Nita Karki
As it was the last hike of the year 2082, the excitement among the hikers was on another level. A short catch-up meeting was held the day before the hike, where we discussed the arrival times and the different locations from where we planned to catch the bus.
The bus left Deerwalk Dhading School at 5:45 a.m., and everyone boarded from different areas. The hike started with a little surprise. Although 16 people had planned to join, only 13 finally made it due to various reasons. Interestingly, it almost felt like a girls’ hiking trip. Despite the smaller group, everyone was excited to create wonderful memories together.
At around 7:30 a.m., we reached Narayanthan (Budanilkantha Temple) and decided to have breakfast there. Some of our teammates informed us that it would take nearly 5 to 6 hours to reach Baghdwar, which made our schedule quite tight. However, that did not stop us from visiting the temple. We quickly rushed to seek blessings and returned to the hotel to enjoy our breakfast.
After breakfast, we bought some light snacks to keep our energy up during the hike. From Narayanthan, we reached Muhan Pokhari and clicked a few group photos. The parking area was extremely crowded. We stayed there for about 10 to 15 minutes as we needed to collect tickets before continuing toward our destination.
We entered through the gate, where our bags were checked, as lighters, sharp instruments, meat items, and speakers were not allowed inside the National Park since they could harm the wildlife. Slowly, the hike began with great energy as we walked together along the peaceful trail. The refreshing ambiance made the hike feel much easier and more enjoyable. We made TikToks, took both individual and group photos, and continued our journey with excitement. Along the trail, we met many people from different age groups, which added even more fun and energy to our hike.
After walking for nearly two hours, we reached Sano Deurali. By then, we were feeling a little tired and hungry. The place felt so calm and relaxing that we could not resist taking a short break there. We ate our snacks, shared some gossip, and clicked a few more photos. As responsible hikers, we carefully kept all the wrappers and waste inside our bags before continuing the hike.
The vibe of the place was incredibly peaceful and heartwarming. The birds seemed to whisper through the forest, while the greenery along the trail made the journey feel magical. The route was not very difficult, which allowed us to fully enjoy the beauty around us. We were amazed by nature, especially the way even the fallen trees added charm to the surroundings. The entire trail was clean, green, and refreshing. Enjoying the beautiful scenery, we eventually reached Deurali Khola.
From Deurali Khola, it took us around 30 minutes to reach Baghdwar at about 12:45 p.m. We were surprised and happy to reach our destination much earlier than expected, as we had initially been told it would take around six hours. However, without rushing, we completed the hike in only four hours.
Baghdwar was surrounded by statues and symbols of Lord Mahadev (Shiva Ling). We offered water and bowed our heads in respect. The place felt deeply peaceful, as many people were worshipping Lord Shiva with flowers, water, and incense sticks. It is believed that the water of Baghdwar is so pure that it washes away negativity and sins from one’s life. The water was extremely cold, and we sprinkled it on our heads and drank some as well. The DDS team explored the area and spent around 45 minutes there, enjoying the spiritual and natural beauty of the place.
Although we had enough time to hike up to Shivapuri Height, we all decided not to continue further. Instead, we planned to visit Nagi Gumba, which had been part of our plan since the beginning of the hike. However, while following another route, we accidentally missed the trail leading to the monastery. After returning to Sano Deurali from Baghdwar, we asked a few people about the route to the Gumba, but they seemed just as confused as we were. In the end, we could not make it there, but the beautiful surroundings and the joyful atmosphere kept us happy, so it did not bother us much.
While returning, we spent our time taking photos and shooting some TikTok videos. It took us almost three hours to come back down because one of our teammates suffered from leg cramps. However, with teamwork and support from one another, we managed the situation well and continued our journey safely.
Finally, we reached the Shivapuri gate, where our bus had been waiting for us for quite a long time. Before getting on the bus, we responsibly threw all the wrappers and food covers that we had collected in our bags into the garbage bin nearby. Since the parking area was quite narrow and crowded, our driver dai struggled to move the bus out of the area.
After around 45 minutes of effort, the bus finally started moving, and everyone felt relieved, especially because we were excited for dinner at around 4:30 p.m. We headed towards Kalanki for our meal. We had already ordered the food before starting the hike by visiting the restaurant earlier. After some time, the food arrived, and we quickly finished eating as we were all extremely hungry. We rested there for a while before returning to the bus.
Soon, the bus began its journey back towards Dhading. Even though everyone was tired, our energy and excitement remained alive. We spent the journey singing, dancing, and enjoying every moment together. One by one, everyone got off the bus at their respective stops with smiling faces and countless beautiful memories from the hike. Finally, at around 6:00 p.m., the bus returned to the Deerwalk Dhading School.
