Most girl dreams of having an exotic bachelorette before their big day. I was no different. However, while most would like to spend it on food, drink and partying on the beaches, I had always dreamt of spending my bachelorette somewhere I felt at peace. So when I finally decided to get hitched, I was more than eager to make this trip every bit worth it. Ever since a child, I had always related ‘peace’ to hills, and where else would I go for my bachelorette other than the Himalayas! Thus it was decided. I was going to the gorgeous land of Sherpas - Nepal. Although my friends thought it was a rather unorthodox choice of place for a bachelorette but I was adamant, and it turned out to be one of the most enriching and fulfilling experiences of my life. Being a mountain lover and architecture buff, Nepal has always been in my bucket list. Apart from being home to the snow-capped Himalayas, Nepal is a land of architectural marvels, breath taking views of countryside complete with jungles, gorges, deep caverns and pristine lakes; rich culture and tradition, lip smacking food and friendliest people on earth. This is a place where you can explore your spirituality on one side and satiate the adrenaline junkie in you on the other. Nepal has so much to offer that it is difficult to create an itinerary for a short period of time. But I did not have a choice. I had to manage leaves for a month, wrap up ongoing work in hand, and manage wedding preparations while constantly being bugged by folks back home while managing my daily life, living in a different city all by myself. I had a five days window after finishing all pending work at office before I left for my hometown, so I along with two of my closest friends decided to go on a five days backpacking trip to Nepal of which two days will be spent in Kathmandu and three days in Pokhara.
As we walked across the busy streets we reached Durbar Square. It felt like we were caught in a time warp. I was mesmerised by the craftsmanship of the Newari artisans. Durbar square which dates back to the 17th century is an UNESCO world heritage site. The series of courtyards are surrounded with spectacular temples and palaces with beautifully adorned wooden facades. We were looking for a place to have lunch and found that there are plenty of rooftop cafes nearby which offer an amazing view of the Durbar square with mountains in the backdrop.
On 2nd February 2020, three of us had reached the Indira Gandhi International Airport at 3 am in the morning. Excitement and apprehension did not let us sleep at night and Delhi’s winter was not at all kind to us at that ungodly hour. We were literally packed under several layers of warm clothing but there was no dearth of enthusiasm. After clearing immigration and verification of necessary document our flight finally took off around 7 in the morning After flying for an hour among the fluffy clouds, we got the first glimpse of the majestic Himalayas. As the day broke, our flight window revealed a complete new world. We saw the glistening snow-capped Himalayas in all its glory adorned by the fluffy cloud like a crown. Our flight landed at Kathmandu’airport at around 9:30 am. Upon arrival, we took a cab to our hostel which was around 6 kilometres from the airport. The cab charged us around 500 NPR (4 USD).We had pre booked our stay at the Zostel Kathmandu which is situated near the Thamel Market. For a group of friends and even a solo traveller, looking for economical lodging accommodations, the Thamel area has lot of options (both hostel and homestays) to offer. After checking in the hostel, we decided to explore the neighbourhood. Thamel Market is one of the most vibrant markets in Kathmandu with an amazing selection of kukris, masks, antiques, traditional and local clothes, trekking gear, local wine among others.
After lunch we hired a cab to go to the ancient city of Patan. Patan is known for its old world charm and is one of the best examples of metal craft and wooden carvings. Patan is a city of temples and monasteries with the Patan Durbar Square being the major attraction. This too is an UNESCO world heritage site. The cab charged us around NPR 350, for 5.5 kilometres. During our stay, I have realised that the best option to travel in and around Kathmandu is to hire a cab even though the cabs often ask for a higher fare from tourists. So it is always good to bargain in advance. The cheapest option though is to take a bus but in that case make sure you know your way around the city or end up getting lost.
On reaching our destination, we got down from the cab and walked towards the Patan Durbar Square. We could hear the tapping of tiny hammers as the craftsmen worked on their metal work amidst all the chaos of the busy streets. The narrow alleys on the way were vibrant with the famous Thangka Paintings which hung in the stores on both sides of the street. The entry fee for Patan Durbar Square is NPR 150 per from SAARC countries (that means Indians too) and NPR 1000 for other foreign nationals. As we stepped into the cobbled brick courtyard of the Durbar square, I was awestruck with the magnificent display of temples and royal residences with intricately carvings. The concentrated mass of temples on the left hand side was undoubtedly the most stunning display of Newari architecture, of which, the Krishan temple was the most impressive. Onto our right side, there were a series of royal residences with intricately carved courtyards.
