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I was very much excited when I saw my name in the hikers list for the very first hike of D2Hawkeye. As usual we were bit late to move on though. Nonetheless, the lure I have had for the trip was intact in me. After having the typical Nepalese brekky at Surya Binayak, we moved for the starting point, Panauti. We reached Panauti at around 9:30 and that appeared very colorful as ‘Makar Mela, a religious event taking place, which happens once in every 12 years. And it is believed that if any pilgrim who journeys to a this sacred place as an act of religious and have bathe at the junction of Roshi and Ladku river will be pardoned for their sin and anxieties that has been committed in the past.

...college life was much interesting and very romantic

We began our journey from Panauti towards Balthali Village Resort. On the process of stroll most of teammates were busy with their clicking machines and others were busy sharing their past experience of college life and jokes. This reminded me a phrase that we hear on TV ‘Walk when you talk’. It was really an interesting interact with colleagues. Ashuthosh’s experience of the college life was much interesting and very romantic. Balthali Village starts in a small village which is a small sleepy settlement which rests at the junction of Roshi and Ladku river. Balthali Village stands on a plateau which is just beyond Khopasi, 40km away from Kathmandu. The area surrounding the Balthali retreat is thickly forested with luxuriant floras, and sal trees cover the hill that undulates and opens out to terrace fields. The treks in untouched village like this have a pleasant feeling and worth for knowing the village culture and also we can promote Village Tourism of Nepal.

...we could see the full range of GauriShankar, Lakpadorje Mountains

The cool breeze of the rivers and shade of the forest added energy on us that helped us walking more pleasantly. A walk of nearly two hours led us to Balthali Village Resort, where our lunch was being cook. The Resort has been built on top of hill above Balthali village. This station provides view of beautiful landscape of the village also the Mountain ranges. As the day was sunny we could see the full range of GauriShankar, Lakpadorje Mountains. I just remembered the global warming conference that was organized in Copenhagen. The Himalayas which were always covered with sludge snow is slowly disappearing and gradually rocks are being appear-“a touchy subject”! The delicious lunch, garnished with organic vegetables, along with appealing view of landscape, hills, mountains and soothing villages and the religious act of Panauti ‘Makar Mela, caused me to feel better that completed to a perfect holiday. I believe my hiker mates experienced even to an exuberant compliment!

01 Center attraction- newly borne the Panauti Don!	02 Browsing
03 Living Panauti behind	04 On the name of naughty capture
05 Shiva's chela was colorful by inner & outer	06 Equally occupied
07 Plants for Pashmina	08 Katti photo kicha ko
09 Gloomy sunday	10 The camp of the Hare Rama Hare Krishna
11 Indreshwor Temple	12 Lovers' Temple
13 Not only us they hike too!	14 Traditional Nepalese paper factory
15 A one-man show	16 Pleasingly Exposed
17 Calm, thick & clean	18 Devoid of creatures
19 Panauti hydropower station- by Russian	20 Hariyo baan nepal ko dhan
21 We age every day--what a depressing thought!	22 They do it for the fun of it!
23 The figure of fun	24 She makes 10 sacks of patotoes by planting 1 sack
25 A seasonal rise in Balthali	26 Yet another
27 A skilled construction of Balthali village	28 Looking after well
29 Recommended for retirement	30 Has distintive odour
31 Different view	32 Flora from the region
33 Jokes of the King	34 Lemon tea
35 Taking one's ease	36 Watergate Conference
37 BVR treat	38 Having a rest at the Resort
39 The duad	40 BKC ko gaun
41 They just did not want to leave	42 The BhaskarS @ focussed
43 Bipin-Bishwadeep & Dijup	44 Pose for Kallywood
45 Almost all happy	46 Still missing six
47 Stormed!	48 BishwaDeep comes from here
49 Future tense	50 Towards Khopasi
51 Waiting for Oranges	52 Climbing down
53 Affection or indispensable	54 Newfangled
55 On a plan to steal the onions	56 aba ghar jau
57 Ashu....	58 Slowly down the road
59 roshi khola pheri bhet kailay hola	60 Dancing Rosy
61 photographer`s eye	62 The Rosy
63 A wait	64 captured
65 A post card from Balthali	66 Access to Balthali
67 Still natural	68 Dijup wants to remain here
69 Jehen & Pawan	70 Makar making
71 Center point of religious act at Panauti	72 Trying to ...
73 In the name of serpent	74 Blessed!
75 Abishesh @ point to view	76 Worshipped
77 Feelings of ardent love	78 The act of offering
79 It was time to say Good Bye!	80 Local and visitor