शैलुङ्ग: सय थुङ्गाहरूको मौन दर्शन

हरेक वर्ष, हामी हाम्रो जीवनलाई जति सकिन्छ त्यति धेरै बाहिरी साहसिक यात्राहरूले भरपूर बनाउँछौं। हरेक यात्रा हामीलाई भिन्न अनुभव दिन्छ, चाहे राम्रो होस् वा नराम्रो।

मैले यो पदयात्रा एक वर्षअघि योजना बनाएको थिएँ, जब म चुरे पर्वत श्रृंखलाको बेथानचोक टुप्पोमा पुगें। हाम्रो गृहनगरका १० जना समूहसँगै म त्यहाँ पुगेको थिएँ। त्यतिबेला मैले उहाँहरूलाई भनेँ, "हामी यहाँसम्म आइपुगेपछि, अब महाभारत पर्वत श्रृंखलाको शैलुङसम्म पनि पदयात्रा गर्नुपर्छ।" शैलुङ समुद्री सतहदेखि ३,१४६ मिटर (१०,३२२ फिट) उचाइमा अवस्थित छ।

शैलुङ नेपालकै एक मनमोहक डाँडाको गन्तव्य हो, जुन हिमालय पर्वत श्रृंखलाको मनोरम दृश्य र १०० थुँगा डाँडाहरूको विशेष उपस्थितिका लागि प्रख्यात छ।

झण्डै एक वर्षपछि, म अन्ततः शैलुङ पुगें। यस पटक, मसँग प्यारो छिमेकी थिए (म उहाँ लाई ठूलो  बुबा भनेर संभोधन गर्दछु) जो गत वर्ष बेथानचोकमा पनि मेरो साथमा थिए। हामी ७० भन्दा बढी भक्तजनहरूको समूहमा मिसियौं, जुन सबैजना शैलुङ चढ्ने साझा यात्रामा थिए। मैले मेरो बुवा, ठुलो बुवा र आफूका लागि सिट बुक गरेको थिएँ। तर, मेरो बुवाको ढाडमा समस्या भएपछि उहाँ आउन सक्नुभएन।

यात्रा तालिका अनुसार, पहिलो दिन शैलुङ पुगेर, राति दोलखा बस्ने र दोस्रो दिन दोलखा भीमसेन मन्दिरमा पूजा गर्ने योजना थियो।

मंसिरको पहिलो दिन (२०८१/०८/१-२) हामी लामो यात्रा गर्दै अरनिको राजमार्गतर्फ लाग्यौं। यो राजमार्गले मलाई ६ महिनाअघि साथीसँग गरेको रोलवालिङ भ्याली पदयात्राको सम्झना गरायो। त्यो स्मृतिलाई फेरि सम्झँदा राम्रो लाग्यो।

८ घण्टाको लामो यात्रापछि, हामी तत्लो शैलुङ पुग्यौं। त्यहाँ हामीले "समय बजि" (लोकप्रिय नेवारी परिकार) खायौं। त्यसपछि १.५ घण्टाको पैदल यात्राका लागि तयार भयौं। करिब २:०० बजे मैले र मेरो ठूलो बुवा विस्तारै हिँड्न थाल्यौं। त्यो दिन उहाँ नै मेरो सहयात्री हुनुहुन्थ्यो। उहाँ बूढो भए पनि विश्राम नलिई टाढा सम्म हिँड्न सक्नुहुन्छ। हामीले यसअघि पनि उपत्यकाभित्र धेरै पदयात्रा गरेका थियौं।

हामी बिस्तारै, सायद धेरै बिस्तारै, शैलुङमा नयाँ बनेको पर्खाल जस्तो देखिने बाटो हुँदै हिँड्यौं। साँचो भन्नुपर्दा, त्यो सबभन्दा खराब मानव निर्मित किल्ला थियो, जुन  देखेका थियौं—दुर्बल इन्जिनियरिङ्गको नमुना। तर, हामीले यसको तस्बिर खिच्दै र बाटोमा देखिने दृश्यको आनन्द लिंदै यात्रा गर्यौं।

