Title : 2007 Dec – Hiking from Nalinchwok to Nagarkot
Participants : KumarK, Tejaswee, Manindra (guest), Kundan, Subodh (guest), SudeepA, ManojR, ShankaSu, Himal(FT), Keshav, Niraj, Siris, Raju, Gaurav, AbishekPC, Kapil, Sanjeer(FT), Sushmita (FT), Ava (FT), ReenaJ (FT), Bindu (FT) and Vishnu
Route : Nalinchwok to Nagarkot
Date : Sunday, Dec 16, 2007
Duration: 5 hours
Trip Doom: 15-Kilo meters
Creative Support: NishchalS & SuyeshN
SushmitaP
Nalinchwok to Tathali
This Sunday Morning was as special to me as any other Sundays; after all it was weekend and I was back to home in Banepa. Besides, no office so no rushes, just enjoying the lure of morning warmth of the bed!!! But at around 6:45 am my eyes opened wide and I was flipped to reality out of the morning fantasy, instantly realizing that “I have a hike today” which I don’t like at all!!!
Truly, I never liked walking and better opted for not participating rather than to step out on foot whenever I had to. But this time, I though to myself, I could not, must not, let it go. It’d already been weeks I had been postponing hiking sessions. So, unwillingly I decided to join the D2 Hikers for this week. Though somewhere I felt, I was asking a little bit more from me; after all 5 hours of walking is not a matter of joke even for walkers!!!
Since I was dwelling in Banepa, which is pretty near to the base station- Nalinchwok, from where we would be starting the journey, I decided to join the team right at Nalinchwok than to reach the office which would take me a minimum of 1 hour. So, to know if the team had left the D2 premises for the day’s action, I called Abhishek who was still at his home and was about to leave for office, I asked him give me call at the time the van leaves D2 Premises.
Not to reach later than the team, I quickly left my bed, freshen up and got ready in a while. In between, I got a call at around 7:40 am, it was Abhishek speaking at the other side, ’We’ve reached Suryabinayak and will stop shortly to have breakfast, you be there at Nalinchwok’. Now that they had already reached half the way and me still at home, I needed to rush. Having a cup of tea and a boiled egg I caught the first bus available which took me 20 minutes to drop me at Nalinchwok.
I was happy not to let the team waiting. But then, I had to wait for them. It was still foggy and the sun was just struggling to loosen out of those clumsy clouds. In the North, I could see a range of Himalayas which was shining even more, raising its beauty, when the rays of sun stroke those peaks and below were the harvested fields excellently engraved as staircases. That was a moment when I was completely lost in nature and I uttered to myself, “Beauty does not just lie in the eyes of beholder, few things in world do not possess right vocable to be portrayed”.
By then I was excited to hike, wishing to encounter even more of the nature’s finest arts. Waiting for about 15 more minutes, D2 van, accommodating 22 Hikers stopped at Nalinchwok. Few faces were still new to me, but never mind. It was 8:40 am when we started. We descended those land staircases and moved ahead to conquer the distance. It wasn’t difficult in the beginning; following just the lanes, no ups and downs, had just a small river to cross which was but difficult to jump over to land safely across, especially for few of us. So, Himal laid a sack full of sand between, for easy passage. Though, Abhishek accidentally strode his feet into the river while jumping off. After few minutes of walking up and down, when actual hiking started, through the lanes across the river, we bypassed the next station- Tathali, Bhaktapur.
By this time, I had changed my mind on hiking. They say that, often times you look so much to other side for good times that you never realized that such moments that you real yearn for is beside you and hiking that day for me was like something that I had always desired for.
AvaA
Tathali to Tukucha
It was my first hike, so there were many questions in my mind as well as lots of excitement. As we moved from Nalinchwok, our next stop was a small village ‘Tathali’. Living in the town for the years, I was fantasized by the beauty of nature and environment over there. As we walked though the village in long lane, sunny morning with soft cool breeze filled every heart with joy and sweetness. Then we climbed up through thin jungle and had fun as well struggled a lot to climb that steeped hill. I can hardly remember any of my experience of climbing such steeped hills. After climbing for about one and half hour, we finally reached the peak of that hill. It was amazing over there. I could not imagine that we have reached that much altitude. The day was on its full shine and the sky was clear that made the scenery of Himalayas and hills clear and magnificent. We rested there for a while and had some snacks. Everyone was enjoying the scenic beauty of the hills and Vishnu was busy capturing photos. After resting there for some time, we moved down through thin forest and reached a small school ‘Mahankal Primary School’ where we distributed stationeries. The smile on the faces of the kids after getting stationary was remarkable and I really appreciate this inspiring work of d2.
BinduP
Tukucha, Simaldanda to Sudal Gaun to Bageshwori Jungle
Till the day I went for hiking I never realized the real feeling of the trip, I was very much excited from the day I joined D2HS and first time when Vishnu asked me to join hike I was really surprised, but due to some problem I didn’t get the opportunity to join at first time. After I hiked this time I found myself as a complete D2ians.
