LANGTANG TO LOMANTHANG - a nonfiction by prakash thapa Sikles Impression Traveling gives timeless impression. It transcends life, for it is the way to realize the essence of freedom and individuality. I always thought of going to Sikles, and it was part of my dream, moreover there were some friends from this far-flung village who encouraged me to visit this mountain settlement. ‘How is Sikles?’ once I asked Tirtha Gurung. ‘It’s tremendously a beautiful Gurung village,’ he said with a sense of beauty. One fine morning, I and my friend Mr. Shreekanta Khatiwada set off to Sikles with beautiful imaginings: that going to a new place is part of an adventure, and it brings newness in life. After the short ascent of Kahu Danda, we moved ahead following the trails through the paddy field. After reaching a small shop in the hilltop, we bought some biscuits and a bottle of water, where a little girl stood: all-time smiling. We met a middle-aged man in Bajha Patan. ‘Do you know which way is to Sikles? we asked him.’ ‘This way, please,’ he said, ‘I think you can easily reach Sikles today.’ ‘Thanks very much,’ we said, bidding him good bye. After crossing Bijayapur khola, we followed the earth road uphill. We didn’t miss an every opportunity of eating raspberry on the way, and there we met many people: some reconstructing road, some collecting firewood, and some working in the fields. By now, we could see Bijayapur khola flowing in its wilderness. We also met an old man on the way who talked a pretty good account of village-life and its culture. ‘You can see a good deal of social change and difference in the village. Now people have an easy access to go to Pokhara from Sikles - they are largely benefitted due to transportation - and this road has been constructed by the sole effort of local people, mainly of Sikles, Tangting, Khilang and others, for every villager has contributed a lot for the development and welfare of the people of this hilly area.’ ‘Life is harsh, yet things are normally okay,’ said a woman in Kaure Bhanjyang. The two small huts in Kaure Bhanjyang stood still, waiting for the fellow travelers. ‘We used to earn a good deal of money in the past but the business is declining now, following the construction of the link road joining Sikles and Pokhara. Now things have changed overnight, and it has opened up some new avenues in the lives of the people,’ said the woman with an undertone of dissatisfaction. We continued the journey, and after a while, we saw the distant image of Sikles village, glittering. ‘Oh! It’s really beautiful,’ we expressed our emotions, following the winding trails, enjoying the beauty of Madi and the surroundings. Coming across a stony cliff with deserted honeycombs, I recalled the myth of honey hunters, predominant in Eric Vallie’s Honey Hunters of Nepal.
Posted on: Sat, 31 Aug 2013 08:41:20 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015