India West Bengal

Moonbeam Farmstay by Muhaan

Incredible Place

Experience beautiful simplicity in a 100-year-old Indigenous Lepcha Home.

Inspiring People

The Moonbeam team takes special pride in their knowledge of wild mushrooms in the forest and can recognize which ones are edible and where to find them.

Impactful Planet

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The farmstay used to be the main gathering place where villagers rested and exchanged stories.

Incredible Place

Farmstay Homestay Forest Mountain

Experience beautiful simplicity in a 100-year-old Indigenous Lepcha Home.

Guests are welcomed as family to the farm and can get involved in any of daily activities – 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.

Philosophy

The beautiful two-storied wooden home is known as Thulo Ghar by locals, which translates to ”A Big House” in Nepali. There are 3 options at the homestay –

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 farm’s food crops and cattle reared by the family, and Organic Tea processing. Farde’s 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.

History

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.

Mission & Vision

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.

Inspiring People

Good for Couples Good for Families Creative / Cultural Delicious / Indulgent

The Moonbeam team takes special pride in their knowledge of wild mushrooms in the forest and can recognize which ones are edible and where to find them.

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host_avatar

Muhaan

Altered Host Member

A social enterprise founded by team of driven individuals, who are working to develop sustainable community tourism models in the remote villages.

Host since ...

2021

We speak ...

English, Hindi, Nepali and Assamese

We have lived in...

India and Nepal

Guests, ask us about...

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.

Impactful Planet

Preserving our Lepcha culture fosters sustainability and harmony with the environment.

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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.

Learn & Do
  • Active & Physical
  • Languages & Cultures
  • Walking Tours
See & Visit
  • Walking Tours

Our Location

A serene hillside village in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Address

Sombaria, Hat, Gorubathan, West Bengal 735231, India

Local Area
  • Active & Physical
  • Languages & Cultures
  • Walking Tours
Local Attractions
  • Walking Tours