Kathmandu gets pretty chilly after sunset in February and we were craving a cup of hot coffee. We found some good eateries behind the Krishna Temple which serve delicious desserts and coffee. Four warm cups of hot coffee and croissants later, we walked towards the rear side of the Durbar Square which has some of the oldest Newari houses. As we walked through the narrow alleys, we got a glimpse of the lives of indigenous city dwellers. Most of these old residences are now converted into cafes or shops but the old school charm was still intact. We hired a cab back to our hostel in Thamel which costed us around NPR 450.
We started early in the morning around 5:30 am since we wanted to catch the sunrise at Nagarkot. We had pre booked a cab from a local travel agent which would take us to Nagarkot and Bhaktapur which costed around NPR 3500. Nagarkot is a small village, situated 30 kilometres away from the main city of Kathmandu which is known for its mesmerising sunrise and breath taking view of the Himalayan ranges. There is also a hiking trail which will take you to the sunrise point, which too is a visual delight. As we climbed up to the sunrise point the sky has started to turn orange. The cold was unbearable, and with our hands and legs getting number with every passing minute we were finding it hard to even stand at one place. But as soon as the first ray of the rising sun hit the snow-capped peaks, my heart skipped a beat. I was spellbound. A sense of calm took over me, I could not remember the last time I had experienced such happiness and excitement.
Shortly after the sunrise we had a quick round of tea and left for Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur too is an UNESCO world heritage site which boasts of its rich culture, tradition and craftsmanship. It is the reminiscent of the ancient ways of life in the Kathmandu valley. The pagoda styled temples which soar above the skyline and squares which date back to the 12th century are still congregation places during festivals. The narrow winding streets are dotted with numerous shops and cafes which are punctuated with temples. The exquisite architecture of the temples that takes you back in time is the perfect place for architecture buffs. The entry fee for SAARC Nationals is NPR 500 (NPR 1500 for other foreign nationals) may seem hefty but is worth every bit. One can easily spend an entire day walking down the alleys, trying out cafes which serve the best coffee, and experiencing the exquisite architecture or simply just sitting in one of the squares while soaking in the culture of this beautiful place.
In the evening we walked around Thamel Walking Street which has many clubs, bars and casinos in the area. It is a great place to experience the nightlife of Kathmandu. We went to Sams Bar which is one of the oldest nightclubs in Kathmandu. With old school vibe, lively music and classic cocktails, it is a great place to socialise and make new friends. We sat in the rooftop area around a bonfire sipping brandy punch, chatting with travellers from around the globe, and listening to some of the greatest classic rock music playing in the background.
For travellers who love adventure and are staying in Kathmandu for a longer time, chartered flights are available to fly around Mt. Everest and it is going to be an unforgettable experience. There are also options of numerous day hikes and longer treks. One can also opt for white water rafting in river Trishuli. Architecture enthusiasts can explore the religious architectural masterpieces of Nepali i.e. the Swambhunath Temple and the famous Pashupatinath Temple, which are among the top attractions in the city. There are lot of local travel agents who can arrange for these tours. There is no need to book before hand and it is always a good idea to bargain
We were to leave Kathmandu for our onward journey to Pokhara on this day. There are lot of options for reaching Pokhara from Kathmandu. Our hostel offered us the option to pre book a bus for us. The price of bus tickets vary from NPR 800 to NPR 1200 depending on the travel agency. We left early in the morning and it took us around 7 hours to reach Pokhara. Our hostel was around 7 kilometres from the bus terminal at a more secluded part of the town near the Phewa Lake. The property of Zostel Pokhara is stunning and is definitely one of the best options for budget travellers. The lakeside area of Phewa Lake is surrounded by restaurants and cafés which offer a breath-taking view of the lake with mountains in the backdrop. There is option for boating in the lake, which travellers can take to the Tal Bahari temple which is located in an island in the lake or go to the Peace pagoda which too is a major attraction in Pokhra. We went boating around the lake while witnessing one of the most majestic sunset over the Himalayas.
There are a wide variety of day trekking options in Pokhara which offer travellers the luxury to explore the mesmerising Annapurna range. One of the locals working at the hostel suggested us to do the Begnas Thulakot trek which gives an opportunity to experience unspoilt beauty of the countryside of Nepal. In the morning, we drove down to Kalikasthan village and from there hiked to Thulokot village.
