Running in Kathmandu

Country: Nepal

City: Kathmandu

Crew: Pahadi, Anna, Maag

Boudanath Stupa and Yellow Color

Our Last day in Nepal spent in running on the streets of Kathmandu, we had to cover complete city in a single day of course only Superman can do that without a private cab, in our case, we chose Local conveyance. Note: if you have a single day and you plan to roam complete city, it’s always better to go for private cabs/cars because it’s a big city and to go from one site to another takes a long time via local. Initially we planned to cover whole city, but as the clock was ticking, we had to wrap it up after visiting 3^rd site.

First we saw Pashupatinath Mandir, next we moved to Boudanath. It’s the biggest stupa of Nepal which stands on 3 tired platforms raised over crossed rectangles in order to bring yantra form. 2 interesting incidents happened here, 1^st: Stupa was all white in color and the authorities were pouring yellow colored paint on it, so we fools were mocking on it saying that “stupa has been here from thousands of years and now authorities found time to color it”. But later we found out that they are not just throwing color on it, they are making a lotus shaped painting on it and it’s a practice. It is interesting even if we don’t know something; we can laugh on it, fools. 2^nd: when we were clicking, one old lady called Maag and said something due to which she had to change and stitch her dress, it is better not to go into details on this point. It was another funny instance that took place in Boudanath.

Narayanthan

Next we moved to Changu Narayan (Narayanthan) located on a magnificent hill top commanding a fantastic view of Kathmandu valley. This temple of Lord Vishnu is full of art works in metal and wood, finest example of Nepalese Architecture. This is the place where we understood that all along the journey we were just running from one place to another (due to time constraints) and hence we slowed down here and enjoyed the place. At this time we also learned that last bus to border leaves at around 6 PM (later we knew that it was not the fact, you can even catch bus last by 8-9) so we dropped other spots since it was already 4 o clock and again started running to our hotel in a local bus. There were 3 locals sitting behind us and they only knew English so I was continuously talking with them about the routes, time and about them, kind of flirty, but fun, they were also enjoying. Then I asked Maag to take pics of us.

Then we reached hotel, collected bags and moved to bus station, as soon as we stepped down there, one bus was leaving so we boarded the bus. Later we found out that the bus started before time so other bus drivers didn’t allowed any passengers to board it and hence bus returned station, after an hour or so again started from there.

This journey took the same time (12 hours) to reach border, where our bags, identity cards were checked properly. When we moved to another country Nepal, nothing was checked but when we came back to our own country everything was checked, funny isn't it. Then we had the most favorite snack of India: Samosa as our lunch and headed back to railway station: Gorakhpur.

View of Kathmandu Valley from Narayanthan

We had some time before boarding our train so we thought of visiting Geeta Press or Gorakhpur Mandir, but both were far away from station and there was a possibility of high traffic while returning  so we dropped our plan and relaxed on station only.
Since sleeper coach waiting rooms didn't had proper bathrooms, we paid some money to care takers and entered into AC coach rooms for proper bath. After all this adventure Maag was hell tired, fall sick and slept there for 30-45 minutes, but even this little time was enough to get her strength back.

We boarded our train and headed back towards our routine, I had some private chat with Pahadi about the ups and downs of my life, since she was the only one who can understand it. Anna felt bit jealous due to this and same was seen in whole trip, Maag always seemed to be in her own space. I, Pahadi and Maag stepped down at Bhopal, while Anna continued in same train towards Mumbai. There was a cab waiting for us in Bhopal which was sent by Dad, all boarded it and then finally returned our homes.
Overall it was a nice trip with lots of ups and downs, adventures, secrets and fights. I am never gonna forget this trip and its true that for Naturally Nepal, Once is not enough.

Shri Pashupatinath Mandir-God and Death at the same place

Country: Nepal

City: Kathmandu

Crew: Anna,Maag, Kuntal and Pahadi

Entrance of Pashupatinath Temple

Our last day in Nepal was planned to roam around in Kathmandu, but first things first was to visit Pasupatinath Mandir. Once you enter the temple, you will get caught in its vortex, it is totally a different world inside it. Here the Shivling is panchmukhi meaning 5 faces of God in the same structure, but we could see only 4 gates to enter and worship, so we asked the security person standing at the gate about the catch of last one. He said “it’s present at the top but invisible”. Pashupati actually means “The Lord of all pashus which are living as well as non living beings”.

Baba in Pose

As we moved further maag went into dhyan (she meditated for some time) and rest of us were roaming around here and there. I saw a person giving tilak-chandan in a leaf, so me and anna also took it and applied on our forehead, this was the first time I have seen tilak being given in a leaf.  Some people were chanting bhajans in a corner and obviously Pahadi was attracted to her passion-music. Sound of bhajan was mixed with the environment in such a way that its part of whole shanti (peace) prevailing in the temple. When I looked at the backside of temple, there was a river (Bagmati) passing, in addition to that I can see that it was a cremation place with few bodies in process. Also there was a person with oxygen pump in a corner, he was there as if it was confirmed that he is not gonna make it and has to be here. It’s the only temple where I witnessed Gods image at one end and death at the other.   

