Chautara

  

     

   A Chautara is a resting place made of stones and is rather widespread along the trails in Nepal. Usually placed strategically in the shade of a large tree or after a steep climb, these simple constructions are built by pious people to earn religious merit or in memory of deceased kin. While we aren't sure about brownie points with the lord, they sure do earn the goodwill of the people who use these Chautaras.

 

Chautara is a traditional resting place for travelling merchants and trekkers in Nepal. It is built with stones under a big tree on the trail side. These types of Chautara are common in Nepal and it used to be a centre of everything (tree,centre place,down and up etc.) In the past. Around these the stone walls form seats with a higher step for depositing the load being carried. You walk for hours and rest in the Chautara to continue for the down and up way  your path. 

Although Chautaras are no more used as prior, Because of Rural Nepal in the hilly regions is criss- crossed with a network of paths, Mostly very old, which connect remote villages and settlements. Before motorised transport these paths were the main highways as often the slopes are steep stone steps make up a large proportion of the length of some of the paths. Transportation of goods to ours villagers is often still by carrying. It still holds a significant value at our culture.

I know from experience how tring it is when walking up these continuous steep steps and more so if you are carrying a heavy load on your back, you need rest so the villagers for any works used to be done at Chautara you rest and restore back the replenished energy.

It is very common to see porters carrying a load or travellers on their way to a village. The walker will come to a Chautara, These are places built to sit and rest or used as a social area for meeting. At others times you can see get together old ages groups and our senior citizens, if the place is close to habitation groups of teenage friends may sit there chatting and passing the time.