We visited a primary school at Tukucha and after completion of appreciable social work of D2; we again moved forward the steeping mountains. Tejaswee, Reena, Ava, and me were at last companied by Keshav and his interesting gossips. The attractive and eye catching view of Himalayas made the hike unforgettable and enthusiastic. From that moment I promised myself not to miss such opportunity for next time. Beautiful landscapes along with the fresh radish from the farmer’s field made the hikers more energetic. From Simaldanda to Sudalgaun till the Jungle of Bageshwori I enjoyed lot with more informative gossips from my seniors. With few minutes of pause the journey again gets started with some relief to our legs. Several time I asked Vishnu how far the destination is, but coolly he answered just half n hour more and that was not near by but the reality was different for me.
I got mere satisfaction after reaching the base of Bageshwori jungle because we were able to see the tip of tower where we were supposed to reach. These moments will be striking in my mind forever and want to refresh it with more hikes in coming future.
ReenaJ
Bageshwori Jungle to Tower to Hawa Ghar
All the way from Bageshwori Jungle to Nagarkot Tower, it was all fun as well as very troublesome to walk up and downs. Since the name of the Jungle was Bageshwori, but unfortunately there was not a single BAGH…. If we have had met BAGH, then think what would have happen to us??? But anyways, I was last to follow the group. I was tired so much that I couldn’t even walk a foot long. But I had to walk n walk….
While starting our journey from Bageshwori jungle, we met an old man – I think he was more than 75 years old. Throughout the jungle, that old was walking in front of me with a bundle of wood in his DOKO. I was shocked with his stamina. I could not win him even a single time. We walked n walked for about … minutes. It was very exciting & pleasant walking in the sunsan jungle. What a natural beauty – Calm Jungle with birds whispering in different voices with Vishnu clicking photos. Lastly we realized that we have reached our destination – NAGARKOT with the chilled wind in our ear and frost on the leaves spread over. I think we were the last to reach that tower of Nagarkot. I could not describe in words about the HIMALAYAS we have seen from that tower…. So beautiful, breathtaking……Oh…. I was lured with that beauty.
Now it was time to leave those beauties. We had to rush towards office van. I felt like sitting in RAJGADDI while sitting in the van- so relaxed. Then the van moved towards a restaurant named ‘Hawa Ghar’ where we had our lunch. The flavor of Saag (seems like it was cooked direct without cutting) and ghee was irresistible. The combination of tomato & Gundruk pickle along with that of saag made everyone voracious.
And then slowly the clock drew our attention, so we had to give a brake to extended enticement in the hope to be continued in days to come, we returned back home with a whole new lot of experiences and fun…..
01 The gang of twenty two
02 Nalinchwok-parade-commencement
03 Marching without concealment
04 Himal is showing interest for direction
05 Kundan at athletic competition
06 Propelling ourselves off the ground to water
07 Himal constructs a Bailey Bridge here
08 To a lower intensity
09 Up, Sun shine to the jungle is a finemingle
10 A short amalgamate
11 Extending toward a higher place again
12 Rookies race- BinduP, AvaA and ReenaJ
13 Climbing Simaldanda
14 Salutation
15 Able to attract interest
16 Fot the ability to recall the time that spent together
17 Langtang range
18 Enjoying differently from one place
19 One of the best part we walked through
20 Himal waiting for other as he saw a school, good for him
21 Equality of distribution
22 For bringing again into activity
23 Himal’s suggestion was wise for taste
24 And he is loving them
25 Season’s Greeting
26 Shanta Sudal Village
27 Walking up!!
28 ShankarSu, Raju, Kapil and Siris in bliss
29 Closing to Bageshwori
30 Sanjeet holds friend here for glucose
31 Moving in
32 Cloud nine
33 Kundan’s Red Cow story
34 Reflection of seventh heaven
35 Just to see
36 Walking on air
37 Boy of the Bageshwori
38 Highland
39 Oodles
40 Scads
41 Slews
42 Rafts
43 Mount
44 Tons
45 Upland
46 Stacks
47 Lots
48 Time to enjoying the view
49 From tower
50 Happy time for Himal and others
51 Kirsi Remmel+ I flew over mountains and reached the sky
52 The sun came closer to me
53 My eyes were blinded, forever for good,
54 only moutains i memorize
55 At the top of the world, as the king of the hills
56 I admired my kingdom of beauty
57 The view was so endless, I still see it sometimes
58 Restored in my dreams by memories
59 The things I still feel are the sounds that i hear,
60 whenever i go back to the hills.
61 The smells that I recognize, haven’t altered a bit.
62 Wind so balmy ruffles my hair
63 I feel contented and couldn’t wish for more..
64 If only I could imagine bigger to add more color to my dreams….
65 Good time of Nagarkot
66 Miss Pote
67 Merry Christmas
68 HaPPy nEw YeAr
69 2008!!
70 Niraj, Siris and Keshav
71 21+ one
72 Vegetarian
73 NON-Vegetarian
74 And NONSectarian
Thank you for every other fantastic post. Where else may just anybody get that type of info in such a perfect method of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I am at the look for such information.
