Amazing Lumbini and Chitwan

Visit to one of the most beautiful peaceful places in the world, "Lumbini" indeed,  is the marvelous experience ever. It is  is the Birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha and thus considered as one of the most important pilgrimage centres for Buddhists all over the world. Within this peaceful environment, many temples and monasteries have been built from different countries and in different architectural styles thereby making this place a peaceful atmosphere for transcendental meditation.

Lumbini lies in the South-Western Terai of Nepal where it evokes a kind of holy sentiment to the millions of Buddhists all over the world-as does Jerusalem to Christians and Mecca to Muslims. Sanskrit for “the lovely”, Lumbini has a fascinating history as the birthplace of Lord Buddha - the apostle of peace and the light of Asia. Queen Maya Devi, in the year 642 B.C., gave birth to the Buddha on her way to her parent’s home, when  she was resting under a sal tree.In Buddha’s time Lumbini was described as “a beautiful garden”, and today it still retains its legendary charm and beauty. A mere 12 miles north of Lumbini lies the dense and picturesque sal-grove. The garden of the Buddha’s birth was lost for a thousand years until the site was rediscovered in 1895 when a German archaeologist came upon Ashoka’s Pillar. The Ashok pillar had been built by an Indian Emperor named Ashoka during his visit to Lumbini, along with four stupas.

We started the tour by taking a bus from Kathmandu. The tourist bus leaves every morning straight to Lumbini. Or one can take a bus from New Bus Park to Bhairahawa, from where one needs to take another bus to Buddha Chowk and from there another bus to the Lumbini. It took a day to reach Lumbini from Kathmandu by bus. We spent a night there in the  Lumbini Village Lodge which had a  a cool central courtyard shaded by a mango tree.

Next day, we hired a bike and went inside the holy premise to visit all the temples and monasteries there. The most important place not to be missed is the Mayadevi temple. It took a whole day to visit all the places there. We spent another night there and left to Chitwan earlier next morning.

  

Next morning, a local bus took us up to Bhairahawa, from where we took another bus to Sauraha Chowk and then another bus to the Sauraha. The purpose was to visit the Chitwan National Park  which is a huge nature reserve, covering sal forest, water marshes and grassland. One can have the chance to spot plenty of wildlife there including endangered species like the one-horned rhino, Bengal tiger, sloth bears, leopard, Gangetic dolphin and the gharial crocodile. It is also  a perfect place for bird watching and spotting a variety of colourful butterflies.

One can also go on walking or jeep safaris or elephant safaris to explore the jungle. From a slightly different angle one can spot wildlife from canoe ride on Rapti River as well. We chose elephant safari and explored the community forest only because the private elephants from the hotels and guest houses are allowed to enter into only community forest. However if one wants to explore the deeper part of the forest, then  the government or the military elephants should be taken and which obviously requires one to have a good contact with the top level personnel there :).

And in the villages around Chitwan national park one can observe the traditional Tharu lifestyle and culture and have the chance to see cultural shows including their famous stick dances and singing.
After visiting the Chitwan National Park we headed to Bhairahawa and then straight back to Kathmandu.

Lo Manthang and Upper Mustang Trek

Trek to Upper Mustang in Nepal.

Upper Mustang is located north of Mt. Annapurna and at an average altitude of 4,000m. It is geologically and culturally part of the Tibetan plateau which lies in Nepal. The valleys are arid and dry with colourful rock formations containing many cave dwellings high up in the cliffs. The first trekking parties were allowed into Upper Mustang in 1992 and there are still very few people visiting Upper Mustang, as a result it is one of the few places left where one can see undisturbed Tibetan culture. It allows limited numbers of trekkers each year in order to protect and conserve the local Tibetan tradition and the fragile environment.

We did this trek in March, 2014 just after experiencing the world's awesome walk "The Annapurna Circuit" along Manang valley with my four Nepalese friends Anup Kc, Bijay Limbu, Sailesh Dahal and Sujin Gwatchha. After crossing huge Mountain pass Thorong La, we arrived and spent our night at Muktinath. Next day we headed towards Kagbeni and finally towards Upper Mustang. This was one of the best historical remote trek ever. The trek unsealed the once Forbidden Kingdom of Mustang, tucked away from the rest of the world.

The Upper Mustang lies just north of the main Himalayan range of Nepal. Mustang, a land where the soul of the man is still considered to be as real as the feet he walks on: a land said to be “barren as a dead deer” but where beauty and happiness abound is spite of hardship, was a part of the Tibetan Kingdom of Gungthang until 1830’s. The wall city of Lo Manthang, unofficial capital of Mustang still remains a kingdom within a kingdom. The early history to Lo Manthang is embellished in myth and legend rather than the recorded fact. Mustang has maintained its status as a separate principality until 1951.

The trek into this fabled forbidden kingdom of vast, arid valleys, eroded canyons, ochre valley, yak caravans, colorful-painted mud brick houses on the back dropped of majestic immaculate mountain of Nilgiri, Tukche, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri had brilliantly made our medieval walled kingdom Mustang trek a very special one.


Foreigners have to pay USD 500 per person for the first 10 days and USD 50 per head for each extra days. 
For Nepalese, its free. Only they have to pay Rs. 500/head while getting inside the Jhong Cave.

We moved along the Kali Gandaki river, which has formed the world's deepest gorge there.

