A TRIP TO NEPAL

A trip to Baglung includes Shakti, Kanti, Divya, Manohar, …and Anup. During the Baglung Festival in Baglung, these are some pictures.

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DESTINATION GHALEL

It was a sunny morning and date of February 26, 07′ Monday. We planned for a small trip to Ghalel Village, which is only 3 hours from Pokhara town. I (Anup Shrestha) along with Kanti Gurung and Shakti Gurung headed towards the village at10 am. Though Divya Gurung was supposed to be with the trip but her mother opposed so from Milan Chowk (Hemja) we headed towards Ghalel Village. Kanti was in my bike and Shakti alone. Read the rest of this entry »

There was a five of us. Kanti Gurung (RJ-Himchuli FM), Parsu Ghimire (Editor- Tarun Weekly), Sundar Prasad Kandel- Sr. Manager Siddartha Bank, KTM), Manohar K.C. (Branch Manager-Siddartha Bank, PKR) including me Anup Shrestha (RJ-Pokhara FM). We planed for a small trip starting from Nayapul Birethati (1050 m.)- Chhomrong Ghandruk & back to Pokhara.

Day 1st

It was Tuesday and 13th February 2007, time-4pm, we headed towards Nayapul for trip. We reached at 5:30 at Nayapul & headed towards Birethati & then to Syauli Bazar. It was hard but we managed to reach Sayauli Bazar (1051 m.) It was around 7:30 pm, with difficult & with the help of torchlight we managed to reach. It was around 8 o’clock that it rained so heavily. It rained rained & rained continuously for the whole night. We enjoyed a lot in hotel Sikhar.

Day 2nd

Wake up at 5:30 am. It was raining heavily. It was like we will not be able to reach Chhomrong cause we didn’t thought of walking in rain. Suddenly Kanti and Manohar sir shouted, SNOW. We all were out of hotel to play with snow. According to hotel owner, it was fist time he had ever seen snow at that place. It was my second time that I touched snow of Nepal. It was around 10 years back when trek to Chhomrong, I touch it. Then in Sikkim, Choongou Lake when I touched snow in India. Everyone was excited in Syauli Bazar. Even in owners of hotels were excited and were taking pictures. All trees and hills covered with white snow seemed so gorgeous.
Manohar KC sleeping at Kanti’s Home.

Manohar KC was second time to this place. Mine was sixth time. First while doing Intermediate in Science in Mount Annapurna Campus, there was a trek to Muktinath starting from Jomsong- Muktimnath-Ghorepani- Ghandruk dated 1-8 Nov 96′. Secondly when there was a trek to Ghorepani via Ghandruk on 14 Oct 2000 with Arbin Pradhan, Sudip Shrestha and me. Thirdly while a trek to Chhomrong via Ghandruk with Rajob Shrestha, Late Subodh Shristav, Sudip Shrestha, Narayan Nidhi Poudel, Ganesh and me. Fourthy when a trek to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) with Rajob Shrestha, Ranish Shrestha, Bishal Panday, Ganesh and me. And Lastly in year 2001 while doing my bachelors degree in Computer Application in Pokhara College of Technology (PCT- first Badge) a trip to Ghandruk with PCT guys (Chhattu Group). These were few of my unforgettable moments to this place Ghandruk. Now lets move on to our sixth trip.

Kanti distributing sweets to children on the way.

Finally we reached Ghandruk at around 4.45 pm. every one was excited to see more snow everywhere. Every body made a call to their homes and we knew that even in Kande, Lumle and Nayapul there was a snowfall. All Pokhreli were there to play with snow. Even in Katmandu there was a snowfall after 62 years. Oh God! What a heaven. Thinking every one who touched snow were so excited, we headed towards Snow Land Lodge. This lodge is situated at the top of the Ghandruk Village. There is an attachment with this Lodge since my first visit to Ghandruk.  Till 11 pm every one were enjoying playing guitar and singing songs. Everyone were enjoying a lot. Even Sundar dai and Parsu dai sang few of their favorite songs.

Huge Snow Hill at Ghandruk

Day 3rd.

Wake up at 6 am saw outside- WOW! It was like heaven. Mount Annapurna South and Hiunchuli at so close. Though it was not my first trip to Ghandruk, every time I feel so fresh and as if this is my first trip. Every thing and every scenery seems to me so new and interesting. Mountains were so clear and enchanting. Really Great! Really we are in such a beautiful place of the world. I wonder why foreigner come to visit this place, though they have more wonderful place but artificial, but here every thing is natural. No one changes any thing.
Sundar Dai.

