DOMESTIC TOUR TOWARDS THE EAST

28^th December, 2016

Taking some time out from our busy life and utilizing the summer vacation, I and my friend decided to explore the nature. To escape the heat of the city, our choice this time was Switzerland of Nepal—Jiri and the vicinities.

At 7:30 a.m. on 8^th June 2016, we headed towards Jiri in a micro van from Ratnapark. Passing through Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchowk and Sindhupalchowk of Arniko Highway, we came across the untraveled land. We reached Khadichour. Here, the way was blocked at several places due to fresh landslides. The road was cleared after a while and we continued travelling. We crossed Khari Dhunga (Slate hills) and Mude (dried cheese hung in the shops) and reached Charikot at 1:30 p.m. Then we had our lunch (rice, gundruk, dal, chicken curry, saag, achaar, ghiraula curry and fried potato) in a nearby hotel.

After lunch, we travelled through Namdu, Kabre, Mainapokhari and finally reached Jiri at 4 p.m. We paid Rs. 700/person for the bus fare.

On reaching Jiri bazaar, we kept our luggage in Annapurna Hotel and Lodge which was located just in front of the bus stop and had been recommended by the driver of our microbus. The room charge per night was Rs. 400. After having a cup of milk tea, we came outside the hotel to look at different places in the evening. In the walking distance remained Jiri Hospital and Jiri Animal Development Farm. We clicked snaps and noticed that the green trees seemed somewhat different from the trees we had seen till now. We inquired in a few hotels about the accommodation and the facilities, went to Bouddha Stupa and bought cheese of Chounri.

After about an hour of roaming around, we returned back to the hotel. We could feel the chilly weather of Jiri then. We could not believe we were wrapping ourselves in warm clothes in the month of June. Our warm dinner was ready at 8:30 p.m. It had rice, toriko saag, kauli curry, dal and achaar. Food was delicious. There was no TV or wi-fi facility. Tired as we were, we slept early.

Next day was a Nepal bandh. As we could not travel to Charikot, our plan towards Kalinchowk was cancelled. The only option was to enjoy Jiri for one more day. It had rained the previous night. So the weather could be well imagined. After a cup of black tea, we headed towards Jireswor Mahadev Temple at 7:45 a.m. It was an adventure. We had difficulty locating the place and had climbed through the wrong route instead. However, on inquiring the locals, we found out that the correct way was through the very quiet forest. With our hearts in our mouths, we moved ahead. No passers-by could be seen. On reaching closer, we could hear some human voices. Scared to death, still we moved ahead. Finally, on reaching the destination at 8:30 a.m., we could see the temple in the cave of the hill. Some visitors had reached before us. After a brief conversation, we found them polite people who, like us, had come from Kathmandu to visit Jiri.

The temple resembled Siddha Gufa of Bandipur, Tanahun. We clicked photographs and enjoyed the beauty of the environment. We walked back slowly and met the visitors again. Conversing with them, we came to know that the trees in Jiri were different. They had been brought from Switzerland by Swiss a long time ago. We kept on walking together. They were kind enough to offer us a lift in their car till the hotel. Morning meal was ready when we reached there. Rice, Swiss saag, dal, lapsi and karela pickles—all were very tasty. We were thinking to rest for a while but suddenly fell asleep. It was 2 p.m. when we woke up.

As there was not much we could do on that day, we went to the Gumba behind our hotel. On reaching there climbing the steps, we came to know that the Gumba had been destroyed by the earthquake one year ago. However, we spent some time there and observed the bazaar from the height and headed down. With sel and tea of the bazaar shop, we watched the world passing by. As it was already late evening, we returned back to the hotel. Rested a bit and had dinner. Food in this hotel was awesome and the family showed good hospitality. Looking forward to the next morning, we slept.

