Day 12 - Sunauli - Gorakhpur - Sunauli - Butawal - Tansen Hill

The Day 12 started with an empty pocket,the other day locals told me that the ATM will open at the time when the Banks get open.I didn't believed them,So i went to the one of the ATM,and to my surprise saw an long queue for the money withdrawal.No the Bank and the ATM was not opened yet,as it was just 09 AM.The officials came at around 10:00 and the ATM finally opened at 10:15 for the public.Meanwhile i was ferrying between the only 02 ATM's in the town.So that which ever opens first i will withdraw cash from there and head towards Nepal as soon as possible.

Finally one of the ATM started.But the cash in it lasted only for 2-3 Customers.Sadly the other ATM had some technical difficulty and the engineer was on his way from Gorakhpur.I had no option left,I started towards Gorakhpur which was 80 Kms from there.The complete first half was wasted on going to Gorakhpur and coming back just for the Cash withdrawal.Lesson re-learnt :P

I reached the Nepal border at around 03:00 PM. Didn't looked like a border.. a part from the entry gate.The cops on the other side stopped me.and enquired a bit.Then they came into their original form and started asking too many question.They even asked me to get some receipt made for the electronic items i am carrying.Which costed me around 200 Rs.Certified-Authorized looting Bastards :P

The Indo-Nepal border looked quite cool.People crossing from both the side without any checking and interruption.The RTO office of nepal was bang on left hand side of the entry gate.The document which you need to get for your vehicle and yourself is called BANSAR.One Photo ID,Driving License xerox,Bike Documents (RC Book,Insurance papers),02 passport size photos(I think so) and around 1500-1600 Rs for 10 Days pass inside Nepal.It hardly took 30 mins to get all the paper work done and my ticket to Nepal was in my hand.

Beautiful scenery around




The initial road wasn't in good condition



Butawal was quite close to the border around 30 Kms.I reached Butawal around 04:30 PM.A police check up was going on the highway,I was stopped for a quick document and luggage check up.After all the routine check up i was freed to go.Just when i started and rode for 2-3 Kms,I was again stopped by a traffic cop.
He checked the documents and license and said "aapka 1000 rs" ka fine banega.
I said what !!!.I mean why ??.
He replied "You didnt have any number plate on the front".
I Said "but the number is written on the front mudguard".
He replied "this is not India,this is Nepal"
What a start in Nepal,But was i ready to pay the fine .Never-Ever,I started telling him stories that i am a solo traveler and travelling for last 3-4 months in India.Now i have come to Nepal and there are 50-60 thousands bikers in India who are following my story.Think about the scenario when they will hear about this stupid problem.Nobody will ever be encouraged to come to Nepal.After so much of story telling,he finally let me go

Few Kms before Tansen







And thats Tansen



Random Landscape



But he did wasted my precious riding hours.I reached Tansen and it was almost evening.There weren't much hotels to stay for the night.and in quest of searching the cheapest of them.I continued on one of the road which leads to the the top of Tansen Hill.







I spotted a small hut in the left and it was actually a restaurant cum hotel.200 Nepali Rupees for the night,Good deal for me .

Kids of the owner,posing for my lens




Cheers
Biru

Day 13 - Tansen Hill - Bharatpur - Pokhara

Last evening,due to the fog i did not realized about the beauty of the place i have been staying.It was sunrise and just came out to breath the fresh air.And then i saw the beauty,which i have never seen in my entire life.I ran back to my room and took out my camera.And here is what i saw .

This scene was just next to the road where i was standing.




The Cash issue,the Gorakhpur marathon and random night stay in Tansen Hill.I was destined to see this Sunrise .I just sat thier and watched the sun coming out of the clouds.

The owner wakes me up with the call for the tea,It was time to pack up and be back on the road



Pokhara was next in the cards,Enquired about the locals for the route.Pokhara was another 250 Kms from there.The best thing about Nepal is,there is very less traffic on highways and whatever traffic is there,they ride in very mannerly fashion.And the wonderful scenery and lanscapes around,makes the ride even more mesmerizing.













Thats a very rare sight,a photo of myself in my Solo ride :P



TO BE CONTD

Cheers
Biru

From Agra to Nepal!
Man, you are THE tourer...
So you took your R15 this time?
Nice man, somehow I feel the V1 has a different charm to it.
Enjoyed the monkey pic...are you flicking his food?

Thanks Sarvajit.Yeah i took my R15 that time.Yes i miss its company a lot

Cheers
Biru

I was so busy admiring those beautiful landscapes,never realized when i reached Pokhara .



Few curious kids i met enroute Pokhara



Few kms before the town i saw the sign board of the world peace pagoda.The sign board looked fine,but the road climbing upto the Pagoda looked little bit freaky .I started climbing the so called road.Until i reached a point where i have to trek down till the Pagoda.





A quick break on the way to Pagoda



How horrible the road can be



The place was quite empty,didnt saw even a single soul around,while climbing up.Parking the bike in middle of nowhere with all the luggage and then trek till the Pagoda was bit risky.Well,I took the risk and kept the camera and laptop with me in the bag,and moved towards the pagoda.

It took me around 30 mins to reach the top from where i parked my bike.The pagoda was a massive Buddhist stupa and is situated on top of a hill on the southern side of Phewa lake. A part from the impressive sight of Pagoda,the hill top offers spectacular views of the Annapurna range and Pokhara city. Unfortunately Annapurna range was covered by clouds at that time











Phewa Lake and Pokhara Town



Prayers


TO BE CONTD

Cheers
Biru

Dude its awesome.....The whole of it. Keep it going mate.

Cheers...!!!!
Be Safe....

the picture of foggy lowlight forest just scared me and reminded me some haunted movies location, as just some minute before i have read the haunted roads to avoid ...

