(Still Under Construction)
From Bike Riding to Hiking
Stops : Nepalgunj-Pokhara-Nayapool-Ulleri-Ghorepani-Poon Hill-Tadapani-Ghandruk
Date : 23rd October,2013 (6th Kartik,2070)
Time Taken : 6 days (4 days hiking)
Hikers : Nitesh Man Shakya, Satyam Joshi,Sagar Raj Shakya and Niraj Man Shakya
Vehicles : 220cc and 100cc bikes
Distance : Pokhara-445 kms + NayaPool-35 kms + Poon Hill route(Up & Down)-42 kms
Expenses Forecast : Nrs 12-13,000/= per head
Vehicles : 220cc and 100cc bikes
Distance : Pokhara-445 kms + NayaPool-35 kms + Poon Hill route(Up & Down)-42 kms
Expenses Forecast : Nrs 12-13,000/= per head
Photos by : Satyam,Nitesh,Saagar
Camera : Canon 550D (18-55mm IS, 50-250mm IS II) and
Nikon D5200 (18-55mm VR, 50-300mm VR)
October 23,2013 6:47 AM
October 23,2013 6:47 AM
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After 2 years of planning and failing,finally we made our decision for Poon Hill.All credit goes to Nitesh.It was like a better escape opportunity since we found a good reason LOL.
Before night, we took our journey, we were unsure of travelling means.I initially decided bus travelling but Anish and Nitesh compelled for Bike riding to Pokhara.
At first I was not ready because a week before , we lost our good brother in a bike accident so I was terrified.But later on , they convinced me of bike riding. I finally noded for bike ride to Pokhara which is 445 kilometers (approx.) in distance.
We were beginners so we unable to decide what to take with us in hiking.So we chose formal way of clothing not so much like of trekker's outfits.Our backpack was heavy than it should be.
It was 6:05 AM 23rd October morning, we gathered at Nitesh's house,looked at each other and rode own bikes.And timely reminding of safe riding and not to race each other ( but who cares while riding in a highway...boys are boys )
We reached a petrol pump(SK petrol pump) for filling in some fuel and suddenly, Nitesh cursed that he forgot his DSLR that he recently bought for this trip.So Niraj rushed towards home.And we waited few minutes and he came back and we started our journey towards Pokhara.
Everyone except me, had light meal.So I was hungry like a monster.It was around 11 am, we stopped at Bhalubang and we had jeri,puri,tarkari.
After timely ride-breaks, we reached Butwal and we took a shortcut roadway to Pokhara which heads towards Palpa,Tansen also.
There were amazing scenery, beautiful views of villages,paddy fields,mountains,etc.
The road was very dangerous, there were breathtaking cliffs,twists and turns yet we were so passionate to cruise along the mesmerizing nature.
When we reached Aryabhanjyang,we stopped for a MO:MO: break.It was very delicious, mainly pickle !
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We were reading milestones and all villages name on the board while cruising.It was fun.We were also calculating the time taken and the speed we are on.
After 12 hours of riding we reached Pokhara at 6:30 PM.
Niraj already told us that he managed the accomodation in The Winds hotel,Halanchok(Lakeside) Pokhara, but we were not provided the rooms and we guessed that we were on-season of tourism calendar so they might be hesitating to provide domestic tourists the rooms....
But they helped us find another hotel, named Hotel Nepal which was good, I think !
We put off our backpacks inside the room and took a evening walk towards illuminated Lakeside streets.
We spent our 2 hours of night at Rice Bowl Restaurant(Lakeside) with live music performance.
October 23,2013 8:27 PM
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It was around 7 O'clock ,we were ready for Nayapul, the starting point of our Poon Hill trek.We parked our bikes in the same hotel(Hotel Nepal,Halanchok) and took a taxi from Baglung bus park.Ususally, they charge Nrs 1,500/= but the taxi was in hurry to return his home in Nayapul so he asked for Nrs 1,200/= and without any bargain, we hopped in and spent nearly 1.5 hours to reach Nayapul.Believe me, it was one of the most beautiful taxi rides of the life(since I've never ride on taxi in hilly region.. LOL)
We took our first breakfast in a small restaurant hut @ around 9 AM.
October 24 2013, 9:43 AM
October 24 2013, 9:43 AM
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After few minutes of walk through a lane of small village, we reached Modi River Bridge.There are two separate ways to reach Poon Hill; one way(left path) leads towards Tikhedhunga-Ulleri-Ghorepani and another (right path) leads towards Ghandruk-Tadhapani-Ghorepani.You meet different people saying their own version about easier way to climb the steps of the mountain but we found the left path(Ulleri) a bit easier than the right path.Reason, because the later one has sharp twist, turns, steep stairways and some natural water sources pours water on some those steps.
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| Towards Tikhedhunga |
We climbed upto Helay or Hile (Fig 12-13) and stopped for a lunch break at 1 PM.We had our lunch and spent few moments with our freedom, we felt like a total new place with no hush and rush and no city-crowd, a total heavenly freedom.
As Saagar told me that it was our start of joy for remaining days that we were going to spent away from home thats why we were so much enjoying and being happy.
