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.”
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| 01 Morning |
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| 02 Point |
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| 03 And beautiful building |
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| 04 Hiking Team |
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| 05 Is caring |
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| 06 The beginning |
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| 07 Yet another day |
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| 08 Chundevi Mandir (Chundevi Temple) |
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| 09 For later |
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| 10 What’s the story morning glory |
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| 11 Jurassic park |
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| 12 Mountainous village |
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| 13 Amidst clouds |
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| 14 Clouds surrounding the mountain |
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| 15 Smile brought by food |
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| 16 Heading towards that peak |
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| 17 Sirius and cumulus in mountain |
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| 18 Trying to hide behind clouds |
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| 19 Vehicle can reach here |
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| 20 Wonderful trail |
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| 21 We won’t find this route in Boston |
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| 22 Can you spot the aerie |
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| 23 Cramp on Dinesh Leg started |
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| 24 All looking up to heaven |
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| 25 Cushion made from bottle |
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| 26 They need to quit hiking |
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| 27 Heat in clouds |
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| 28 Cameras in front and back |
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| 29 Come with me |
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| 30 The zig zag road |
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| 31 Praying for drops of water |
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| 32 Hope this sale will feed my family |
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| 33 A seller comes from the mist |
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| 34 The seller in light |
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| 35 Gates to mystic and misty peaks |
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| 36 I would cross the mystic gates |
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| 37 Through the bushes |
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| 38 Welcome to chandragiri |
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| 39 Above the clouds |
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| 40 Wow that’s chitang |
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| 41 Chitlang seen from chandra giri |
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| 42 Cafe de’ chitlang but deserted |
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| 43 In Chandra giri peak |
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| 44 Left chitlang chose unknown way |
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| 45 Muthha ko kasari ho |
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| 46 The TUSHA seller |
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| 47 Some hiker doing office job even from here |
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| 48 Team busy eating |
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| 49 A bird over the concrete forest |
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| 50 Valley under dark cloud |
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| 51 Trail under network |
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| 52 We could not reach there |
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| 53 Swayambhu |
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| 54 Hills |
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| 55 Kathmandu valley |
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| 56 Thorns on either sides |
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| 57 Unidentified creature |
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| 58 Slide of hike 1 |
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| 59 Guys how did you get there |
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| 60 There is no vertical limit 1 |
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| 61 There is no vertical limit 2 |
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| 62 Slide of hike 1 |
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| 63 Slide of hike 2 |
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| 64 I give up |
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| 65 Now wasn’t that easy |
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| 66 We came we saw we conquer |
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| 67 Deforestation |
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| 68 Mother at Matatirtha |
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| 69 Spot d2ians |
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| 70 Statue at Matatirtha |
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| 71 Taps at Matatirtha |
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wwwwwooow perfect hiike
GopalBdrGhale, who can do what yes? drunk or not , the words do not seem gibberish too.
yeah it is insensitivity to write comments when one is DRUNK. but is there such device which throws alert and says ” Do not wirite you are Drunk”. I dun no. I think we need e-breathlizer. someone must do research to event e-breathlizer. 💡
It’s a height of irresponsibility and insensitivity to write comments when one is DRUNK. Outrageous! I think Administrator of this blog should moderate such comments and help promote healthy environment.
Sky color is fantastic. Deep blue…
pic 66 was badly taken as it is from sideways, it should have been from Front showing everybody’s cheerful faces after horrible feat.
I nearly ate you all, but you guys survived from my boundary..
even filtering does not sound nice with your comments, gplbadhaurghale. Ridiculuous!!
ShutterbugKoPaniBoss, whatever your idea seems good but please do not offend the ??? person.last smoke.. where is it
@ Shutterbug Ko Boss ?? my comments above are not to offend you and victimize Shutterbug. I was little drunk while I did those comments. Sorry man for misbehaving you people.