It was nice and started to enjoy walking in the snowy trial. We knew that while we walk we have to step in the fresh snow so we just went on. Everywhere snow seemed more interesting. Sometime we even had snow as a breakfast, I mean we tasted snow. It was tasteless but we enjoyed the taste as well. Some how we reached Komrong hill (2250 m.)

Snowy Chhomrong

There we were served with a Moiee (a kind of lassi) by a grandfather at that place. We even had tea and a biscuit that energize us to move down Kyumnrung River (1870 m.) We asked how much does it takes to reach Chhomrong, then they answered 4 hours. We were Huh! Actually it already took 3 hours to reach Komrong Hill from Ghandruk.

Snowy way from Ghandruk to Chhomrong.

We stepped down while one of the person from that place advised to move with huge courage. It was more than two feet of snow and steeply down. Trees were fallen due to snowfall. Blocked trials with we managed to move without any footmarks on the way. Three of us were at first. I mean Sundar dai, Parsu Dai and me and we were just running all the way enjoying a lot. Manohar sir and Kanti were at back slowly getting down falling down some time. We were about half and hour different on the way.

A view from Ghandruk

Snowy Syuali bazar where it snowed after 42 years.

We were more excited to reach rather than to walk in the trial. After reaching to Kyumnrung River we stayed for a rest and had a coffee. Then we headed towards Chhomrong (2050 m.) There was a landslide on the way to Chhomrong. It was so dangerous to walk though that way. Specially with Sundar dai it was difficult.

Sundar Dai and Parshu Dai while returning from Chhomrong.

Though we did and reached Lucky Guest House at 2.30 pm. The best guesthouse in Chhomrong as well as that guesthouse is of Kanti’s elder sisters. While I was near to the guesthouse while reaching, my left knee got sprain but also I enjoyed playing with snow.

A trial to Chhomrong from Ghandruk.

Day 4th
 
Started this cloudy morning with hot chocolate. Mountains so close. Everywhere snowy and what else do we need. It was really wonderful moment. We planned to stay for one more night at Chhomrong. At daytime we met Kanti’s parents and had lunch with them. The village was only 20 minutes walk from upper Chhomrong. That was Shiva Ratri so we enjoyed with sugarcanes.   

A view from Chhomrong

Trekkers-shopping-centre where we can find any thing at Chhomrong
Day 5th

The school where Kanti studied from class 1 to 7 at Chhomrong.
The longest route of our trip was of today where we walked almost 9 hours. We took around 400 pictures altogether and all were unforgettable. We all enjoyed a lot. 


In conclusion, what I found few things that clicked on me
No Nepali tourist during our 5 days trip except for guide and porters
Didn’t find any crushed plastic bottles on the way since after Jhinu, the area was plastic bottle ban area
People were so easy
No load shedding

If these things would be available then would be better
Internet/email facility along
Make small packages for Nepali tourists for that trip

“Take Pictures, Leave Footsteps”, this word inspired me on my trip.

Great Experience with trip
Chaaoo
Anup Shrestha
anuplalshrestha@gmaill.com  

It was a foggy morning when I wake up. It was about 7 am in the morning and the date was 23 Jan 07′. I with some of our friends planned to go Bandipur some days back. The day before there was a transportation block so we were in delimma. But suddenly there was a new in Radio that transportation is open now. Suddenly I made a call to friends for Bandipur trip. I (anup) along with Kanti, Manohar and Shakti started our trip 9 am from Pokhara.

It was a foggy morning when I wake up. It was about 7 am in the morning and the date was  23 Jan 07′. I with some of our friends planned to go Bandipur some days back. The day before there was a transportation block so we were in delimma. But suddenly there was a new in Radio that transportation is open now. Suddenly I made a call to friends for Bandipur trip. I (anup) along with Kanti, Manohar and Shakti started our trip 9 am from Pokhara.

Informations about Bandipur

Bandipur (Devanagiri बन्दीपुर) is a semi-urban town in the Nepalese Himalayas. It is a medieval town lying on the stretch of the mountain and situated halfway between Kathmandu, the capital city and Pokhara, another famous tourist attraction of kingdom of Nepal. Bandipur is a modern day town with its old antique cultural atmosphere still intact.

Bandipur is situated at 27.93 N, 84.42 E, some 1030 m (3500 ft) above sea level, and overlooks the Marsyangdi River Valley.

Bandipur lies in Tanahu District, Gandaki Zone in the Mahabharat range at an altitude of 1030 m. It is 143 k.m to the west from Kathmandu and 80 k.m to the south of Pokhara, 62 k.m to the north of Narayanghat and 8 k.m from Prithivi Highway’s Dumre Bazaar.

