Who are the Tharu tribals of UP terai whose home and land the govt wants to open to tourists?

The Tharu community belongs to the Terai lowlands, amidst the Sivaliks or lower Himalayas.They are located in southern Nepal and in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. The Government of India recognizes the Tharu people as a scheduled tribe.

The Rana Tharus claim to be of Rajput origin and to have migrated from the Thar Desert to Nepal’s Far Western Terai region. Tharu worship Mahadev and possess some idea of a supreme being known as Narayan who provides sunshine, rain and harvests.

Tharu tribals speak Tharu language – a language that is quite close to Hindi, Awadhi, and Maithili.

Traditional Tharu Tribes homes are organized in a very interesting way. They have a group of houses arranged around an open courtyard. So, the houses are independent but yet a part of a small community or an extended family.

According to Indian Express, The state government is working to connect Tharu villages in the districts of Balrampur, Bahraich, Lakhimpur and Pilibhit bordering Nepal, with the home stay scheme of the UP Forest Department. The idea is to offer tourists an experience of living in the natural Tharu habitat, in traditional huts made of grass collected mainly from the forests.

It is said that the government will train the Tharu people to communicate with visitors. Tharu homeowners will be able to charge tourists directly for the accommodation and home-cooked meals.