take great care in keeping the tradition of their Lepcha Ancestors alive.
Farden and his team dedicate themselves to providing guests with an authentic experience of living in a Lepcha ancestral home and farm, and keeping the Lepcha culture alive for generations to come.
A social enterprise founded by team of driven individuals, who are working to develop sustainable community tourism models in the remote villages.
2021
English, Hindi, Nepali and Assamese
India and Nepal
To create travel experiences that are real and give maximum engagement with the local cultures and communities. More benefits can be provided to local communities and minimizing the negative impacts of tourism on them.
The farm has implemented permaculture principals and projects on the farm and aims to go zero-waste.
Aside from their permaculture practices, Moonbeam have gathered as a group of 10 women that make herbal medicines, herbal soaps, coconut oil and supply pure organic honey. The farm welcomes guests to experience local life and Lepcha traditions in the hopes of educating and keeping their indigenous knowledge alive. Moonbeam encourages mindfulness being immersed in a Lepcha ancestral home and farm, surrounded by nature and simplicity.
Sombaria, Hat, Gorubathan, West Bengal 735231, India