करीब ३०-४० मिनेट हिँडेपछि, हामी दुईवटा बाटाहरूको फाटोमा पुग्यौं। एउटा बाटो महादेव गुफातर्फ जान्थ्यो भने अर्को शैलुङतर्फ। हामीले शैलुङतर्फ जाने बाटो रोज्यौं। सप्ताहन्त परेकाले बाटोमा धेरै पैदल यात्री थिए, जसमा युवा र वृद्ध दुबै समूहका मानिसहरू थिए।

हिँड्दै गर्दा, परिदृश्य विस्तारै परिवर्तन हुँदै गयो। डाँडाहरू एउटा पछि अर्को गरी देखिन थाले, सुक्खा खैरो घाँसले ढाकिएका। लाग्थ्यो ती डाँडाहरू हामीसँग लुका-मारी खेल्दैछन्। कुहिरोले ढाकिएको डाँडाको दृश्य निकै नाटकीय देखिन्थ्यो। तर, हामी अलि चिन्तित थियौं। "के हुने हो, टुप्पोमा पुग्दा सबै कुहिरोले छोपे भने?" हामीले सोच्यौं। तर, बिच-बिचमा घाम लागेर हाम्रो आशा जगाउँथ्यो कि हामीले ती डाँडाहरूको सुन्दर दृश्य देख्न सक्छौं।

आशावादी हुँदै हामी अगाडि बढिरह्यौं। जब हामीले ती १०० ओटा डाँडाहरू आफ्नै आँखाले देख्यौं, त्यो दृश्य अविश्वसनीय लाग्यो। लाग्थ्यो, कैयौं वर्षअघि कुनै विशाल यान (स्पेसशिप) वा यूएफओहरू यहाँ अवतरण गरेर पृथ्वीको अंश बनेर बसेका छन्।

प्राचीन पहाडहरूमा कुहिरोले भरिएको गोरेटोमा लुका-छिपी खेल्दै, हामी अन्ततः साँझ करिब ४:३० बजे शैलुङको टुप्पोमा पुग्यौं। पहिला, हामीले प्रार्थना गर्यौं र डाँडाको टुप्पोमा रहेको गुम्बामा दीप प्रज्वलन गर्यौं। केही मिनेटको पूजा पछि, हामी अवलोकन बिन्दुतर्फ गयौं, जहाँ शैलुङले प्रदान गर्ने नाटकीय दृश्यको साक्षी भयौं।  

भाग्यवश, आकाश खुला भयाे, र हामीले सम्पूर्ण हिमालय श्रृंखला देख्न सक्यौं। गणेश हिमाल, लाङटाङ, दोर्जे लाक्पा I र II, गौरीशंकर, बेडिङ्ग गो, काँग नचुगो, चोबुजे, पाँचर्मो, र एभरेस्ट क्षेत्र सबै स्पष्ट देखियो। मैले ठूलो बुबा लाई मैले गरेको हिमाली पदयात्राहरु र क्षेत्रहरु देखाएँ र छो- रोल्पा ताल त्यो हिमालको तल छ भनेर देखाएँ। सायद बुवा आउनु भएको भए उहाँ लाई पनि देखाउँथे होला! अर्कोपट्टि, अझ बढी मनमोहक दृश्य थियो—कुहिरोको माथि रहेको अनुभव। पहिलो पटक, मैले हाम्रो तल बादलको महासागर जस्तो दृश्य देखें। मैले कल्पना गरें, यदि यो बादल महासागर हुन्थ्यो भने, हामीले एउटा महान यात्रा गर्ने थियौं। अर्कोपट्टि पुग्ने कल्पना पनि सुन्दर लाग्यो, र त्यसै सोच्दै आफूलाई रमाउँदै गरेँ।  