But nice people dont get chance to visit places like vrindavan and such other !!

Thanks Night rider

Thanks Larry

Cheers
Biru

After spending some good 02 hours at the pagoda i started towards the Pokhara city.Before i reach Pokhara i was interrupted by one more beautiful spot called as 'Devi's Fall'.There is a small story attached to this Fall.A foreigner named David was skinnydipping in the Pardi Khola (river) when the floodgates of the dam were opened, sweeping him into an underground passage beneath the fall, never to be seen again.That is why this fall is also known as Devin's or David's Fall.



Cant tell how deep it is



02 Kms of ride and i landed in the Pokhara town,Tranquil atmosphere and the beauty of the surrounding countryside...Pokhara is such a heavenly place.I made it to Pokhara in the evening time and decided to stay there for the rest of the day and rest of the night.Since it was a touristy place so got the accommodation for 600 Nepali rupees.But the Hotel was worth the money .

After quick refresh i went to Phewa lake for some boating.And just when i was about to buy the tickets for boating it started to rain .

How come it rained,the sky was so clear when i arrived .You see those clouds on the right,the Annapurna range is visible on that side.




And these buggers were taking some shelter,due to rain :P



I waited for a while for the rain to stop,but it was in no mood to give any breaks.So i came back to the hotel, completely drenched.It was time for some rest as Sarangkot awaits tomorrow,i mean hopefully if the rain stops and we have a clear day.

Cheers
Biru

Awesome pics Biru bhaiya...keep it coming...

Thanks Arun

Cheers
Biru

Day 14 - Pokhara - Manokamana - Kathmandu

Rain continues in the morning,washing my plans of visiting Sarangkot.Those who dont know about Sarangkot,It around 07 Kms from Pokhara.Glorious view of Annapurna range,Dhawalgiri and Pokhara town can be seen in clear weather.

A good bye shot - Pokhara i will come again for sure


Random landscapes enroute






Condition of the Pokhara - Kathmandu highway was quite good with so less traffic.I was enjoying the ride.On my way to Kathmandu,Saw an sign board of some view point(forgot the name) pointing to take right turn.Since i had plenty of time on my hand as Kathmandu was not that far,I took the right turn to have a look at the view point.While i was climbing up,saw these four kids nearby a village.I stopped to capture them... ..In a photo frame though

I tried to stop them by saying "bachhon photo photo"
They started to run ,ofcourse the scary outfit is to blame,
then again i shouted "bachhon choclate choclate".
They stopped,but were bit hesitated to come close.



I continued and after 10-15 kms,I was not able to find any sign board of that view point so i decided to return back to the Highway.




Was feeling bit hungry so stopped for a quick break.


A huge waterfall,can you spot two peoples standing in the middle ??



Few kms after crossing Mugling.I saw a Cable car set up,taking tourists to one of the Hill Top.Curious me,pulled my bike to that place and the sign board read


So lets see whats up there.

TO BE CONTD

Cheers
Biru

The to and fro charges for the cable car were 400 Rs.There was a long queue for boarding the Cable car.It took half an hour and i was in the Cable car.The view from the top was just out of the world,it would have been better if I would have got some clear weather.





When i reached the top,I found out,that the cable car set up was to reach the Manakamana Devi temple.I also came to know by the locals that earlier the only access to the region was by arduous climb of over five hours.Must have been one hell of a trek.

I made my way to the temple following the the stairs and narrow streets road.





Nice little Kabootar



There is legend behind the Manakamana temple (Info Credit - "http://chitawoncoe.com")
"Legend has it that Queen of Gorkha King Ram Shah (A. D. 1614-1636) possessed divine powers known only to her devotee LakhanThapa.

One day, the King found his Queen disguised as a Goddess. Following the revelation, he mentioned it to his Queen and suddenly died. He was cremated and his Queen committed sati by jumping into his funeral pyre, as per the custom.
Before she jumped into the funeral pyre, she consoled her lamenting devotee Lakhan saying she would reappear near his home. Six months later, a farmer ploughing his field hit a stone, cleaved it and blood and milk flowed from it which ceased only when Lakhan worshipped it with his tantric knowledge.

The present pujari is the 17th generation descendent of Lakhan Thapa."

After the darshan at the Manakamna temple i had the local food at a nearby restaurant .Few dishes were quite new and tasty for me.

I started my return after spending few hours and i was reamazed by the Spectacular views of deep valleys, terraced fields and the river stream bisecting the mountains.



Fellow travelers..Or shall i say Crazy travelers



I reached at the base and started for Kathmandu.With some continuous stretches and very less photo breaks i reached Kathmandu in the evening.

Some random clicks on the photo breaks,along the highway.




Checked in a hotel for 400 Nepali rupees and came out to visit the Swayambhu naath temple.

TO BE CONTD

Cheers
Biru

Swayambhunath Stupa is one of the oldest holy place in Nepal.The temple is also known as Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in parts of the temple.



The stupa has Buddha's eyes and eyebrows painted on. Between them, there is something painted which looks like the nose - but is the Nepali symbol of 'unity'





Though the place was very crowded with local public,but it felt so peaceful and divine out there.The temple was on the top of the Hill,overlooking the Kathmandu city.





Some Misc Captures







A monk



Pretty soon,the night came.It was time to throw myself a party.The most happening place in Kathmandu is THAMEL.The place was bit far from where i was staying .But here is one of the Galli of thamel,where i landed and spent the few hours having fun and some drinks ofcourse



Cheers
Biru

Now this is something !

Bohot acche biru bhaiya...i was wondering how beautiful these pictures would be in their actual resolution...2mins later slapped myself saying imagine how the place would be in real !