Cook with the Tharu — Mustard, Fish, Fire
About this program
Slow-cooked dhikri, mustard-leaf saag, river fish over open fire — eaten on banana leaves in the courtyard. This experience is designed for those who want to go deeper than a casual visit — to slow down, pay attention, and leave with something real. Every session is kept small to preserve the intimacy and quality that makes this program exceptional.
What's included
- All ingredients sourced locally
- Hands-on cooking instruction
- Full meal eaten together
- Recipe cards to take home
What to bring
- Appetite
- Container for leftovers if desired
- Any dietary restrictions in advance
About your guide
Maya Chaudhary
Family cook, Tilaurakot
Maya Chaudhary has been leading programs at Lumbini for over a decade, drawing visitors from across the world. Trained in both traditional practice and contemporary interpretation, they bring warmth, precision, and deep reverence to every session. Languages: Nepali, English.
Reviews
Chen Wei
China · April 2026
Mustard, fish, fire.
Maya didi taught us mustard saag from her own mustard fields. River fish wrapped in banana leaf, cooked over coals. Eaten on banana leaves in the courtyard. Four hours of joy.
✓ Verified
Caroline Becker
Germany · April 2026
The dhikri tutorial alone.
Maya rolls dhikri — Tharu rice-flour fingers — at a speed I cannot replicate. We tried for an hour. Hers were perfect. Mine were funny shapes. We laughed and ate them all.
✓ Verified
Park Min-jun
Korea · March 2026
A guest favourite, justly.
Slow-cooked dhikri, mustard greens, river fish over open fire — eaten cross-legged on banana leaves. Maya's stories about her grandmother's kitchen made it unforgettable.
✓ Verified
David Brown
USA · February 2026
Best food experience in Nepal.
I've done cooking classes in Pokhara, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu. This is the best — because it isn't a class, it's a family lunch with a teacher.
✓ Verified
Anand Krishnan
India · November 2025
₨ 1,500 for four hours.
Four hours of cooking, eating, story-telling, walking the mustard fields. ₨ 1,500. The platform should raise the price — Maya deserves more.
✓ Verified
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Free cancellation up to 48 hours before.