Landruk's terraces climb in narrow steps from the river towards the forest, each one built and repaired by hand over generations. With your guide and a member of a local family, we walk the raised paths between fields, stopping to see irrigation channels fed from mountain streams, water-driven grain mills and the stone walls that hold the hillside together. The family member explains which crops grow when and how labour is shared between households at planting and harvest.
What you see depends on the month. In late September and October, rice ripens and is cut, carried in bundles and threshed on stone floors. In winter, millet is stacked to dry and mustard flowers fill the lower terraces. In March and April, buffalo and oxen plough the paddies for the next crop. Bees, chickens and goats move about the houses, and children often attach themselves to the group for part of the walk.
The walk ends at a farmhouse for milk tea, roasted maize or soybeans and, if you are lucky, a taste of local honey. A contribution of about NPR 1,000–2,000 per group goes to the host family. It is an easy outing with little height change, suitable for children and seniors. Dress modestly, ask before photographing people at work, and keep to field edges so you do not damage crops or knock stones from the terrace walls.
Good for
- Families
- Seniors
- Photographers
- Couples
Questions travellers ask
What crops grow around Landruk?
Rice is the main summer crop on the lower terraces, with millet and maize higher up. In winter, farmers plant mustard, wheat and vegetables. Most families also keep buffalo, goats and chickens, and some keep bees. Crops change with altitude, so the upper fields look different from the lower ones.
When is the rice harvest in Landruk?
Rice is usually harvested from late September to early November, depending on altitude and rainfall. Terraces turn gold in October, and you may see families cutting, carrying and threshing by hand. It is a busy time, so visits are short and respectful of the work.
Is the farm walk suitable for young children?
Yes. The walk follows level terrace edges and short stone steps, with little height change, and lasts about two hours. Children usually enjoy the animals and the farmhouse snack. Keep them on the paths, as terrace edges can drop a metre or more.
