Bachelors First Tour - Pokhara Bandipur

This was our first informal gathering. How would we know each other without going for a tour, or getting out? So, these my classmates made a plan to visit Bandipur! That was not a bad idea anyway, and I was with them itself.

So, in the very beginning of third semester, we planned of Bandipur. Ah, few of them had not gone to Pokhara. Let’s go there too, that is what we thought, and we all got set! The story is ‘once upon a time’ now, but it is still a fresh one, after all BBA Third Semester was real long time back. It was not organized by college, but just we 13 boys!

Day 1

Early morning, we went to Kalanki. Was it 7, when we caught the micro? Maybe. So, we 13 of us, got into the micro, and got set for the trip. We had talked to each other before, however, this one was organized not only to discover places, but also to strengthen the relationship among us. However, beginning will not be so easy for sure. So, some of them were with their ear phone plugged in, while some of them were into something else. 

Few chit chats, and things were going fine there. As usual, the ear started hearing less, when getting down to Naubise. We crossed, Malekhu, and by the time we reached Kuringtar we were all hungry like hell. One best place and thing we remember is the dam, where we had our lunch. The lunch probably must be everyone’s favorite one that they had during their highway travel. At least, it was for me, and few others.

So, at 11 we reached Pokhara, and bus dropped us at Prithivi Chowk. It had been a while, I had not been to Pokhara then, maybe more than few years. We had our friend, Om, who is now in British Army, whom we were waiting for. He was preparing for his training camp then.

So, we booked two rooms there, at Srijana Chowk itself. Two rooms for 13 had to be small, but the room was big sized, where we all could fit in. And then, our guide, ahem, took us to Davis Fall. Ah! I don’t like this place much, had it been my first time, I’d find it exciting. So, Gupteswor Mahadev was next. And then, we started our hike towards Peace Stupa then. 

It was maybe couple of hours trek, that was adventurous one. And, it was already 5, and we returned from the different way. Eww.. we came down to a lake.. and only then we realized that it was other corner of Fewa Lake. Maybe, they are planning to make cable car in that route right now. But, we asked with few peoples if it really was Fewa Lake.

There were boats, but not willing to take us to other side since it was already dark. However, on our huge request, they took us to other side. We walked around the Lake Side, when it started to rain. Coffee was good. And then, this guide made us walk till our room. It was already 9 when we reached room.

We had to party anyway, despite being tired. 

Day 2

One bad thing we had, was we never planned our trip. So, we had to check out of the hotel early morning, and then we went to Bindabasini Temple. This was the temple where my cousins did Brathabanda last time I was in Pokhara. So, being there was okay. And after there, with some disputes regarding if to go towards some place else or Sarangkot, we planned for Sarangkot there by.

We went to Sarangkot, ahh.. late! However, the small hike was indeed again tiresome. Getting to know each other more close when this hike was there was something good one. 

We dropped down, and caught the bus somewhere of Narayanghat. We had to get to Bandipur, so despite being crowded we got inside. One of our friend, Guru, climbed to the roof of the bus. We managed to get seat something like after 1 hour. I felt like going to the roof as well, but the bus didn’t stop. I however could see some shadow of the roof in the road. Ah! It was goat that stood up! How can Guru be goat all of sudden? We called him, and what? He was in another bus because they didn’t allow him to get there.

We didn’t find any places around in Dumre, and there was last jeep that was going to Bandipur. We called Guru, and he said, he would manage and suggested us to catch the jeep. The jeep took us to Bandipur, we were all sitting tight, and the road was really tiring one. However we reached up to Bandipur. Where was Guru? He had a different story to tell. 

When he reached Dumre, he found someone planning to come in Bike. He asked for lift, and came up. Wow!

So, the good food there, and we had a fine sleep! That was okay.

Day 3

We woke up in time, and went to Maisthan. The thing that we still remember about this place is Narendra’s joke. It was short hike of 1 hour, and we stayed up there. After that we returned back, checked out of hotel, went around: Tudikhel, and other places and had our lunch.

Finally, we started to walk down to Siddha Gufa there. There was this amazing dog that we met, who had been guiding lot of peoples like us towards the path. The road was not so confusing, however, the dog went us till the cave. We were initially confused, why the dog was following us. But, once we reached cave, there they told that this dog has been doing this task for long time. I later asked my other friends if there was that dog, and they said no. Maybe the dog is dead now. That walk was cool one, and within the forest and only all of us.

Cave was amazing. However, we didn’t plan to explore the way to Mongolia or maybe somewhere else going from the last point.

Finally, we dropped down to Bimalnagar, and were waiting for bus. Ah! There was river on the side, we all started bathing there. It was 2 pm when we were in the river, and we came out at 3. We got the bus, and we reached Kathmandu at 8.

This was not a huge tour, but way to make gathering and way to know each other. It was the way, through which we came close, means that acted as reason, and made our Bachelors life filled up with fun.

We promised for Muktinath then!