Kathmandu: When I first heard that we were going to Bandipur, I was over the moon. I mean, who wouldn’t be excited? I had never even heard of Bandipur before that day. The night before the trip, I kept wondering, “Is this a dream?” But it was real, and I could hardly wait.
Finally, the day arrived. I wished time would move faster as we began our journey. It felt like forever before we reached Galchhe, where we enjoyed khuwa, a traditional Nepali sweet made from milk. After buying some chips, we continued our trip.
We made several stops along the way and eventually reached a place about five kilometers from Abu Khaireni, where we had lunch. From the restaurant, we could see the beautiful Marshyangdi River. There was also a very long suspension bridge nearby. It swayed as soon as we stepped on it, which made us quite nervous. After enjoying fish curry and rice, we continued along the scenic roads toward Bandipur.
When we finally reached the gates of Bandipur, I felt relieved. However, we still had to find our hotel. As we searched for it, I realized that Bandipur was actually a village, whereas I had expected it to be a fully developed city. Despite that surprise, I quickly fell in love with its charm.
Although we were tired from the journey, we explored the village and its peaceful market. Later, we visited the “Mini Great Wall of China.” At first, I thought the rocky staircase leading up the hill was the attraction itself. But when I reached the top, I discovered a walkway lined with stone walls and breathtaking views. The majestic Himalayas, the sunset, and the surrounding scenery were simply unforgettable. The climb was challenging, but it was absolutely worth it.
That evening, we returned to the market and enjoyed plenty of delicious street food before calling it a day.
The next morning, we packed our bags and traveled to Gorkha, where we visited the temples and the historic Gorkha Durbar. Unfortunately, the weather was foggy, so the views were limited.
From there, we headed to Barasinghe, where we took lots of pictures and enjoyed various foods and drinks. The atmosphere was fun and elegant.
Our next destination was Manakamana. Since I had never visited before, I was curious to see the famous temple and the surrounding area. To reach Manakamana, we took a cable car ride that lasted about ten minutes. After arriving, we walked through the lively streets and found our hotel.
Although I was exhausted, my cousins insisted that we explore the area. We wandered through the streets, tasted different foods, and admired the dazzling lights that illuminated the town at night. By the time we returned to the hotel, everyone looked completely worn out. We had dinner and then slept as if there were no tomorrow.
The following morning, we visited the sacred Manakamana Temple. There was a long queue, but we managed to complete our visit. I felt incredibly happy and grateful. It was as though I had achieved something I had been waiting for all my life.
Soon, it was time to leave. We packed our bags, headed to the cable car station, and made our way back down. On the journey home, we stopped at Malekhu for lunch. The food was absolutely delicious and became one of the highlights of the trip.
After that, we drove straight home without any major stops. When we finally arrived, I wished I could relive every moment of the journey. However, all good things must come to an end.
Looking back, I can confidently say that I had an amazing time. Every moment of this trip became a memory that I will cherish forever. Traveling with family makes any journey a hundred times more enjoyable and meaningful. Having cousins and siblings along made the experience even more special, turning an ordinary trip into a wonderful chapter of life that I will never forget.
By Aakriti Pandeya, Class 5, Nisarga Batika School