Yet another bessssssssssssst hike thanks for whoever it is takin my name in the comment sounds good 😆
@AntiLavaKafle, if lavaK is saying he can carry 150 kg then we should understand that his max limit is upto 300kg and if he is saying that he can ride it in 90° then he also can ride bike in 180° . hey man u should understand these universal truth of lavaK (though u may apply filter upto 99.99% on ur ear)
@ Shutterbug Ko Boss ??, hey man this is also very informative please go to that place and try this posture and do the work. the pic will be great . hey man do the work means take pic dont make sense of another thing…
What funny comment, how could one imagine such posture and comment. Man! you got imagination, but why do you choose shutterbug as victim?
He is always so nice and informative.
We love his comments.
Lava bro, k ho sajilo thauma basera photo khichne, ani slide gareko bhanne??
@39 the pic is good nicely captured but it would have been great if u have bent urself by 13.25° and u should have used the light, halogen light would be ok but light by lithium ignition would heve been perfect and also u have taken that pic while standing which does not give complete feel so if u had bent ur legs (not sitting posture) a little with one leg in air and captured then the pic would have been perfect. Hoping better for next time.
pic 49 great catch
pic 37 whats up Himal?
ma hun pic 15 ko nakkale jhakkale chanchale uttaulo thito!!!!
Hell with you lava, nobody in this earth can drag or virtually carry 150 kg
GopalBdrGhale, thanks for the re-classifying the vent and story that made a biker like me to hold 150 kg equipment for considerably long time as i could not ride with two feet on two right and left pedals, so Virtually i needed to carry and pull it above the slope because of the rough terrain. You drive there in bike and you may do the same if you are not locale to that domain.
PreviousHiker, co-ordinator does not define the path to destiny. Your or mine, anybody’s prime minister or minister or president would not know if there is steep slope , earthquake, or landslide, or heavy rain or drought coming in..COZ it’s course of nature. We may try preventing it but “””””””””inevitable is inevitable”””””””””””””””””.
Shutterbug, A tonne of thanks for such a great review. Even Admin of the blog admitted it.
Even LavaK got scared of stiff hill at this hike.
Thank God LavaK was only participant not coordinator
Thanks, Shutterbug, for your suggestions.
We shall try to implement as much as we can and avoid blunders next time. We always welcome more of your comments like these to improve EU.
i.e. at 180°
LavaK: “I had to carry my bike myself in this 90° steep.”
Others: ” nineeeeeety ….deereeeeee….”
LavaK: ” ninety degree is nothing to mee i can even ride my bike on double than that…. at 1800″
My Dutch master once told me, ‘Taking pictures is just like owning hearts, and you have to publish them in a good way to get its heartbeats.’ It’s very true, how you present your creativity whether it’s reports or pictures makes a huge difference, in making them more animated and worthwhile. I think EU Creative/support Team need to change its regular trend of posting ‘Hiking Recollections’. Viewers are getting monotonous of EU ‘Hike Posting’ because it’s predictable format. So I think it’s time to spice up. And yes pictures number 19 and 27 is the same picture with two different captions. Avoid such blunder.
For this Hike posting let me rates following shots as:
Creative Shot:’ 28 Cameras in front and back’
Perfect Shot: ’09 For later’ and ‘ 71 Taps at Matatirtha’
Lucky Shot: ‘ 58 Slide of hike 1’
Journalistic Shot: ‘ 46 The TUSHA seller’
Nature’s Best Shot: ’51 Trail under network’
Hilarious Shot: ’25 Cushion made from bottle’
Lazy Shot: ‘ 03 And beautiful building’ and ‘ 06 The beginning’
Prize Winning Shot: ’19 Vehicle can reach here’/’ 27 Heat in clouds’
Happy hiking and happy clicking!!
I like chitlang, it’s location as hilly area is superb. I’s like to visit it once.
pic 42 farthest hut was used by prithvi narayan shah and renovated. his army used to guard him from quarters around. 200 years old ren ovation good guys, well done by visiting..
Ye nakkale Kaanchho, laajalu mora
Pic 60 vertical limit, correct , it looks so.
kapil in pic 31 , thirsty!! for a drop of water in deep mountain and forest!!! good
01 pic is the best of all guys. Who shot it?
pic 17, 18, 24, 39, 49, 50, 52, 54 and 55 are really nice one
Pic 39 looks awesome… a bit of more light wud make it even better..
Anyways its good one