On 10^th June, we packed, had oats and milk, and caught the 4^th bus for Charikot at around 8 a.m. We let go other 3 buses because we wanted seats. Bidding farewell to Jiri, we enjoyed the landscapes from the bus—especially the trees which beautified and separated those hills from the other hills. Local people and some school children boarded the bus. People used to get in and get off the bus. It was more like a local bus. The kids seemed very sweet but they were slightly different from the kids I had seen in the city. They showed maturity in the way they spoke. The bus speed was quite high and not child-friendly. However, the bus kept on moving in the same speed.

The bus stopped at Tama Koshi for some time. It headed Charikot and reached there at 11:15 a.m. Bus fare was Rs. 180/person. The weather was warm. We got into Laxmi Hotel at the heart of Charikot bazaar as recommended by our friend and kept our stuffs there. Then we went to Charighyang Gumba at 10 minutes’ walking distance which again had fallen prey to the quake. Nothing remained there. We returned back to the hotel and had our meal (rice, dal and curry) and became fresh. Also, we were somewhat relieved to get a better room as compared to the room in Jiri. The rate was, however, double.

It was time to explore the old city. We headed towards the northern end of Charikot bazaar. We found many offices there, also a Pashupati temple and a big open ground where Bhimeshwor Mela takes place. The local said that a song from an old Nepali movie ‘Ke Ghar Ke Dera’ had been shot there. We had two cups of tea and a doughnut at a roadside cafe as we watched the world of Charikot bazaar from the terrace. As our friend had been waiting for us, we returned back to the hotel and had a nice thukpa. After having an extra sweet coffee in another roadside cafe, our friend left for Dolakha and we returned back to the hotel and rested for a while. 

After about an hour, we planned to go to the other side of the bazaar. Heading downwards through the slope, we enjoyed the view of lovely village and clicked ourselves until the dusk. Then we returned back to the bazaar and walked eastwards slowly. We were looking at the vegetable market when suddenly the marvelous view of mountain ranges caught our eyes. As we did not want to miss this chance, we hurried towards the terrace of the hotel in the 6^th floor. The sun setting over the Himalayan range was spellbinding. The golden sparkle over the white mountains was a breathtaking scene. After enjoying this stunning beauty for some time along with photographs, we headed back to the room and rested. We had roti, dal and dahi for dinner. Watched TV and slept.

After checkout in the hotel, we set out for Dolakha Bhimsen at 6 a.m. Morning at Charikot was warmer than morning at Jiri. We reached the temple after walking for about an hour through the well-paved road. A lot of damage had occurred to the place due to the quake. Our local friend informed us ‘do’ meant stone and ‘lakha’ meant town. As the name suggested, the town—the houses and the pavements—were made up of stones. The friend took us for a jungle walk, spoke about the history and myths of the town, and showed us different tourist spots which included cafe, cave, children’s park and love park (all under construction). There were other picnic spots, ponds, temples undergoing reconstruction due to the quake damage. A cozy cafe, also called ‘Friends’ Cafe’ was a lovely place to be at. The place was a tiny cottage but provided all types of cuisine any tourist wanted. It was owned by a local but a trained cook who spoke like an Englishman. We had waffle and coffee, awesome.

Our lunch was in Dolakha bus stop. Rice, dal and local chicken curry—very delicious. We saw a local hospital too which was nearby. The bus towards Kathmandu was already at the stop. Thanking our friend for the hospitality, we occupied our seats in the bus.  The bus fare was Rs. 400/person. It moved at 1:30 p.m. The bus reached at Charikot. We got off to pick up our luggage from the hotel and the bus moved from there at 2 p.m.

Enjoying the sightseeing through the way, bidding farewell to the lovely Dolakha, we reached Lamosanghu and Bahrabise which welcomed us with a warm weather towards Kathmandu where we reached at 7 in the evening.

Note: As both Jiri and Dolakha had been badly affected quake-hit areas, we could see people busy most of the time with reconstruction.

We travelled in the budget of Rs. 3000/person and also our expenses had lessened due to the local friend.