We embarked on our maiden visit to Nepal up on
8 June 2016. It was jointly planned by my daughters, and itinerary was executed
by Sowmya.
We flew by jet airways via Bombay,
starting at Hyderabad airport by 7.20 am on 8 June, reached Kathmandu by
1.45 pm. We got cab pickup by royal penguin restaurant, booked by us. Refreshed
and after room served lunch, rested till 7 pm. We went by casual walk in the
dark streets, which were being re-laid-to Darbar square.it was, once kings palace,
housing Shiva Parvathi temple along with Hanuman, Shakti temples. On return to
the hotel by 8.45 pm ,had our soup and Biryani sweet curd, very spicy hot potato curry,
at the ground floor ,before going for days winding up sleep on the second floor
,spacious room.
Next day, 9 June we started by
9.30 am, after breakfast, by a van to visit Buddhist monastery, atop a hill,
then we reached Pasupatinath temple by 11 am. A nice self-appointed guide gave
exhaustive briefing, as to its history. Abhishekam, being performed at that time
to Pancha mukha shivalinga. And devotees have the privilege to view the linga
deity, through four windows on the square, sanctum. Other minor temples in the
compound, we briefly visited. The main temple gopuram is gold plated, as well
the huge Nandi idol sitting outside, as if paying it’s obeisance to the lord.
Then for our lunch at 2 pm at Sangam hotel - dosa, utappam and roti as ordered for us. Then we proceeded to Swayabhunath stupa on a hill with 60 to 80 steps to climb up. I opted out to
climb up. Feeling tired .the stupa is huge with only, eyes, and red nose, not
regular Buddha. Returned to the hotel by 6 pm.
On 10th June, starting by 9.30 am,
after breakfast visited Bhaktapur Darbar square, where Kalabhairava temple, Tuljabhavani, Kedarnath, Dattatreya temples in dis-use. Then visited Budda
neelakanta, temple, where lord Vishnu’s very huge deity type idol is located in
a big pond of water, in yoga nidra posture.it is very impressive. Thereafter,
we went to darbar square, on shopping spree in the shops in narrow lanes, nearby.
Returned to the hotel by evening and after dinner with plain rice and curd/
pickle, retired to sleep.
On 11thjune we woke up by 4am,
for a flight from Kathmandu airport to a place called Pokhra, some 300km as a
retreat. But to the surprise of my wife and me, we 4 of us were booked
daughters for a Mountain View flight by a light aircraft, with a capacity of 30
persons. Yeti airlines in arrangement with Buddha air took us for an aerial
view flight of mount Himalayas, by 8am flight. We never, even dreamt of such
eventuality to watch Himalayas at close range. The air hostess, guided each one
of us pointing the mountain peaks by name, Everest, Annapurna, and gourisankar
etc. We were taken in an order for a cockpit view also. This flight is quite exhilarating
and permanently etched in memory.
After, 45minutes, we landed back
in the capital, boarded flight to pokhra for 2day stay.by 1030am reported at Adam
hotel, allotted ,lake view room in the second floor. After lunch with poori
and curry and sandwich etc.in the early evening, went to see "world
peace pagoda" a Buddhist stupa, had to give up mid-way the hill path as it
was near impossible to go that rugged road and also steep steps, thereafter.
Returned to the huge lake side. Spent time there till sunset and returned to
the hotel
Next day went to Gupteswara Mahadev cave, which is deep 60 to 70 rugged steps.as is wont, I preferred not
to go down, but stay up! The rest returned with varied experience, tired
also.it is reported by them that there is under ground water fall there in! Returned
to the hotel and at 5 pm went for a boat ride in the phewa lake for 1 hour, amidst
the lake there is temple. Retired to sleep after dinner at nearby hotel,
On early morning by 4 am started
by car, on 12 June to view sunrise atop a hill, where one can watch clear view
of mount Annapurna.
Unfortunately, for us it was
raining heavily at that time--despite this we proceeded with hope. But the
rains stopped not! We returned disappointed. Slept overnight, and took flight
by 13th June, 1 pm to Kathmandu reaching there by 3 pm, to report to another
hotel for overnight stay. In the evening we once again visited pasupatinath
temple and sowndarya preferred; shopping. Took overnight rest and by
3.30 pm flight from Kathmandu landed at new Delhi airport, by 5 pm .after ,2 hours
of halt caught 8.30 pm flight to Hyderabad, landed at 11 pm and back home by
12.30 am.
One is to have a valid passport
to visit Nepal and no visa is required for Indian nationals.
Our daughters required and
deserved rest and retreat vacation and we as parents inserted/ included for
this courtesy!
