Winter has returned to Nepal. This indicates foggy mornings and chilly evenings, pleasant warm days, and long peaceful nights. Winter in Nepal also brings with it snow-covered areas close to the valley. This brings back memories of my exciting and snowy trip to Kalinchok last winter.
I am a mountain girl by heart. I would choose snow capped mountains over any other destination. I took a solo journey to Kalinchok in mid-January last year, but all of my buddies had cancelled because they were busy.
The Switzerland of Nepal, Kalinchok, was all over the social media because of the area’s distinct villages, style of houses, and ample amount of snow. The videos and pictures of the location piqued my interest. I prepared myself to play with snow in Kalinchowk. It was incredibly exciting as I have never seen snow before. So I packed my bags for the adventure.
I live close to Koteshor, so it was easy for me to get up, get ready, and be at Koteshwor bus stop in the early morning to catch a bus. At approximately 8 in the morning, I boarded the bus from Koteshor to Charikot.
The bus accelerated slowly into motion. It was nearly vacant. I was one of a total of 7 passengers in it. The bus made stops at each point to pick up passengers. I eventually left the Kathmandu Valley behind crossing Jadibuti, Bhaktapur, Jagati, Sanga, and Banepa. The morning became colder due to the mist that concealed the sun.
After going past Banepa, the concrete buildings became sparser, while the woodlands became denser.
The bus stopped at Panchtham for lunch. The local hotel offered a variety of meals. I ate a sizzling hot puri with beans. The warm breakfast was more delicious in the chilly morning.
The road up until Panchtham was fairly maintained, but beyond Panchtham, the state of the road declined significantly. The narrow trails that the hills had cut out was perilous and uneven.
The one thing I didn't enjoy about the bus journey was the Nepali Lok Dohori (a type of Nepalese folk songs) that kept blaring from the speakers of the bus throughout the ride. It was amusing at first, but after a while I couldn’t stand the sound of it. So, I put on my ear phones and listened to some songs to keep me going.
After I arrived in Mude, snow began to appear. The white fluffs were everywhere, on either side of the road. It was in the bushes, on the branches of trees, on the hilltop, everywhere. I was ecstatic to witness snow all around me.
After Mude came Charikot, the last stop for the bus. Booking a return ticket to Kathmandu at Charikot is one thing that cannot be overlooked. I didn’t purchase a return ticket. So, I subsequently had some issues.
I rode on another bus from Charikot to Gairi Gaun. It was an upwards ride. The road was slick due to snow. The beautiful vistas could be seen on approaching Gairi Gaun from Charikot. I boarded another bus to get to Kalinchok from Gairi Gaun. The snow covered, slippery road required extreme caution. The vehicle’s tires were wrapped in chains to prevent slipping. The road was treacherous and twisty. But as it is said, a painful journey leads to a beautiful destination. I finally reached the Kuri Village of Kalinchok.
It was difficult to comprehend that this was Nepal because of the dwellings’ colourful tin roofs with snow all over the place. It looked like a scene from a movie. White snow blanketed the settlements in its entirety. People were seen playing in the snow, sliding, and laughing. Finding a hotel to stay at that night was my top priority at the time. I went to a hotel and booked a room for myself. A group of three people my age approached me as I was enjoying light snacks and a nice mug of coffee in the common room of the modest local hotel. We bonded right away, and they invited me to join their group. We, four, went for a walk and had fun in the snow.
We made snowmen and angels on the snow. We also went to a little hilltop where we did some sliding. I had a blast with my new friends. We had a lot of fun throwing snow at each other.
We returned to our hotel as it began to get darker. We enjoyed the finest Thakali food there. Perhaps since the food was prepared using firewood, it tasted excellent with the distinct smell of fire. A bonfire was held on the hotel’s lawn following dinner. When I arrived, I saw my new friends dancing by the fire with other hotel guests. I joined the crowd. While the music was playing loudly, all of us were dancing. I knew we were experiencing one of the most wonderful moments of our lives.
We, four, talked for a while and planned to go see the sunrise the next morning. After the short conversation, we called it a night and headed to our respective rooms. I walked into my rooms, wrapped myself in the covers, and fell asleep in no time.
The following morning, I got up early and freshened up. The water was extremely cold. In fact, the water surface of every vessel was frozen. It was freezing cold. I dressed warmly and went to greet my new friends. We moved towards the view point. We had to hike for a while to get to the view point. It was above the clouds. The village was perched on a hilltop above the clouds as well. It seemed like the sun began to rise out of the fog. It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. I observed the orange fireball coming out from its hiding place, and blasting through the layers of white cloud that resembled cotton.
We returned back to our hotel after an incredible morning. After breakfast, we departed and were on our way back to Kathmandu. The journey up to Charikot was delightful. I had my three lovely friends with me. We spoke and joked the entire way down.
My three friends had already booked their return tickets on the day of their arrival. So, they had no trouble getting on the bus, but I didn’t. The staff didn’t allow me to get on the bus. I was told by the ticket counter staff that I would need to wait an additional day to return to Kathmandu. I pleaded with the staff. After many requests, they managed a seat for me in the bus, which was very uncomfortable. So, I suggest you all to book your return ticket earlier while going to Kalinchok.
The trip back home was excruciating, not just physically but also psychologically as I saw the river, woodlands, and villages pass behind me, carrying the peace I craved for in the city.
After a long, difficult trip, I eventually arrived at Koteshwor in the evening. I returned home, had a lengthy, warm shower, and fell asleep.
If there isn’t strife, it isn’t entertaining.
Even though my vacation came to a rather rocky finish, it was enjoyable, full of wonderful memories, and experiences I’ll treasure forever.
Kalinchok is a fantastic destination, especially in the winter. If you want to explore either by yourself or with company, this is the ideal location. The place is easier to access and is affordable. It is also close to the valley. So, you can plan a short or long trip according to your liking. I recommend everyone to visit Kalinchok, at least once. To me, it was an adventure to remember.
Compiled By: Rebika BIshokarma
Photos By:Sajan Rajbahak, Shashank Thapa, Kabi Acharya, dewashish thapa, Photos of Nepal
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