Paddy terrace walk in the Tharpu valley

Rice needs warmth and water, and Tharpu, at about 880 m in a sheltered valley, has both. The district site lists paddy cultivation among the activities visitors can see here. Terraces are flooded and planted by hand around June and July, often by groups of neighbours working together, and harvested in October and November, when sheaves are cut, stacked and threshed on the terraces themselves.

A walk along the bunds, the narrow earth walls between terraces, shows how much work these fields take. A local guide, about ₹500–800, can explain how water is channelled from springs and streams, which families share labour at planting and harvest, and how paddy fits alongside maize, vegetables and oranges on the higher slopes. Ask before joining in or photographing people at work.

Allow about two hours. October and November are the most comfortable months, with harvest under way and clear skies. July is wet and humid, with leeches on the bunds, but the planting is worth seeing if you do not mind the rain. Wear shoes you do not mind getting muddy, stay on the bunds and never walk through standing crops.