हामीले केही तस्बिर खिच्यौं र एक वर्षअघि योजना बनाएको त्यो पललाई पूर्ण रूपमा रमायौं। त्यो क्षणमा हुनु नै अद्भुत अनुभव थियो। हावा चिसो हुँदै गएकाले, हामी ओर्लने सोचमा भयौं। तल झर्दै गर्दा, दृश्यहरू झन् स्वप्निल लाग्यो। एउटा तर्फ तैरिरहेका बादलहरू थिए, भने अर्को तर्फ सुनौलो सूर्यास्तले टल्किएका हिमालहरू।  

साँझ करिब ५:४० बजे, हामी फेरि तल्लो शैलुङ आइपुग्यौं, जहाँ हाम्रो दुई  ओटा बसहरू पार्क गरिएका थिएँ। पछाडि रहेका अन्य पदयात्रीहरूको प्रतीक्षा गर्यौं। करिब ६:०० बजे, हामी दोलखा भीमसेनतर्फ राति बस्नका लागि लाग्यौं। २-३ घण्टाको यात्रा थियो, र अँध्यारो भइसकेकाले प्रायः सबैले बसभित्र झप्की मारे। म पनि सुतें। अन्ततः करिब ८:३० बजे, हामी दोलखा भीमसेन पुग्यौं। 

मानिसहरू धेरै भएका कारण सुरुमा हामीलाई कोठा पाउन गाह्रो भयो। अन्ततः हामीले एउटा कोठा पायौं। झोला राखेर र आफूलाई ताजा बनाएर हामी खाना खान गयौं। खाना खाएपछि, हामीले आफ्नो परिवारलाई फोन गरेर दोलखा भीमसेन सुरक्षित रूपमा पुगेको र भोलि राती घर फर्किने जानकारी दियौं। त्यसपछि, हामीले बाटोमा खिचेका तस्बिरहरू हेर्दै रमाइलो गर्यौं। मैले आफ्नो ठूलो बुबा लाई भनेँ, "एक वर्षको योजना पछि, हामीले यो अन्ततः पूरा गर्‍यौं।" यो हिमालमा बिताएका हाम्रा सबैभन्दा रमाइला क्षणहरू मध्येको एक थियो। हामी दुवैलाई कुनै शारीरिक समस्या भएको थिएन, जुन मेरो लागि ठूलो राहतको कुरा थियो किनभने यात्रापछि अर्को दिन मलाई काममा जानुपर्ने थियो। त्यसपछि, हामी सुत्न गयौं।  

अर्को बिहान, हामी दोलखा भीमसेन मन्दिर गयौं, जहाँ हामीले पूजापाठ गर्यौं र बत्ती बाल्यौं। त्यसपछि, हामी मन्दिर परिसरको वरिपरि घुम्यौं, जसले मलाई केही वर्ष अघि बुबा र आमा सँगै गरेको यात्राको सम्झना दिलायो। मन्दिरको भ्रमणपछि, हामीले नाश्ता खायौं र आफ्नो समूहका सबैभेला भएर काठमाडौंतर्फ लाग्यौं।  

बाटोमा, हामी एउटा पहाडी क्षेत्रमा खाना खान रोकियौं। यो क्षेत्र कुनै समय स्विजरल्याण्ड कम्पनीले चून खानीका लागि प्रयोग गरेको थियो। चून खानी उत्खननको बदलामा, तिनीहरूले जिरीसम्मको बाटो निर्माण गरेका थिए। खाना तयार गर्दा, म र मेरा ठूलाबा वरपर घुम्न गयौं। केही समयपछि, हामी बसेर जीवनका कुरा गर्दै चकलेट र फलफूल खाँदै रमणीय दृश्य अवलोकन गर्यौं। यो मेरो लागि व्यक्तिगत रूपमा महत्वपूर्ण क्षण थियो। मेरो भन्दा दोब्बर उमेरको कसैसँग बसेर जीवनका अनुभवहरू सुन्नु वास्तवमै प्रेरणादायी थियो। उहाँले मलाई एउटा  साथीको सम्झना गराउनुभयो, जो उहाँकै उमेरका हुनुहुन्छ र दुबै जना ले फाइन आर्ट्स अध्ययन गर्नुभएको थियो।  

