Communities of Bote people along Nepal’s rivers are increasingly moving away from traditional river work — boating, fishing and gold panning — and embracing homestays and nature guiding as primary sources of income, community leaders say.
Why the shift is happening
The change reflects mounting pressures on river-based livelihoods: a contract system on rivers, declining aquatic life and tighter regulations have all reduced opportunities that once sustained the Bote. In response, families in parts of Nawalpur and Chitwan have opened homestays and begun offering guided nature experiences to visitors, transforming tourism into a new economic foundation.
Local leaders report that this move has helped raise standards of living while providing a vehicle for cultural preservation. Gyan Bahadur Bote, a leader in Nawalpur and secretary of the Majhi, Musahar and Bote Welfare Service Committee, described these alternative occupations as beneficial to both livelihoods and culture.
"Our language and culture are on the verge of ext
What visitors experience
Guests at Bote-run homestays are welcomed with traditional gestures and local rituals. Hosts offer Binti Bati — a customary greeting for dignitaries and visitors — along with tika and flower garlands. Meals feature regional dishes such as duck specialties, locally grown leafy greens, nihuro (fiddlehead fern), fish pickles, snails and bamboo shoots (tama), giving visitors a direct experience of Bote culinary traditions.
- Homestay involvement: In Bankatta of Madi Municipality, Chitwan, about 30 of 120 households are affiliated with the community homestay.
- Community priorities: According to local operators, emphasis on education is growing alongside the move into tourism and professional jobs.
Numbers and distribution
The 2021 national census records the Bote population at 11,258, with significant concentrations in Chitwan and Nawalpur. Using those percentages, roughly 3,152 people (about 28%) live in Chitwan and about 2,477 (about 22%) live in Nawalpur.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Bote population (2021) | 11,258 |
| Share in Chitwan | 28% (≈ 3,152) |
| Share in Nawalpur | 22% (≈ 2,477) |
Local voices and consequences
Individuals involved in the homestay movement describe tangible changes. Sarita Bote of Kawasoti-17 said she no longer must depend on the rivers and forests for income and now spends her time hosting guests and preparing traditional fare. Jag Narayan Bote, operator of the Bote Community Homestay, noted the role homestays play in keeping language and cultural practices alive as families adapt to new economic realities.
Community leaders say the transition to tourism-based livelihoods is also encouraging younger generations to seek education and more formal employment, suggesting potential long-term shifts in social and economic patterns for the Bote. At the same time, the shift raises practical questions about how to manage tourism sustainably, maintain cultural authenticity for visitors and ensure equitable benefits within the community.
For travelers interested in immersive cultural experiences, Bote homestays offer a direct way to support local economies while sampling regional cuisine and customs. For policymakers and development practitioners, the Bote example highlights how communities can repurpose traditional knowledge into marketable experiences — but also how fragile such transitions may be without supportive infrastructure, marketing and regulation that protect both people and environment.
