Cycling in the Land of Gurkha !! It was October 2013, I decided to get my cycle packed up and went to Nepal to experience its countryside, lush and ice caped mountains, tiny villages nested into the rolling hills and outstanding multicultural society. The worse thing I could experience in my own homeland was the insecurity complex and helplessness while riding my cycle across the Indo-Nepalese border. Happily, I got to know that a senior from my university lived on the border and his kind family helped me finding my way to Nepal. The best part of the trip I could remember is that I could live free mind for few days in this wonderful country of Gurkha. Being a solo cyclist far away in the mountains helped me somewhat gaining lots of sympathy. During my whole trip, I got so many helping hands I could never imagined. During the entire trip, i barely thought to lock my cycle and left my bags and cycle wherever I needed and found them always as it was left. No one ever cheated me. On contrary, many families invited at their homes and gave shelter and food. One evening, I could experience the worse “I was nearly beaten by a young Nepalese ‘’. But somewhat I managed to be friendly with him and tried to know the reason why he wanted to do so. He told a very sad story about his stay in India. He said “when he was once in India in search of a job, one day he lost his purse and in spite of being helped out, he was put into jail for few days’’. He burst into tears while telling this story and said he would never visit his neighbors. If I wasn’t gone on to this trip, perhaps I wouldn’t have understood ‘’what Nepal is’’ and ‘’who a Nepalese is’’!!! The moment I entered the border, I could feel fresh air and could just see the foothills of the Himalayas. Few hours of ride got me more and more into the nature and I could even smell the different fragrances of the blooming flowers. My arrival in Katmandu was somewhat pathetic as I wanted to go away from the crowd, machines and skyscrapers. No doubt, it’s the most polluted city of Nepal but its culturally and historically enriched sites give you a chance to get acquainted with the Nepalese traditional life.. Patan, small town carved in the middle of the city is a home to some of the finest wooden carved temples in pagoda style. Bhaktapur, a historical capital showcases some of the unique temples and palaces which are the finest example of Malla Kingdom. Swambhunath, nested into a lush pine forest and enveloped into the prayer flags, dotted with the player wheels, is a masterpiece of Tibetan Buddhism. Those who love nature and mountains must not miss out the visits of the most impressive valleys of Katmandu. Nagarkot, Dulikhel are best known for its dominating lush, rolling and ice caped mountains. Panauti, Khokhana are amongst the most traditionally enriched villages of Nepal. Soon I got bored with the hustles and bustles of the city life and got prepared for the most beautiful of trail of Nepal. The countryside between Katmandou and Pokhara is one of most spectacular of the entire Himalayas. The terraced rice fields, tiny villages, suspension bridges are the highlights of this circuit. Pokhara, known for its most impressive Annapurna chain and Pewa Lake is magical place and offer a very calm and cool stay. Pokhara is equally well known for paragliding and cycling trails. Its equally the doorway to Mustang and many treks in the Annapurna Range. The evergreen hills fed by the water streams beautify the Annapurna’s Fish Tail and its others peaks. The best thing I could experience here in Pokhara was riding uphill towards Peace Pogora and looking down the lake and looking up the snowed chains of Annapurna. After few days of stay in Pokhara, I finally thought to get back to Delhi traversing the Tarai of Nepal. I ride my cycle many hours along a colorful river nearly turquoise and reaching finally to the foothills of Eastern Himalaya. I halted in Chitwan National Park and visited the reserve. I enjoyed a lot the jeep safari and a canoe that gave a chance to have a very close sightseeing of crocodiles. If you ever go to Chitwan, you must spend few days in Sapana Lodge. Its one of very unique property I have ever visited. This is where this wonderful trip ended with these wonderful memories and moments. So you should not think so much just take your back pack and live those beautiful adventures that are waiting for you!!!
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 07:11:32 +0000
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