हामीले केही चूनका ढुंगाहरू घर लैजानका लागि सङ्कलन गर्यौं। जब मैले उहाँलाई नेपालका विभिन्न ठाउँमा ट्रेक र हाइक गर्दा संकलन गरेको "अनन्त ढुंगा" को बारेमा भनेँ, उहाँ प्रभावित हुनुभयो। त्यसपछि, हामी चिया खान फर्कियौं र पहाडको अर्को छेउतिर गयौं। त्यहाँबाट हामीले तल गाउँ देख्यौं। उहाँले मलाई धेरै नजिक जान दिनुभऐन, तर मैले आफ्नो परम्परागत "खुट्टाको तस्बिर" लिने प्रयास गरें। त्यसपछि, हामी करिब आधा घण्टा त्यहीँ बसेर फोटोग्राफी र फाइन आर्ट्सबारे कुराकानी गर्यौं। उहाँ एक उत्कृष्ट चित्रकार र फोटोग्राफर हुनुहुँदो रहेछ, जसले पुरानो क्यामेरा प्रयोग गर्नुभएको थियो र पुराना तस्बिरहरूको सङ्कलन छ भन्नुभयो। मैले उहाँलाई ती तस्बिरहरू सधैंका लागि सुरक्षित राख्न भनेँ।  

त्यसपछि, हामी खाना खान फर्कियौं। स्वादिष्ट खाना खाएपछि, हामी काठमाडौंतर्फ लाग्यौं। बाटोमा, केही स्थानहरूमा किनमेल गर्न रोकियौं। अन्ततः, रातको करिब ८:०० बजे हामी घर पुग्यौं।  

एक वर्षको योजना पछि, अन्ततः हामी शैलुङको टुपो मा पुग्यौँ, जुन प्राकृतिक र सांस्कृतिक दृष्टिकोणले अत्यन्त महत्त्वपूर्ण स्थान हो। पहाडको चुचुरोमा पुगेपछि, हाम्रो अनुभवहरू अपेक्षाभन्दा फरक र विशेष तरिकाले अगाडि बढ्यो। प्रार्थना, बत्ति बाल्ने कार्य, र हिमालय पर्वत शृंखलाको मनमोहक दृश्यले हाम्रो मनलाई कृतज्ञताले भरिदियो। हाम्रो तल बादलको समुद्र देख्नु भनेको सपनाजस्तो अनुभव थियो, जसले बादलहरू यदि वास्तविक समुद्र भए भने कस्तो हुन्थ्यो भन्ने सोच्न बाध्य बनायो।

यो यात्रा केवल प्राकृतिक दृश्यहरूको बारे मात्र थिएन; यो यात्रामा हामीले बाटोमा बनाएका सम्बन्धहरूको पनि कथा थियो। मेरो ट्रेल साथी, ठूलो बुवाले आफ्नो जीवनका कथा सुनाउनुभयो, जसले मलाई अनपेक्षित रूपमा प्रेरित गर्‍यो। हामीले सँगै अन्वेषण गर्यौं, हाँसो बाँड्यौं, र स्मृतिहरू सङ्कलन गर्यौं—चाहे त्यो पहाडको धारमा "लेग सट" लिने रमाइलो होस् वा मेरो इनफिनिटी स्टोनहरूको सङ्कलन गर्नु।