Bandipur was established as a funnelling point of trade by Newar traders fanned out from the Kathmandu valley after Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered his would-be capital. The town was once a prosperous trading centre. Its substantial buildings, with their neoclassical facades and shuttered windows, bespeak past glories. Originally a simple Magar Village, it was settled in the early nineteenth century by Newars from Bhaktapur, who took advantage of its malaria free location to develop it into an important stop along the India-Tibet trade route. With them they brought their rich cultural heritage and architecture and which, still today, defines the look and feel of the modern day Bandipur.
Bandipur had its heyday in the Rana times (1846-1951), when, as a measure of its power and prestige, it was granted special permission to have its own library (which is still going). However the town began to lose its edge in the 1950s, when the eradication of malaria in the Terai made travel easier there. In the 1960s, the district headquarters was moved from Bandipur to Damauli, and the completion of the Prithvi Highway in 1973 shifted commerce to Dumre, leaving Bandipur a semi-ghost town.Bandipur was earlier settled on by the Magars. But Bandipur today is the cultural mix of different ethnicities and beliefs. The town now is a concoction of various ethnicities like the Bahuns, the Chettris, the Newars, the Damais, Kamis, Sarkis, Kasais, Magars and Gurungs.

Bandipur draws lots of tourists round the year. It is accessible easily from Kathmandu and Pokhara. This hill-station provides breath-taking view of the Himalaya mountain range. October to January is the best time to visit.
Bandipur Bazaar is the market of the town with stone paved street, lined with the traditional houses. It hosts the historic Bandipur library and Bindyabashini temple at its center. Various Newari and Magar festivals are held in the town many times in a year. Cultural shows are arranged several times during tourist seasons and festivals. Sorathi and Chutka dances are very popular.
Tundikhel is a field on the north of the town that provides an excellent view of some of the highest mountains in the world, including Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Langtang, Manaslu and Ganesh. It also provides excellent view of the Marsyangdi valley below, the Manakamana hill and the legendary Gorkha palace.
Other tourist attractions include Thani Mai, Teendhara, Raniban, downhill trek to the Siddha Cave and hike to Ramkot village.

    
  FESTIVALS OF BANDIPUR
Since most of the Newars of Bandipur have their roots in Bhaktapur, many festivals celebrated in Bhaktapur are also observed here. Following are festivals celebrated in Bandipur according to Nepali month.
Baishakh (April-May)

Bisket Jatra
Bisket Jatra is the most important festival celebrated in Bandipur. On the main day, the idol of Goddess Bindhabasini is put on a chariot and paraded through the bazaar. Animal sacrifices are offered to the deity before the start of the procession. The festival ends with the throwing of coins from the top of her temple, which sets off a scramble among the kids to get at the money.

Baishakh Purnima
On the full moon day of Baishakh Purnima, the Magars of Bandipur put on a show of their traditional dance known as Ghatu. A religious ceremony is also performed at Chandithan with two girls leading the rituals. This is followed by dancing and merry making by the local youths.

Putali Choy
Putali Choy is held on New Year’s Day of the Nepali calendar. Prior to the festival, two dolls are put on show and a feast is organized. The preparations are made by the unmarried girls of the village. On New Year’s Day, the dolls are placed on a plate made of leaves and carried in procession by the village boys. The girls, dressed in new clothes, follow them singing songs. The boys add to the fun by not letting the girls pass until they have paid some money. The pageant represents the dolls’ wedding procession. When they reach the river, the dolls are ceremoniously placed on the water. The revelers return singing more songs to hold a feast.

Jestha (May-June)
Sithi Nakha

This festival is celebrated by eating various goodies like chatanmari, gojamari and mayemari. It is also the day for the annual cleaning and maintenance of water sources.

Aashar (June-July)
Ashaar Pandhra
Participants enjoy the festival by eating curd and beaten rice besides other delicacies.Ropai
The rice planting festival is celebrated by playing different musical instruments and making merry by splashing mud on each other. The instruments that accompany the singing include the narsingh, jhyali, kalaat, dhalki and damaha. The farmers enjoy a feast in the landowner’s house after the hard day’s work in the fields.

Shrawan (July-August)
Shrawan Sankranti
Shrawan Sankranti is the first day of the month of Shrawan. Revelers have fun by feasting on a variety of festival food.
GhantakarnaOn this day, an effigy of the demon Ghantakarna is set up near the Bindhabasini Temple to which the households in the town square offer money and rice. The act is believed to prevent evil spirits and diseases from entering their homes. After the ceremony, the dummy is thrown off the edge of Tundikhel.