Thanks for posting this, lifted my day.
Dear Shutterbug thank you for suggestion,perhaps who read review,comments and make hiking go will remember your hints to pay an efforts for keeping ambiance intact. Moreover i would love to see if hiking transform into domestic tourism?
But for most of the time liking and making of it do not come together to my personal experience, may doing will put them in place someday.
Amigo!!
As a usual reader, I do enjoy reading Hiking’s review here in EU, And this particularly review is wonderful, particularly HimalK’s views as comment. I know these are all splendid memories to cash for life and I touched by Martin Buber,’All Journey Have Secret Destinations of which the Traveler is Unware’. Thanks Vibu for sharing. The best things in life are free and I think this certainly applies to hiking. Having much respect for nature, I too am very fond of hiking and each experience of hiking entices me to hike on more.
Well would like to put forward some suggestion for Vishu dai:
1. Hiking is very outdoor activity so why don’t you suggest hikers to avoid wearing jeans pant for their own comfort. Here are some basic gears: Map, Sunglasses and sunscreen, D2H Caps, water bottle, First aid kit box (MUST), easy backpack (no ladies bags please), some snacks and yes ‘titaura, pustakari’ (best snicker).
2. Well all hiker has no doubt have great respect for nature and rural community where they hike on so why not be little more environment friendly by using permanent water bottle instead of using ‘use n’ throw’ plastic bottle.
3. I have seen many pictures where D2Hs hiker discarded ‘wai wai, biscuits’ wrapper without giving much consequences of environment. So, how about following some good eetiquette of hiking. Let’s care for rural community and help them to keep clean their surrounding clean. It may not seem that littering few such plastic wrappers may not degrade the environment instantly however, it does when you bunch those wrappers and you know better how it looks.
D2Hians Keep happy hiking! 😀
I would like add these lines,
“Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
Oh, he don’t know, so he chases them away”
Sibu-I admit to your perception and here i place the words from Martin Buber “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware”!!
This was an unbelieveable hike!! Twenty-two hikers must be a record. I cannot start talking about my experience without mentioning the great great breakfast in SuryaBinayak. I still remember the ‘JeriSawari and Aalu ko Achaar’; that alone would have made the trip worthwhile, but there were many more memorable moments.
One thing that really hit me was that Nepal really hasn’t changed outside the Kathmandu valley. People in the rural areas are still very helpful. We must have asked for directions to every single person we met and all of them, without exception, obliged. Quite a few of those people actually walked along with us until they could clearly show us, without equivocation, how to get to our destination. The chitchats we had with those people and playful banters invariably laced with ‘oh but since you guys are not used to walking uphill…’ was very refreshing. I could not help but contrast this with my dealings with Kathmandu dwellers and need I say which one I enjoyed more.
There were a few memorable moments:
1. Our hike started with finding our trails along the mustard fields where there weren’t any. It was fun trying to keep our balances along the very narrow terraces and trying to avoid the mustard fields, albeit unsuccessfully. Half the time we thought we would be chased by the farmers who would not be amused seeing their fields stomped. Had this hike been a year or two ago people would have thought we were a cadet of Maoists on our way to our mission.
2. Can you think of being harassed by 5 year old kids? We were! As we were climbing up a hill with a few houses, a bunch of small kids thought we must be foreigners with our water bottles, caps and non-traditional clothes. They started shouting “HELLO”. But soon they realized we were Nepali. Then they started shouting: “Hello, Kodaalo (spade)” and laughing at us.
3. The daikons!! Right next to the school where we distributed our stationaries, we saw a field of daikons, so appealing that we immediately tried to find the owner to buy a few. When we couldn’t find the owners, we were in a dilemma: should we just leave or should we uproot a few? Shamelessly, we decided on the latter; it was hard to resist the daikons and besides, we were going to leave proper compensation. Luckily, the owners came by and provided us not only the daikons, but also the proper condiments. These were indeed the best tasting daikons ever!
4. Many times along the path, you could just stop and hear no other noise but the occasional chirpings of birds. It’s been so long since I have been in a surrounding that had textbook pin drop silence.
5. The last was the best. The panoramic view of the Himalayan range and a glimpse of Everest was really breathtaking. Somethings really leave you speechless!!
The way back to Kathmandu was punctuated with the usual traffic jams and the noise/dust of the city. These seemed all the more annoying when contrasted with the surroundings we just hiked in. I will make this a regular ritual every time I am in Nepal.
Great ! Yes, this experience was too good. The flavour was blended very well with the mountain views at Nagarkot. Hiking ofcourse lets me have some time to myself. Simply said, walking gets the feet moving, the blood moving, the mind moving….and movement is life.
I remember a quote by Raymond Inmon: “If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk.”…I remember…
WOW!!!!!! I really missed it. Kapil, I think This is your another beeeeeeeeessssstttttt Hiking, Isn;t it?.Sounds Good!!!!!!