अर्को दिन, हामीले दोलखा भीमसेन मन्दिर भ्रमण गर्यौं, जसले केही वर्षअघि आमाबुवासँग गरेको यात्राको सम्झना गरायो। यो यात्रा नोस्टाल्जियाका पलहरूले भरिएको थियो, सरल खुशीहरू र गहिरो चिन्तनहरूको संगालो थियो। काठमाडौँ फर्किंदै गर्दा, बाटोमा स्वादिष्ट भोजन र किनमेलको मज्जा लिँदै, मैले गहिरो सन्तुष्टिको अनुभव गरें। यो केवल एउटा पदयात्रा थिएन—यो सम्बन्ध, आत्मचिन्तन, र कृतज्ञताको यात्रा थियो।

Soloing Phulchoki

IN an unfathomed forest of Phulchoki, which is believed to be evolved in mesozoic era, I remained for more than 5 hrs, walking quietly up and down, photographing and climbing among the surrounding mountains covered with snow. Phulchoki furnishes an equally interesting example of wilderness wholly, or in part, by wide range of flora and fauna and in every direction, the landscape stretched out sublimely away in fresh wildness--- a manuscript written by the hand of Nature alone.

It all started with an obsession of walking. On a chilly morning of February 5, 2022, I woke up late and after my morning stuffs, I looked around from our terrace. I saw all the hills and mountains of the Kathmandu valley covered with snow. And I decided to hike Phulchoki, one of the care killing trails of the valley which stretches out 13 km from the base of the mountain. 

However, I already hiked this trail with my friend on last December, 2021 when first snowfall of the season hit the valley. With an urge to explore and experience the wilderness that the trail offers, I went on a solo hike.

Then, after my lunch at 11:15 AM, I walked out from my home (Chapagaun) to the Phulchoki Summit, which is about 20 km away that is equivalent to 12.42 miles from my home. As I had to walk back and forth, about 24.84 miles, I didn't waste my time here and there. After walking about 30 mins, I reached Taukhel, neighborhood of Chapagaun. Then, I took a bus that goes to Godawari in order to save 30 mins of my time. [If I walked from Taukhel to Godawari through Peace Mountain, it could take 30 mins or more]. However, I thought that I could use that amount of time to reach the summit on time.

It just took 3 mins to reach Godawari Bus park from Taukhel by bus. Then, I looked at time that it was 12:08 PM. As snowfall was so much that I saw so many people hustling at the bus park with zeal to enjoy in the snow. 

I realised that I had to walk another 13 km to reach the summit. When I reached Godawari, I already had mild headache and felt so much hungry that I took the fruit juice from the backpack and had a sip of it. Then, I took chocolate bite. And, I slowly walked uphill through the forest path, which is so wild and raw that we need guts to explore solo. 

The forest of Phulchoki is so magnificent that we define nature as we walk through the forest. Being one of the last remnants of sub tropical forest in Nepal, it's the most tranquil place of the valley where we find peace and color our heart.

Then, after walking 5 km of an entire 13 km trail, I saw flakes of snow on the road and I felt so much excited in a good way. Furthermore, I took a pace to walk uphill. I was afraid that my headache would be intense but after having chocolate, juice and water, it stopped my headache. 

As there were other hikers too, I didn't worry about the wild surroundings. I know that soloing this trail other times would be dangerous. We may encounter wild bears and boars.

As I didn't care about other hikers what they were doing on the trail, I focused on reaching the summit. Moreover, with so much snow, about 2-3 feet, the beaten track was so much slippery to walk. At that same time, it was challenging to walk and I didn't use any shortcut. We could lose stamina to reaching out the top of the mountain.

As I reached the higher elevation, the pocket of fog lingered the mountain. That fleeting moment which I was looking for, was remained for few minutes. Then, I indulged in solitude, finding a peace in silence. At that point of the trail, I didn't see anyone, just me and wild surroundings. It meant a lot to me in a good way. That was my moment of zen.

