
Chirayu Oli
We were thrilled about our two-day hike, and the excitement was palpable right from the morning! By 9:00 am, all 14 of us gathered at the Deerwalk complex, buzzing with energy and ready to start our adventure. Once everyone was set, we piled into the office van, with the ever-friendly Laxman Dai at the wheel, and began our journey to Daman.
Our first stop was Naubise, where we took a quick break to grab breakfast. To make the journey even more enjoyable, our favorite, Ribhu Dai, bought a bunch of fresh oranges for us to snack on during the ride. After that, the road to Daman greeted us with sunny skies and breathtaking scenery. The forests and trees added a refreshing vibe, but the twisty roads weren’t as pleasant. Many of us struggled with nausea, and a few even had to deal with vomiting. After an eternity (five hours), we finally reached Daman around 2:00 pm.
We had to trek about a kilometer from the parking spot to our hotel. The trail, covered in light ice and filled with stairs, drained the last of our energy. But as soon as we reached the hotel gate, our excitement surged back. Everyone scrambled to claim their rooms. The highlight was the one room with air conditioning—despite the cold weather, it was a hot commodity! We ultimately agreed to give it to Manju Didi, our favorite sister and the only lady in our group.
Once the rooms were sorted, hunger took over, and we devoured snacks that revived us. The evening was packed with fun, including singing, dancing, card games, a late-night barbecue, and a hilarious round of charades. By 10:00 pm, we finally called it a night and crawled into bed, exhausted but happy.
The next morning, we were all up by 7:00 am, ready for the big adventure—the hike from Daman to Simbhanhyang! The trail started easy, but Saroj Dai had other plans. He took us through tougher paths, turning the hike into a real challenge. Our legs trembled halfway through, but we powered on together.
Along the way, the sights were stunning. Every turn revealed a new scene, and Sandeep Dai was quick to capture it all on camera. To our surprise, a friendly dog joined us and acted as our guide, leading us along the trail—it felt like we had our little mascot!
We finally reached Simbhanhyang around 10:00 am. The chilly air had us rushing for hot tea, which was a lifesaver. Once warmed up, we celebrated by snapping countless selfies—solo, in groups, and everything in between.
By the end of the hike, we were tired but deeply satisfied. The experience was challenging, the memories unforgettable, and it’s something we’ll cherish as a group for a long time. It was a perfect adventure filled with laughter, camaraderie, and the joy of conquering something together.