Thulokot is a small village with warm and friendliest people that I have ever met. We simply sat up there, sipping hot cups of cocoa while witnessing the majestic Machhapuchre peak of the Annapurna range along with a breath taking view of the Pokhra valley. It was an absolute bliss and we savoured every moment there. We hiked down to Begnas lake which took us around 4 hours. We were enthralled with the pristine water of the lake. Travellers has the option to go boating but we decided against it since we already did that on the previous day in Phewa lake. Our cab picked us up from the Begnas lake and dropped us at our hostel. Our total spend for cab that day was NPR 1800.
It was the last day for our trip. I had got up early in the morning feeling rejuvenated. The last couple of days had been absolutely blissful. As I stepped out of my room, I had reminiscence of my experiences from the past four days. I witnessed breath taking views of the majestic Himalayan Kingdom, ate delicious traditional food, met friendliest and hospitable locals, and made new friends on the journey. This trip was everything I needed. For people like me who stay in a city like Delhi, there is no greater joy then getting up in the morning and breathing the fresh mountain air. My friends were still fast asleep. I stepped out of the hostel and went for a walk around the lake. There were very few people on the road. I could hear the birds chirping and as the fresh mountain breeze touched my face, I could feel I was completely at peace. I took a stroll around the lake humming my favourite country songs and had my favourite English breakfast at one of the lakeside restaurants. By then my friends had joined me along with few other people we met during the trip. It was one of those endless conversation where breakfast turned to brunch, we left around afternoon as we had plans to visit the World Peace Pagoda later that day.
We took a boat from Phewa lake which dropped us at the foothill, from where we hiked up through a forest to the World Peace Pagoda. Built after the World War II by Buddhist monks, the World Peace Pagoda is one of the 80 peace pagodas which is built to inspire peace for all races. It took us slightly more than an hour as the end part of the hike gets really steep. We reached the top a little before sunset when the sky had started to turning golden.
This trip has been all about viewing breath taking sunrises and sunset. Honestly, it is hard to pick a favourite. As we looked at the sun setting behind the snowy peaks on the Annapurna range, I knew our trip was at its wee end. But we still had one more night before getting back and we wanted to make the most of it. We went to one of the lakeside shacks with local beer, palatable food and country music, which we sang in chorus with new friends that we made on this trip. I know this is the bachelorette I wanted and it is going to be a memory for a lifetime.
We left early morning from our hostel for the tourist bus stand from where we had to catch our bus to Sunauli, the Indo-Nepal border. We had pre booked bus tickets from a local travel agent, which costed us around NPR 800. It was a really long journey. We reached Sunauli around three in the afternoon. Sunauli is an old dusty town which lacks a decent restaurant or a public washroom. We had our train from Gorakhpur around 8 pm so we had to cross the border in order to reach Gorakhpur railway station as soon as possible. Since we were running behind schedule we tried hiring a cab from the Nepal side of the border. It turned out to be an absolute nightmare. We were aware of travellers being duped and mislead by drivers at the Indo-Nepal border. We were approached by many cab drivers but either they asked for a truck load of money or waited long hours to pick up other passengers. We started panicking after this experience and decided to cross the border on foot and walk till the bus stand on the Indian side of the border. Luckily we found a cab on the way. The driver told that he could take us to the station in 3 hours at a reasonable rate. He kept his part of the bargain and we were in front of the railway station a little before 7 o’clock. The cab ride costed us INR 250 per person. We were starving since we hadn’t had much to eat since morning, so after a quick bite at one of the small roadside dhabas we headed straight to the station and boarded the train. All of us were dead tired and as we soon climbed onto our berths, we drifted off to sleep. As I lay asleep, my mind wandered off to the vibrant streets and beautiful countryside of Nepal. I got home next day, content, after living one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. I felt ready to start preparing for the big day then, which will be the beginning for the next chapter of my life.
Cost breakup –There were no visa charges as visa Nepal visa is free for Indian nationals, however if one is travelling by flight, carrying passport is mandatory. The hotels costed us around 2200 INR per person for 5 days. Food costed us around 4000 INR for our total trip (150-200 per person per meal at a budget restaurant). The bus and the cab fares costed around 4000 INR per person for our entire trip. And the flight fare and train tickets to and from Nepal costed us around 6000 INR. Including entry tickets and other miscellaneous expenses our entire trip costed us around 18000 INR (250 USD).
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