We further traveled beyond Lo Manthang to Chhosar Village to see the Jhong cave which is a cave complex 5 stories high with 42 rooms inside. The cave was almost 2500 years old and has been inhabited on and off.

One can see so many such caves over there and still many of them have not been explored yet.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Did this amazing Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek during the last week of December 2013 with an unforgettable x-mas celebration in the remote village of Sinua with khukri rum and timely returned back to Pokhara for new year 2014 celebration.


The trek started on 22nd Dec after leaving Pokhara around 2 p.m. from Baglung Bus park towards  Nayapul. We arrived Nayapul around 6 p.m. We stayed in one small Lama Lodge there. Left to ABC earlier in the morning. Passing Birethanti (first ABC check post for tourist), Syauli Bazaar (1190 m), Kliu (1390 m), Kimche (1760 m) and beautiful Ghandruk village (2000 m), we reached Kimrong Danda around 6 p.m. on that day. We had the best insight into the Nepalese village lifestyle, ethnic diversity and a moderate adventure even on our just first day walk. More you walk up more you will come across the several viewpoints with world famous Himalayan views. During the day, we had a lunch in Kimche. We had a very hospitable service from an old lady in one guest house in Kimrong. We were treated like family there.

Next day we left Kimrong Danda around 7 a.m after experiencing a breathtaking sunrise view over the Mt. Annapurna and Mt. Fishtail, that was just amazing... After light breakfast there, We headed towards Chhomrong (2170 m), yet another stunning place in our trek and finally reached Sinua village (2340 m) around 5 on our second day walk. We had a lunch at Chhomrong on that day. Chhomrong is a large Gurung village at the corridor of Annapurna Sanctuary. The village offers the upclose view of Mt. Annapurna South (7,219 m), Mt. Machhapuchhre ( also called Fishtail at 6,993 m). We stayed that night in Sinua after seeing the beautiful late sun over the mountains from Sinua. Celebrated x-mas with nepalese rum, Khukri rum.

Next morning after having a light breakfast we left Sinua at 7 a.m. We passed Bamboo (2190 m), Dovan (2505 m), Himalaya (2873 m) and finally reached Deurali (3231m) at 5 p.m to spend our night there.

Next day, left Deurali at 7 a.m. Passed a spectacular MBC (Machhapuchhre Base Camp, 3703 m). At MBC, valley opens up wide and bright with marvellous view of Mt Machhapuchhre and Mt. Annapurna I (8,091m ). We We had a lunch at MBC then headed towards ABC (4130 m). On the way to ABC from MBC, the vegetation disappears. We saw snow boulders melting and forming small streams. The trail to Annapurna base camp climbs gradually to the snowfield and the the edge of glacier. At ABC, we are at the base of world's highest mountains surrounding us in 360 degree. After arrival at this view site, we did savor the mesmerizing views of the Machhapuchhre, Annapurna south, Annapurna I, Hiunchuli and other peaks. We spent the night in one lodge at ABC with a little breathing difficulty while sleeping, that was because of the high altitude.



We did relish the magnificent sunrise over the Himalayas from ABC. After breakfast, we spent like 3 hours there then only started descending from ABC to Bamboo back through Machhapuchhre Base Camp, Deurali, and Dovan until we finally reach Bamboo. But unfortunately we didn't any room available for us during that night, so we headed even down hill to reach Sinua around 8 p.m. Had a different experience of walking in the night with torch light. Climbing back down to the valley is much easier than climbing up.

Next day, we followed the same trail that we took to climb up till Chhomrong. Climbed down steeply on the stone steps to the village of Jhinu. We settled into one lodge, left our baggage and then headed down half an hour to natural hot spring pool in the shore of Modi river. Enjoyed the natural hot spring there, such a wonderful relaxing moment there..Then we moved up back to the lodge and enjoyed our lunch then headed towards New Bridge and finally reached Himalpani to spend our last night in the mountain. There was one very huge and beautiful waterfall.

Next morning, after having breakfast we left Himalpani and headed towards Australian Camp at Pothana by passing Landruk and Tolka. We spent a night at Australian camp.

Earlier next morning had a completely different view of sunrise there. After having breakfast we then headed towards Dhampus and Phedi and finally took a bus back to Pokhara. Thats how we ended our trek in nine days and we were in Pokhara to celebrate new year 2014.

Thorong Pass and the Annapurna Circuit

In this blog I am sharing some of the pictures, videos and my experiences about my travelling at different places.

This one is about my trek around Annapurna Circuit. The trek starts from Besishahar of Lamjung district of Nepal.

The highest point of the trek entails crossing of the 5416 m world’s highest Pass Throng La, from the arid valley of the upper Manang, home of Tibetan- Buddhists, getting down to the Hindu pilgrimage site of Muktinath, and the Kali Gandaki valley, the world’s deepest river gorge.

Annapurna region is best described as the most happening incentive trekking destination in the world. We started the trek right from the Bagarchhap of Lamjung district and went along the Marshyangdi River, with great view of Mt. Manashlu and Mt. Himal Chuli to the east. This magnificent trek lead us to the fine village inhabited by a wide diversity of people from different ethnic groups, offering spectacular and majestic view of the white Himalayas.

  

   

As it continues to the north of the main Himalayan range on to the high and dry Tibetan Plateau, the scenery is equally breathtaking. To top it all, the crossing of the Thorong La (pass) at 5,416m altitude is the most challenging ascent. 

More about this trek, you can find it on my YouTube Video..Cheers.!.