Bhadra (August-September)
Janai Purnima
Janai Purnima is celebrated by tying a sacred thread around the wrist. Participants play music in the evenings from fifteen days before the festival. A dance called Ghintanghin is also performed during these occasions. On the day of the festival, an ensemble of musicians plays the jhyali at the house of those who have died in the past year.

Gai Jatra
On this day, an effigy of a cow is made out of a bamboo basket by decorating it with a picture of a cow’s head and other embellishments. A man carries it and leads a parade of performers doing a stick dance called Taktuke and musicians playing instruments like the jhyali and dhalki. Other participants follow the procession which is known as Sapra.

Bagh Jatra
The name of this celebration means tiger festival, and likewise, groups of participants impersonating tigers, hunters, clowns and a king and queen parade around town. They put on a show in which the tiger that has entered the town is killed by the townspeople.

Dahi Jatra
During this festival, youngsters dressed in deerskin to look like hermits visit the temples in the area to offer worship by ringing their bells. In the evening, a statue of Balgopal is drawn in a chariot through the bazaar.

Asoj (September-October)
Dashain (Khadga Jatra)
Dashain is the greatest festival in Nepal, and it is celebrated in Bandipur with equal zest and vigor. The revelry is spread over several days. A magnificent service is organized near the Khadga Devi Temple. During Phulpati, a sheep is sacrificed to the goddess.The Magars and Kamis carry the sacred sword in a parade through the town to be worshipped by the devotees. This is followed by a procession of the military band. On the day of Nawami, a buffalo is sacrificed at Purano Kot and later the carcass is pushed off the cliff. The final day is marked by putting a ritual red dab on the forehead and partaking of a feast.

Kartik (October-November)
Tihar
The festival of Tihar lasts for three days with the participants celebrating Laxmi Puja, Mha Puja and Bhai Tika consecutively with much enthusiasm. Groups of revelers walk through the streets singing Deusi songs and dancing. People also illuminate their homes with oil lamps.

Asobote
During this festival, women string flowers, mirrors, beads and bangles into garlands and offer them to the local deities with a religious ceremony. The next day, participants worship the Indian gooseberry tree and end the festival with a feast of local delicacies.

Bhapuni
The women of Bandipur celebrate this festival by fasting and singing devotional songs. Their husbands, meanwhile, collect rice from the village and prepare sel, a kind of sweet doughnut. The sels are displayed in a flower pattern on the floor before being distributed among the participants when the singing ends.

Nasa Puja
On this day, an animal sacrifice is made to the local deity and devotional songs are sung. Thefestival ends with a feast in which the meat of the sacrificed animal is served.

Mangsir (November-December)
Yomari Purnima
This day is marked by venerating Goddess Annapurna. The ceremony coincides with the harvest season, and so people also worship their granaries.

Poush (December-January)
Poush Pandhra
On this day, people rejoice by eating a local delicacy made of Anadi rice grains.

Magh (January-February)
Maghe Sankranti
This festival is observed by worshipping a girl and eating goodies like selroti, yam, cassava,

tuber and mayamari.
Sri Panchami
People celebrate this occasion by worshipping Saraswati, the goddess of learning, and the plow.

Fagun (February-March)
Fagu Purnima
Revelers make merry by splashing water and throwing red powder at each other during Fagu

Purnima.
Shivaratri
People gather at Chandeni, Mahadevsthan, Bindhabasini Temple Square and Teendhara Mahadevsthan to light bonfires and celebrate the birthday of Lord Shiva.

Chaitra (March-April)
Chaitra Dashain and Ram Nawami
The Magars of Bandipur celebrate this festival with great gusto. An animal is sacrificed at the temple of Khadga Devi, and a fete is held at Patalidwar where participants gather to sing and dance and have fun.

DANCES OF BANDIPUR
Balun Dance
This dance is performed by the Brahmins. The performers clap and step to the beat of the song. One of the dancers plays the part of the mythical figure Hanuman who acts like a jester and sends the crowd rolling with laughter with his antics. In spite of its humorous element, the basic theme of the dance, which is based on sacred texts like the Krishna Charitra, Ramayana and others, is religious.

Ghatu Dance
This dance is performed especially by the Magars and Gurungs. It is a ritual dance celebrating the festival of Baishakh Purnima (April-May). The performer, who wears different floral ornaments, takes a purification bath and then sits with his eyes closed as he waits for the singing to begin. When the Guruaama starts singing religious songs invoking the gods, the dancer becomes possessed. His body trembling, he begins to dance. As the show progresses, his movements become more and more vigorous. Finally, people move in to get hold of him and make him swallow grass in order to settle him down.