We nearly decided to stay there but it was just 1 PM noon so I thought there's nothing more we could do in that place rather than just watching the mountains, we had still couple of kilometers to measure to make it to the top.So we agreed to keep on walking.
October 24 2013, 12:33 PM
A horse grazing,that was lovely view.
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The Guest house where we had our lunch, that was one of the most memorable moment of the trek.
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Our next cool stop where we relaxed enough.
We rested,atleast,1 hour after our lunch that cost us Nrs 400/= per head.We took some snaps and walked from there towards Ulleri.
After 3 hours, we reached Ulleri which was our night stay spot.We were to spent a night there, so we soothed ourselves with drinks after the walk like hell.
Ulleri was not 'that' good because we didn't like the food and also not good spot for sight seeing.I captured photographs that were the only good things at that place(fig 16-18)
October 25 2013,6:36 AM
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| Fig 16 |
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| Fig 18 |
I was so tired and was hurt at my knee joint because of continued trekking for whole day.Actually the story was, there were some foreign tourists who were focusing us to beat,they wouldn't rest if we rest and only stop if we are behind.So we (mainly I ) hiked non-stop for more than 20 minutes and I got knee-joint strain.I can't explain the pain.I remembered that one of my in-laws told me to massage the legs with hot oil and I did the same.
Next morning, I stretched my leg, did some knee exercises ,got warmed up and got ready to walk again,still the strain was there but kept on walking because I don't want to bear the burden of accuse of slowing the guys down.
Ocotber 24 2013, 2:42 PM
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| A goat staring at stranger us |
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| Path leading to Ghorepani, the place is Ulleri |
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| At Nangethanti (towards Ghorepani) |
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Shepherds with their herds, we're on the way to Ghorepani.
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A small girl getting ready for her school, her mother was yelling at her.She came to her door because I think she heard our foot steps.She hesitatingly posed when I clicked her.She didn't bid farewell when I waved my hands.She was disappointed..may be she wasnot in the mood for school.
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I remember this photo, a foreign tourist enthusiastically asked us that he would like to take our group snap.I surely can say that he had Photography hobby.
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This was the funniest part of our whole trek.We were discussing for a long time about the PONY SERVICE that was written at the corner of that counter window.We were forgetting the meaning of Pony so we were telling our own versions of its meaning and explanations.
After knowing the reality ,we were bursted to laugh so much that everyone in that restaurant giggled with us.
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| After lunch at Nangethanti(Saagar) |
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| Nitesh,Niraj & Saagar.Resting for a while. |
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| Niraj at the Ghorepani entrance gate |
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| Satyam |
| This was shot when we reached Ghorepani.
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Let me tell you something about him(left); He is from Germany.He was cool man, aged,may be,60.He was with his wife.His porter(luggage carrier) was inside any hotel to confuse him , he carried that 25kg luggage by himself and came our way and his wife laughed and suddenly ,looking at me, he called his wife "crazy woman".There was burst of laugh.
This is the thing that I really like about trek, you meet people, out of nowhere you come up with interest to talk with strange people and they respond so well , and sometimes you are not lucky to get good talking people.If you find good strangers(in trek) to talk to , you have your good day !
Fig 30 |
We reached Ghorepani at around 2PM.We climbed a little bit more to find a hotel named Nice View Hotel(Fig 30).I find the room very nice, nicer than Ulleri and others.The temperature was so so cold.We took an attached bathroom/toilet room because I and Niraj had bad stomach, thinking that we need the toilet anytime of the night :) !
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Nitesh with his relax position infront of the hot fire drum which they used to warm up the hall and prepare hot water for every bathroom.
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Saagar & Nitesh before dinner in dining hall.Waiting for cheers-ful moment !:)
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October 26,2013 5:38 AM
We went to bed earlier that day because next day we had to climb 400 meters more at 5AM to reach the famous Poon Hill spot.We were really worried because at that time its pretty dark and we didn't brought torch lights.Niraj & Saagar coonvinced that mobile lights would do.We were really staring each other's face complaining how could we forget the torch lights.Later, Satyam added that we could join other trekkers on the way so that we get good guidance with lights.
We noded and went to sleep.
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The right side photograph was taken on the way to Poon Hill at 5:38 AM.Some friends were confused if it was real, It is real.I just adjusted brightness and contrast with photoshop. In photographic terms, it is Long Exposure or Slow Shutter Speed.It is used in dark places where flashes have no effect causing motion blur if something moves. That's why the torch light trail is captured here.It is because in long exposure photo sensor opens for the speed specified in the manual mode. | |
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 This guy(above) searching and waiting for an appropriate spot and time to make his best shot.I was watching him for few seconds.He was like a hunter who seeks his prey to capture in his frame.He was curious but at the same time so patient.
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While I was planning of Poon Hill trek(some months ago), I planned some photographic shots in my own unique styles but by the time reaching the spot, I was so lost there that I totally forgot all those planned shots.I just enjoyed every second of it.Whatever you seen here or in my facebook wall is nothing compared what I planned initially.
It was so beautiful,mesmerizing that anyone can forget anything.And additionally, there was disappointing crowd.You would remain searching for good angle shots.
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