However, I got scared too and it was obvious. But, with so much determination, I reached the summit, after walking 3 hrs 30 minutes from the bottom of the mountain. The winding road of the Phulchoki is so much challenging, (Difficulty Rating-5).

Due to low visibility, I didn't spend much time on the summit. After my prayers at the temple, I walked back in search of a place where I could have my snacks. [On the summit, there is a teahouse which offers mainly tea and other snacks]. As there were other hikers having their tea and snacks, I didn't want to go there. I came a little bit down to have my snacks and tea which I took from home. 

Then after finishing my snacks, I walked slowly for a while in order to have few minutes on higher altitude. It was something like acclimatization of the body. Then, I did trail run up to 10 km. 3 km, I had to walk. When I was about to reach the bottom of the mountain, I had so much pain in my leg, downhill knee problem. Finally, I successfully came down the mountain. It was already 5:30 PM when I reached down the mountain, brother did make phone call to me and I said that "I am at Godawari waiting for bus and take me home from Taukhel". But he said; "You be there and I am coming to pick you up." It was such a huge relief to me. Otherwise, I was about to take a bus upto Taukhel and walked back for another 45 minutes to reach HOME.

Then I did wait for my brother at Godawari Bus park. He came to pick me up on his motorbike. At first, he scolded me not to hike Phulchoki alone......

I appreciated the way my brother told me. It's one of the dangerous places of the valley. Anything could happen in the forest. I, actually thought there would so many people on the trail like it used to be on last hike with my friend. Yes, there were so many people on the trail but, as I reached higher elevation, I came across with few people only. At some point, I thought I should go back. It was so scary when the fog engulfed the path.

When I reached home, I felt so much cold and I sat in front of fire for about an hour or two. Then, I filled my day's appetite with so much foods and had hot water with thyme seeds. It does take care of our lungs and keeps us away from cold. Next day, I was on full day rest. 

[This hike taught me a lesson that how hard it is to reach our goal in life! But with strong determination and dedication, we can do anything in life]. 

[When we stay close to the nature, we care our forest, our hills, our mountains with love]. 

Hike To The Phulchoki Summit

THERE is always something deeply exciting, not only in the wilderness of the forest in the mountains, which exert more or less influence over every mind, but in their varied wilderness as manifested by the change in season especially those of mountains in winter. The evergreen forest of the Phulchoki Mountain is indescribably impressive and sublime, but the native Himalayan high altitude oak trees seem to me the best interpreters of the mountain. They are mighty, ever in tune, singing and writing tree-music all their long century lives. Little, however, of these noble trees and their music will you see or hear in the strictly higher elevation of the mountain (above 2650 m).

© Nirpesh Sharma

I had long been looking from the city that never sleeps and at last, all draw-backs overcome, a friend of mine and I set forth on the second last day of December, 2021, on a 10 mile walk (Chapagaun-Phulchoki Summit) to the top of the valley, 2700 m above from the sea level.

As it rained so heavily in the valley on last week of December, 2021, it snowed in the mountains(Phulchoki, Dhunche, Chandragiri, Radar Station, Shivapuri, etc) and a good friend of mine called me on a phone requesting to hike Phulchoki, highest point on the rim of the Kathmandu valley. As I am so much obsessed with walking, I said "yes" to his request.

Early in the morning on December 30, we confirmed our hike again. Then, we set our journey after lunch. However, to manage our time, we rode our bike till 6 km of an entire 13 km trial (Godawari-Phulchoki). Moreover, we parked our bike on the side of the beaten road and walked uphill at 12:55 pm, taking one of the longest forest baths so far. Because of first snowfall of the season, the trail was packed with so many hikers, both young and old. Who didn’t want to play with snow!

       

However, we didn’t go to play with the snow. In fact, we went to experience the snowy trial and to reach the top of the summit on time. As we walked for few mins, we started seeing snow all around. The trial was fully covered with snow and the walk had become more challenging. But with strong determination, we walked non-stop using shortcuts and main trail. However, shortcuts were so much difficult to walk as they were so much slippery.

