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Hiking from Thankot to Matatirtha via Chitlang Bhanjyang
Hiking from Thankot to Matatirtha via Chitlang Bhanjyang

Theme: Revisiting the History Hiking Route: Thankot, Chitlang, Chakhel, Chunikhel, Matatirtha, Chandragiri, Ramche Total Distance covered: 14 km (approx) Duration: 8 hours Date: August 10, 2008 Participants: Bhanu Chalise, Dinesh Bajracharya, Himal Karmacharya,Manoj Rokka, Kapil Pandey, Lava Kafle,Prajwal Shrestha, Rachit Nepal, Rudra Pandey, Shiva K Pun Report by: RachitN Caption: BhanuC,DineshB,RachitN Photos: BhanuC,ManojR,RachitN Coordinator: Bhanu Chalise As some of hikers were absent and we were limited to 10, we changed our previous route and planned to hike the route from where the first car was brought to Kathmandu by human portage for the then Royal family. By 7 am we left office premises and drove to Thankot and started hiking from there. History was not limited up to exploring the way motor cars were brought to Kathmandu but also we were eager to see those places from where king Prithvi Narayan Shah observed Kathmandu and planned the unification of Nepal. We headed to south-west to reach Chahakhel and finally to Kirtipur and then started the accent. Due to steep climb and hot weather we soon felt tired and hungry. On our way, we managed to get find a small hotel where we ate “Chiura” with “Aaloodam”. It was 9:15 am and we continued our journey after enjoying breakfast .After progressing an hour along the steep climb Dinesh got cramps on both of his both legs he had no way other than to quit hiking. Dinesh returned from there along with Prajwal. Reduced to 8,we continued our hiking meeting locals who were heading to Kathmandu to sell their traditional brass utensils for bread and butter. The view of Kathmandu valley was clear from the height. The weather then became cool and misty so our walk became relatively easier. We decided to take a possible shortcut and walked through the dark jungle. The gentle and cool breeze made us forget our tiredness. We finally reached Chandragiri hill from where Chitlang village was clearly visible. Chitlang is border of Kathmandu and Makawanpur. It was the place where Prithvi Narayan Shah observed Kathmandu during unification of Nepal. The route we had been traversing was the same route from where first car entered Nepal. The route had both political and historical importance as it was the main route to join lowlands of Nepal and India during the Rana regime. The route was equally memorable to Lava dai because he once had to carry his bike in the steep height. The the crucial part of our hike was about to begin. A local suggested us not to take the way through the jungle citing leech and the toughness of the route .We however decided to continue. Entering jungle we met some farmers who were busy collecting “Tusa”-a kind of bamboo soot. Most of us bought “Tusa” there. The route through the jungle was not as tough as we had thought it would be. We got excited to have a complete view of Kathmandu valley. We enjoyed some food stuff brought that we had taken along. We then walked downhill but unfortunately we were unable to determine the right way. So we were lost. We began explore new paths to go down which made our hike tougher. Thorny bushes, blood-sucker leeches, almost vertical steepness and uncertainty of the path made our hike pretty difficult. At that time we were carefree about leeches and we didn’t hesitate on grasping thorny bushes for support while sliding down. We made our way on own and managed to get the trail made by some woodcutters. We felt great relief. But that was not the end of the hike. We walked downhill continuously for 2 hours. Sliding on red mud was common. And surprisingly we reached Matatirtha and there we freshened ourselves up. It was about 4 pm. We returned back to Kathmandu at about 5 pm and had some “Dhido” and “Masu ko rash”. The hike was memorable in many ways, its toughness, view of Kathmandu valley, leeches, historical background etc. Some memorable quotes LavaK: “I had to carry my bike myself in this 90° steep.” RudraP: ”Walking uphill means earning money and walking downhill means spending money so walking downhill after walking uphill give same pleasure as you spend your own money after earning. Walking only uphill is only earning but not spending. And walking only downhill without walking uphill means spending money which you had not earned.” BhanuC: ”The leech on Himal dai’s back was TT ball sized.” LavaK: ”I am leaving my both hand. I am going to slide.” ShivaP: ”I won’t hike even if I get Rs 2000 allowance.” 