Inside the Temple

I was frightened by the look of that place so I told my crew members that we should move out now, but I was not the only explorer out there, Maag wanted to see what’s there at the backside, so we all moved there and rest of my crew members saw what I was afraid of. It was the first time Pahadi had seen a dead body and she was always afraid of the thought of looking at a body. So for her it was a nightmare come true and photographer Maag wanted to take pics here also and she was standing right beside a body, I tried not to take body in the picture. 

Bagmati River: Backside of Temple

It is said that there is aura present around everything / person, and if our aura conflicts with others, it signals that we should move out of the place as soon as possible. It was happening same for me, I was feeling to move out of that environment as if there was something which was telling to move out from there.

Conference 2nd Day-The Fight

Angry Pahadi while giving Feedback

Next day we woke up early as always, got ready to reach the venue. This time too we were not sure that we will be returning to our hotel or head directly from venue to Kathmandu, so we packed our bags and took everything with us. Nothing was decided and everyone had their views so we had a small fight on the choice to check out from hotel or not. Anna didn’t want to check out but Maag and Pahadi thought it is good to check out, so we can directly go to Kathmandu, Anna got angry and took his luggage in rains to venue. We all followed since he was running to escape rains. 

When the conference started only half of the people joined rest either left or started roaming Nepal, they were the people who only wanted certificates. When conference was complete, there was a feedback session in that, Pahadi showed real face of her group members and also of those who came there only for certificates. Up to this time, we planned that will be moving to see Pokhara valley; I was very excited to see it as I heard from many people about its beauty and also we had sufficient time.

Kathmandu Market Pic

Girls from our crew talked to few people and were misguided that its gonna take a long time and will be a hectic journey, so both of them backed out and said that if we want to go we can move on our own, Anna was ready to do it, since he became very angry on this move of girls. In morning, both of them were ready and in evening they backed out, it was very wrong doing on their part. They should not be changing plans on their own from morning to evening which was completely unacceptable to Anna, I was also angry and tried to convince them, but they were adamant. In last we all came on one page and decided to quit Pokhara valley plan, next we headed to Kathmandu with our Mentor and few more people just for shopping. This small journey was a mess from all angles, none of us wanted any shopping, but to roam in Kathmandu we joined, also the cost of this trip was too much and the best part, Pahadi acted weird all the time, that too without any issues. She wanted not to go Pokhar, we all agreed then too she was angry all the time, even I tried to talk her out, but nothing fruitful.

Nepal's famous Rudraksh

Night, we got back to hotel angrily, I was angry because she was acting weird all the time even after agreeing on her idea, then too I tried to talk, but she didn’t wanted to say anything, Anna was also confused what to do next. Maag was all messed because we 3 were fighting, so in night she arranged a meet to solve this fight, after all shouting and sorrys we all agreed to forget the fight and plan for coming days.

The Journey Continues…

If you are following through the previous posts, you will know that we were en route to Nepal for a conference, so far we have reached India-Nepal border. We crossed border on foot only, now after crossing border, we have two options either will get bus direct from border or from Bhairava bus station, it depends on luck. Sometimes buses are ready at border itself and you can get a ticket for it from a red colored counter, if not, you can board local bus to reach Bhairava bus stand and get bus from there. It is suggested to have lunch before boarding bus; also you should board it keeping in mind that it is going to take complete 12 hours to reach Kathmandu. This journey was also a part of the so called “The Journey”. Believe me 12 hours is a long time sitting in bus where seats are so congested that your knee will stick to next chair and if pillar is there near your hair, you may not even be able to get into your chair, depending on your health.

So if you start in morning around 1pm from border, you will reach Kathamandu at the same time i.e. 1am and then you have to rent a hotel room and in night you may not get a proper one. We should check the room and washrooms properly before checking in. 

Same thing happened with us, we had to board the bus at around 1pm and reached at 1 in night and then had to settle in an improper room, because it was raining, we were tired, night time, so I just checked a room, which was too basic and finalized it without giving a second thought, but I should have properly check the room and took a consent from Maag or Pahadi before finalizing the room. It is good to take suggestions from more than one person before finalizing anything, because what I like may not be the best option, but what more than one person likes will be the better option. These are just little things that I learned in this trip.

Our rooms were like, one had fan another not, while another one had light, and first one didn’t. So they were equal in a manner. In night we had tight sleep, since we were hell tired, then too everyone woke up early in morning and got ready to move. Anna showed some quickness and got ready in common washroom.