To be honest, the trail is endlessly wild. The  greatest  number of  tree species  was  found  in  the  low  altitude  (1600  m), followed  by  intermediate  altitude  (1950  m).The  highest  altitude  (above 2650 m)  contained  only  one distinct  tree  species (Oak). The low altitude has higher species diversity and dominated  by  Castonopsis indica which has common name called chinquapin or chinkapin from Fagaceae family, Quercus  glauca, a ring cupped oak, Myrica  esculenta, box berry and  myrsine  capitellate, common name not known yet, etc. The intermediate altitude has  average species diversity and dominated  by Rhododendron arboretum, Castanopsis tribuloides and Quercus incana (oak). The forest of the higher altitude is entirely dominated  by  Quercus  semicarpifolia,  a  high  altitude  Oak.

Then, the trail was engulfed by the fog, and the walk had become even more interesting. In that moment, we were seeing through the eyes of a child. It reminded me one of my hikes that I did where I had to walk alone from the top of the mountain to the bottom when the entire trail was covered with day time fog. It was one of my scariest moments of my life.

With so much rain and snow, we saw many fallen tree branches on the trail blocking our way. It was so much intriguing to see the snow resting on the tree branches. Without wasting our time, we walked to the top of the mountain steping on the snow. The thickness of the snow was just about 2-3 inches which was less than we previously expected. As we walked up the mountain through winding road, the scenery had changed.

Everything (shrubs, trees, trail) was covered with snow. We now saw Himalayan oak trees. And it meant that we had hit the higher elevation of the mountain. I was so impressed to see those oak trees holding snow on their branches and leaves. It was one of my favorite moments. Then for the last time, we took the longest shortcut trail in order to manage our time. And I had to walk very slowly because; I was having heavy backpack filled with hot water, tea, normal water and snacks. When I looked up the mountain, my friend had gone too far otherwise I could pass the backpack. When, I reached the main trail, I felt so much exhausted and tired that I wanted to throw my backpack. It was one of the difficult steep shortcuts. As we burnt so many calories, we took a chocolate bites and water and felt heavenly. You could have voracious appetite in the mountains. Then, with normal pace, we walked again seeing everything around us. Then, we reached an ancient pond of the Phulchoki covered with snow . After walking another 2 km from the pond, we reached the summit. Finally, we registered our names to the top of the valley, 2700 m above from the sea level. However, my friend had already been here several times with his friends in the past years. We spent just few mins on the summit, did prayers at Phulchoki Temple which is dedicated to Phulchoki Bhawani and attracts many people all around the year. An emperor's picturesque Panaromic view from the top of the Phulchoki is so much lofty as different Himalayan ranges like Annapurna, Manaslu, Himalchuli, Ganesh, Langtang, Rolwaling, and Gaurishankar can be seen. Wish I could stay here all my life!

After spending few mins on the summit where other hikers were having good times singing and dancing with Nepali retro folk rock songs like "हिउँ पर्यो फुरुरु हिमाली भेगैमा", हिमाल चुचुरे, सुन्दर शान्त नेपाल, etc., we headed back down as we felt cold breeze. Then we took our snacks and tea on the side of the snowy road. After filling up our empty stomach, we walked down taking the main trail. We didn't prefer to walk the shortcuts. We even did trail run on a snowy track. It was one of the best things which we did. We more often do trail run on our hike. For more than 7 Kms, we did trail run without missing the views that the mountain offers. Then, we reached the point where we parked our bike and left for home. While coming down the mountain, we witnessed the forest illuminating with evening light, golden light.

© Nirpesh Sharma

We were so happy with our hike that we actually nailed it in just 5 hrs. It was perfect end of 2021. We suggest that as Phulchoki hike is one of the best acclimatization hikes, you should hike this mountain before trekking to Himalayan regions of Nepal.