 

 

 

Morning

01 Morning

 

 

 

Point

02 Point

 

 

 

And beautiful building

03 And beautiful building

 

 

 

Hiking Team

04 Hiking Team

 

 

 

Is caring

05 Is caring

 

 

 

The beginning

06 The beginning

 

 

 

Yet another day

07 Yet another day

 

 

 

Chundevi Mandir (Chundevi Temple)

08 Chundevi Mandir (Chundevi Temple)

 

 

 

For later

09 For later

 

 

 

What's the story morning glory

10 What's the story morning glory

 

 

 

Jurassic park

11 Jurassic park

 

 

 

Mountainous village

12 Mountainous village

 

 

 

Amidst clouds

13 Amidst clouds

 

 

 

Clouds surrounding the mountain

14 Clouds surrounding the mountain

 

 

 

Smile brought by food

15 Smile brought by food

 

 

 

Heading towards that peak

16 Heading towards that peak

 

 

 

Sirius and cumulus in mountain

17 Sirius and cumulus in mountain

 

 

 

Trying to hide behind clouds

18 Trying to hide behind clouds

 

 

 

Vehicle can reach here

19 Vehicle can reach here

 

 

 

Wonderful trail

20 Wonderful trail

 

 

 

We won't find this route in Boston

21 We won't find this route in Boston

 

 

 

Can you spot the aerie

22 Can you spot the aerie

 

 

 

Cramp on Dinesh Leg started

23 Cramp on Dinesh Leg started

 

 

 

All looking up to heaven

24 All looking up to heaven

 

 

 

Cushion made from bottle

25 Cushion made from bottle

 

 

 

They need to quit hiking

26 They need to quit hiking

 

 

 

Heat in clouds

27 Heat in clouds

 

 

 

Cameras in front and back

28 Cameras in front and back

 

 

 

Come with me

29 Come with me

 

 

 

The zig zag road

30 The zig zag road

 

 

 

Praying for drops of water

31 Praying for drops of water

 

 

 

Hope this sale will feed my family

32 Hope this sale will feed my family

 

 

 

A seller comes from the mist

33 A seller comes from the mist

 

 

 

The seller in light

34 The seller in light

 

 

 

Gates to mystic and misty peaks

35 Gates to mystic and misty peaks

 

 

 

I would cross the mystic gates

36 I would cross the mystic gates

 

 

 

Through the bushes

37 Through the bushes

 

 

 

Welcome to chandragiri

38 Welcome to chandragiri

 

 

 

Above the clouds

39 Above the clouds

 

 

 

Wow that's chitang

40 Wow that's chitang

 

 

 

Chitlang seen from chandra giri

41 Chitlang seen from chandra giri

 

 

 

Cafe de' chitlang but deserted

42 Cafe de' chitlang but deserted

 

 

 

In Chandra giri peak

43 In Chandra giri peak

 

 

 

Left chitlang chose unknown way

44 Left chitlang chose unknown way

 

 

 

Muthha ko kasari ho

45 Muthha ko kasari ho

 

 

 

The TUSHA seller

46 The TUSHA seller

 

 

 

Some hiker doing office job even from here

47 Some hiker doing office job even from here

 

 

 

Team busy eating

48 Team busy eating

 

 

 

A bird over the concrete forest

49 A bird over the concrete forest

 

 

 

Valley under dark cloud

50 Valley under dark cloud

 

 

 

Trail under network

51 Trail under network

 

 

 

We could not reach there

52 We could not reach there

 

 

 

Swayambhu

53 Swayambhu

 

 

 

Hills

54 Hills

 

 

 

Kathmandu valley

55 Kathmandu valley

 

 

 

Thorns on either sides

56 Thorns on either sides

 

 

 

Unidentified creature

57 Unidentified creature

 

 

 

Slide of hike 1

58 Slide of hike 1

 

 

 

Guys how did you get there

59 Guys how did you get there

 

 

 

There is  no vertical limit 1

60 There is no vertical limit 1

 

 

 

There is no vertical limit 2

61 There is no vertical limit 2

 

 

 

Slide of hike 1

62 Slide of hike 1

 

 

 

Slide of hike 2

63 Slide of hike 2

 

 

 

I give up

64 I give up

 

 

 

Now wasn't that easy

65 Now wasn't that easy

 

 

 

We came we saw we conquer

66 We came we saw we conquer

 

 

 

Deforestation

67 Deforestation

 

 

 

Mother at Matatirtha

68 Mother at Matatirtha

 

 

 

 Spot d2ians

69 Spot d2ians

 

 

 

Statue at Matatirtha

70 Statue at Matatirtha

 

 

 

Taps at Matatirtha

71 Taps at Matatirtha

 


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