Hiking Route: Abu Khaireni to Manakamana temple
Date: May 27, 2009 Sunday
Duration: 4 hrs.
Distance: 6 km.
Hike Coordinator: Deepak Maharjan
Participants: Ashutosh Mishra, Anuj Khadgi, Badri Adhikari, Chandani Shrestha, Deepak Maharjan, Pravinda Ranjit, Shreejana Prajapati, Sweta Shakya, Sweta Shrestha, Uma Lamichane, Nirmala Prajapati (Rookie)
Photos: Pravinda Ranjit and Shreejana Prajapati
Caption: Shreejana Prajapati, Pravinda Ranjit, Chandani Shrestha, Sweta Shakya, Anuj Khadgi
Report By: Nirmala Prajapati
Creative Support: DijupT/PreranaP
Hike to Abu Khaireni to Manakamana temple
Truly speaking the day began with a slight confusion for the hike to Manakamana. A hike with people whom I have never met and talked before!!! But still I was excited and I was hoping the hike to be very much interesting than anything I had experienced ever in my life. I grabbed all my zeal and headed towards the office where all of us gathered. At about 8:00am a group of 13 including me and Ram Dai drove towards “Abu Khaireni” from where we had decided to walk. The chilled and gloomy morning was spent in the coach listening to the music, enjoying the natural scenery, watching the serpentine flow of the Trishuli River and the waves of the water and sometimes being stuck in short traffic jams. After having breakfast on the way in ‘Everest Bhojanalaya’ we proceeded. After a long drive the hike started at about 12:00 pm and all prepared, we started walking. The real hike began from the ‘jholunge pul’ (swinging bridge). Crossing the wide river through ‘jholunge pul’ wasfun but Sweta di was a little scared.
He almost laid down on the bench in the rest house…
Everything went on as expected. Chatting with the co-hikers, jokes and pranks were something I enjoyed the most. I had a nice time with all of my jolly co-hikers. Though I was new in the group, within few hours I became involved with everyone, I felt like they were someone whom I have known since very long and all of them were very friendly and lively. The most jovial was Ashutosh Dai. He became exhausted quite soon and was walking at low pace. He almost laid down on the bench in the rest house being all tired and still commented on us that we didn’t know what is hiking, it is not just walking but also resting and enjoying the scenarios around and if we wanted so much of walking then we’d better done – 2 to 6 and 6 to – 2 in D2 building. This funny comment made us laugh till our stomach start aching and I felt this was the joke of the day. Even after the joke was over Chandani di and Ashutosh Dai were recalling that very joke and laughing their lot.
All the way long we were chatting and joking with each other and snapping pictures. Pravinda Dai was busy taking ‘the ek karod ko photo’ and Jeevan Dai was all time ready to give the “babbal” pose for the picture. During the walk Badri Dai let us know us through our zodiac signs. He helped us recognize ourselves in a different manner and taught us different perception of life. That was also one of the remarkable achievements of the day.
The fields and farms full of ripen oranges were all eye…
Besides the temple of Goddess Manakamana another attraction of Manakamana was juicy and tasty oranges. The fields and farms full of ripen oranges were all eye catching. A school there named “Suntala bari Vidhyalaya” seemed funny to me.
The way to Manakamana was all full of tedious steps but climbing those steps up was very much exciting. Stepping up high hill and still very high. My goodness – finally we were there, after all ups and only ups we reached the Manakamana temple, the ultimate destination of the hike, then we did our “pujas”, prayers and then rushed hurriedly to catch the cable car since it was about to close.
While moving down in cable car, I realized how high we had hiked, we were really great! Reaching Kulintar we got into our coach and moved on. There in Malekhu we had our yummy dinner. On our return drive Pravinda dai’s song ‘mai chori sundari’ amused all of us.
Summarizing the day it went on fantastic, the day left me with the memories that will be cherished for the rest of my life and I’m happy to own them.
Generally I don’t learn article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to take a look at and do it! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thanks, very great post.
Diversion on route, I hate.
RAJ
It was awesome hike… Kada