Pangduri Dance
This dance follows the Ghatu Dance. The young males of the village dress up in female attire and put on the show, as women are not allowed to take part in it. The dancers move in rhythm to the beat of the madal, a traditional small drum popular in Nepal’s villages. One of the actors plays the part of a comic.

Sorathi Dance
This dance is especially performed in the Magar and Gurung communities. The presentation includes religious acts and humorous interludes.

Chutka
People dance the Chutka from the start of Holi, the festival of colors. A group of participants visits a neighboring village and dances with another group on the opposite side. If one team consists of males, the other has to comprise females. It is also forbidden for relatives to dance with each other. The men play instruments like the madal and khajadi while the women dance.

Lakhe Dance
This dance is performed nightly in the village square for a month during July-August. In this presentation, the lakhe, a lone performer wearing a terrifying demon mask, dances with energetic movements to the accompaniment of crashing cymbals and booming drums.

Doko Dance
This dance provides participants a pleasant respite after a season of hard work in the fields. Bamboo baskets are made up like male and female effigies, and the performers put them over their heads and dance. The celebration is held around August.  
 

 
Bandipur – A Nature’s Paradise
Bandipur an ancient Newari mountain town lies in Tanahu District, Gandaki Zone in the Mahabharat range at an altitude of 3400 feet. It is 135 k.m. to the west and 80 k.m. to the south of Pokhara, 62 k.m. to the north of Narayanghat, and 7 k.m. from Prithivi Highway ‘s Dumre Bazaar and about 20 minutes drive from the highway.
Untouched by modernization and laced with an abundance of ancient houses, temples of great significance and historical architecture, this medieval-era town boasts festivals all year around, besides a plethora of cultural offerings.
Bandipur is spread over 4562 hectors of land, which has a settlement of around 5000 people and 600 houses. The weather is cool all the year round – the maximum temperature in winter is between 18 – 20 degree centigrade while the minimum temperature plummets to 2 degree centigrade. In the summer season, the temperature goes up to 30 degree centigrade and the minimum temperature dips to 12 degree centigrade. The hill – top settlement is a treat to the eyes during the monsoon.

Although different communities such as Magar, Gurung, Bahun, Kshetry, Damai, Kami and

Sarki live in the Bandipur. It is predominantly a Newar town.
Places to see and can be seen form Bandipur and at Bandipur are:
•  The great Himalayas
•  Khadga Devi Temple
•  Bindhybasini Temple
•  Mahalaxmi Temple
•  Narayani Temple
•  Parpni Mahadev
•  Patalidwar temple
•  Gadi
•  Tandrang Tundrung
•  Saddha Gufa (cave)
•  Mukundeshwori Temple
•  Raniban
•  Chimkewsori Temple
•  Teendahra
The majority of people living in Bandipur are Newars, therefore Newari festivals are celebrated. However, other festivals and cultural programmes of different communities are also celebrated. The main festivals celebrated are:

Bisket Jatra
Janai Purnima
Gai Jatra
Dasain
Tihar

Bandipur has access to road, electricity, telecommunications,health service and local transport service. There are affordable lodges and resorts in Bandipur ranging from a standard facility and a basic one. It is recommended to take 2 nights / 3 days package offered by local tour operators incase you want to take a trip to Bandipur or you can easily drive in with your own vehicle or by local bus.
Bandipur can be developed as village tourism or community based tourism or as a hill station (for the locals during the summer). It can also be promoted as a study place specially for anthropological students. Last year a three – day Bandipur festival was organized by the joint co-operations of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Bandipur Development Committee (BDC). This is the second festival organised in Bandipur. A FAM Trip for reporters, correspondence, tour operators, travel agencies, tourism news writers were organised by Sustainable Tourism Network

          “Good Nepal with Good Nepali – We always stand for that”.

Enjoy Your Trip.

Anup Shrestha

Welcome to Dhampus Trip on Jan 5-6 2007.

This time a trip to Dhampus-Pothana-Pokhara with
Anup Shrestha, Kanti Gurung Shrestha, Suruchi Palikhe, Manohar KC, Poonam Gurung, And Shakti Gurung.

Dhampus is a large village spread out along a hill top only a short walk from the main road to Pokhara.
It is inhabited by a mix of people: Gurung, Brahman, Magar, low-caste, etc.

For more: http://www.tripnepal.blogspot.com

 Anup with smiling face…

Beautiful scenery.

Wow! lovely Mt. Annapurna.

Anup & Kanti in Romantic Mood.. Ha ha ha

Shakti Grg…

Kanti, Manohar, Anup and Suruchi…

Manohar Sir with great smile…