Namje Village

Namje Village is situated at an elevation of 1585 m inhabited by Magar people in Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality, Dhankuta District of Eastern Nepal. Eaten yam (Tarul Khayo) equals Namje in the Magar language. Geographically at terraced fields, 19 houses out of 30 households established homestay business (daily 80 people capacity). Changing-weather 5 times a day, views of the highest peak Mt. Everest (8848 m), fifth-tallest peak Mt. Makalu (8463 m.), surrounding wooded hills, Dharan, and picturesque village featured the Magar settlement.

Namje Village is approached by Kathmandu-Biratnagar flight with a 57 km road trip to Bhedetar Bazar (1420 m) then hiking. A bus trip from Kathmandu to Bhedetar (422 km, via Dakshinkali-Hetauda road) takes 13 hours. People from Lowland Terai, especially from Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari district visit the beautiful village. Dada Bazar nearby this village are inhabited by Limbu people and other communities. Narayan temple (14th century), tea shop, and government office are established there. Dhoje Dada at 2133 m is a viewpoint observing the sunrise, sunset, snow-capped mountain, Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, green hills, and river valleys. There is a cave and a 400 years old Banyan tree, which spreads at 13 Ropani lands. Dhankuta Bazar, Raja Rani Lake, 100 meters long Namaste waterfall (4 km away from Bhedetar) are visiting places nearby the territory.

The farmers and teachers from Namje and Thumki village had planted 50 different species of plants. The villagers are humorous, friendly, and hard-working. Visitors can enjoy 200 year old, most popular Hurra and Maruni dance. Boys wear Bhangra, cap, and ladies wear Gunyo, Cholo then dance in a circle playing Madal with Cymbal. Guest equivalent as a God in the village. Travellers also join Tinjure, Tamor, Kanchenjunga, and Makalu trekking afterwards the village tour. Dharan is located 30 minutes away (by bus) from Bhedetar.

Thumki Dada with an elevation of 1828 m with the popular Atma Ghar (Memorial to the Ancestors) covers 1-hectare land had built by 24 different architects from different countries in 2011. The visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the Himalayas at the north, border of China and Char Koshe Jhadi at the south, border of India. Until 2065 BS there were 113 graves, which was combined now. Travis Price, FAIA (Principal of Travis Price Architects, Washington, DC) and his team (Catholic University of America, Aalto University, Corcoran College) had built nine intensive days. Students constructed the Memorial to Magar Ancestors in the remote village of Namje-Thumki in the eastern foothills of the Himalayas. They were accompanied hand-in-hand by 40 locals from this village led by field supervisor Karna Magar. The result is a memorial, an outdoor prayer space for the shamans.

Stephanie Odegard came upon it while searching for local women to harvest the fibre for her rug company. "After my trip to Namje Village," she says, "I felt like I'd never been further away from home." The small Magar village in Dhankuta eastern Nepal has been named one of the 12 best unheard places by CNN. One of the world's best-kept secrets, the village native Magar people live very close to nature, still practice animism, worship of their ancestors, in its sacred burial ground.

Tourists from Kathmandu require to arrange a flight to Biratnagar with an hour's drive to Bhedetar then a small hike (3.5 km) approaches the village. Organic food, warm hospitality, surrounding hills, fresh air, tranquillity, changing weather and rural identity made the Magar village Nepal unique.