Acharya Mahashraman Ahimsa Yatra Nepal
Birgunj - Kathmandu - Biratnagar

Content:

1. Nepal Entry
2. Touring Birgunj to Hetauda
3. Ascending from Hetauda to Kathmandu
4. Camping in Kathmandu
5. Descending from Kathmandu to Janakpur
6. Cross border Tour - Janakpur to Biratnagar

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Section 5: Descending From Kathmandu To Janakpur  

5.2: Hectic Trek Through Unsafe Route

Acharya Mahashraman walked 118 KM in six days (24th - 29th May).
This included a climb of 2800 feet in a day followed by highly steep downhill trek

Landslides a little while ago

26th May:

Acharya Mahashraman through the route with big dangers of landslides

Acharya Mahashraman started from Kusheshwar towards Mulkot in the morning. There were landslides warning boards beside the road at many places in the curvaceous mountain road. Huge rocks were seen lying around near road due to landslides.

Landslides jeopardizing people life in this region after the earthquake

At one place during the journey, an old villager cautioned and advised - “leave the place as soon as possible. A landslide has occurred today just a little while ago. Anytime more rocks can fall down.” Anyone can get scared seeing the huge rocks fallen due to landslide but H.H. was steadfast in moving towards destination.

Destruction caused by last night thunderstorm

Tin plates lying around the road were indicating the horror of last night thunderstorm.

Sunkoshi River through the mountains and co-traveler of Ahimsa Yatra for few days

After a long walk of 16.5 KM, H.H arrived at Japanese quarters in Mulkot, venue for today’s camping. Regular morning discourse assembly was also organized. The river flowing near the camp site looked clean in the morning but turned muddy/dirty by the evening. It was assumed that it could be due to some landslide on the river way. H.H. spent the night under the tent, which is also called as “Safe house”. It got windy around 10 pm and started raining mildly.

Acharya Mahashraman’s daily discourse never stopped, even while through tiring treks

Conflict between Capability & Devotion:

Adversities in camping and need of crossing over the mountains in hurry forced Acharya Mahashraman to change the journey plans and take long walks. This caused some tentativeness in travel plan and dates.  Based on condition, H.H. was taking decisions for journey and camping either one day earlier or on same day. It was planned for Sadhvi Pramukha Kanakprabha to join Acharya Mahashraman in Bardibas. Accordingly, Sadhvi Pramukha had to alter the travel plan from Birgunj to Bardibas but it was difficult to estimate H.H. date of arrival at Bardibas. Sadhvi Pramukha wrote a message to H.H. in poem form to convey the willingness to greet H.H. at Bardibas but the present circumstances and uncertainties are posing challenges to reach at Bardibas at appropriate time.

Acharya Mahashraman replied to Sadhvi Pramukha - “Based on present circumstances our travel plan has become tentative. It is difficult to tell accurately when we can reach Bardibas. ” After getting the reply, Sadhvi Pramukha sped up travel pace.

Sight of mass destruction all over

27th May:

Acharya Mahashraman started from Mulkot towards Sitalpati in the morning. Today’s route also had some difficult up and downhill trek. It was getting hotter as the journey progressed and H.H. was fully wet with sweating but that couldn’t hold H.H. back. Sunkoshi River was the witness of Ahimsa Yatra today as well.

This region has been very badly impacted by earthquake. Though the numbers of life losses are less in this part but there is huge loss of property. Mass destruction is visible throughout this journey. Most of the huts have got damaged to some extent. Some houses are fully destroyed and many have got severe cracks, making it unsafe for living. It was told that people have left their houses and moved to safer places with baggage. People are spending their time under the tents anchored beside their damaged houses and hoping for some help to arrive. Many poor people have no money to re-build their houses. Upcoming rainy season will pose even more difficulties in such a situation.

After a walk of 12 KM, H.H. arrived near the community center at Sitalpati. Today’s camping was planned here. After getting report from monks and nuns about “safe place”, it turned out that not much safe place is available. Acharya Mahashraman decided to go to village Khurkot, located 6 KM away and starting around 2:30 PM in afternoon. Until then H.H. camped under tent at road side and usual morning hour discourse assembly was also organized.

Nuns braving the mountain journey difficulties. In the picture, Nuns are seen carrying pots for food (the red one) and water (the green one) that are used for alms

Acharya Mahashraman progressive on melting road

H.H started around 2:30 for Khurkot under scorching sun. It was so hot that the road tar was getting melted at many places. It was sticking to shoes of people stepping on it. H.H. continued un-interrupted in such hot weather on national highway.

Confluence of Sunkoshi and Tamkoshi Rivers made the route scenic. H.H. crossed the border of Kabhrepal district and entered Sindhuli district. After a walk of 6.5 KM, H.H. arrived at Jan Jyoti Higher Secondary School at Khurkot for night camping. Total distance of journey of the day was 18.5 KM.  H.H. spent the night under tent - the “safe house”.

One travel, 5 hrs, 108 curves and climb of more than 2800 feet

28th May:

Another series added to the adventurous journey so far - ascending more than 2800 feet in a single journey. Though the distance from Khurkot to Khaniyakhark is 16.5 KM but walking in this route felt like taking 25 KM journey. Acharya Mahashraman has earlier traveled in the valleys of Mewar and Ranakpur in Rajasthan, India but the hard uphill trek of today’s journey could be compared to trekking those south Rajasthan valleys 4-5 times. The soft feet of H.H. were determined to face it from the front. People were awestruck seeing H.H. and the caravan walking from Kathmandu to Bardibas.

Where vehicles with 80-90 HP get stuck in such steep climb, H.H. with followers monks and nuns were moving non-stop. With a highly curvaceous route it was not easy to tell the direction on which the caravan was heading. After some trek a person gets turned to a fully opposite direction. It was too hot but couldn’t diffuse the determination of highly sweating H.H. Simple smile at H.H. face filled the tired co-travelers with energy and motivation.

Sun was right on top. H.H. was moving on from one mountain to other. There seem to be no end of the tedious journey through these mountains.

Resting is Change in Work

H.H. is possibly on the way towards highest climb of life so far. It’s natural to get tired but H.H. didn’t mention it to anyone and also didn’t take any supporting stick for uphill trek. Accompanying monks requested H.H. to take some breaks in between but H.H. was always reluctant for it. On one occasion H.H. took a short break just to let other accompanying monks take some rest. H.H stepped beside the road and sat there. Monks and other followers were taking some rest but H.H. took the “Vigyapti” - Terapanth weekly journal to review it. Changing the activity is rest for H.H. Acharya Shree’s awareness of every single moment became an inspiration for all. After a short while, H.H got up and resumed the journey.

No compromises on rules

As per rules for monks, water carried from past camp can’t be used after travelling 8 KM. With today’s long journey monks got thirsty and were not supposed to drink water from last campsite. The new venue to get some water was still 2.5 KM away. H.H. and monks were just accepting these difficulties. Few monks who already reached the next venue got their pots refilled and walked back to offer water to H.H and other monks.

Welcoming courage and hard work

When H.H. was closing in on towards the destination, it felt like nature is welcoming H.H. It got cloudy with cold breeze through the mountains and clouds, giving some relief. It rained mildly as well. After a long and tiring walk of 16.5 KM and climb of 2800 feet, H.H. arrived at Janta Higher Secondary School at Khaniyakhark. Today’s camping took place here. H.H.’s discourse assembly was also organized.

118 KM in 6 Days

29th May:

Ahimsa Yatra through steep downhill trek

Acharya Mahashraman started towards Dhungre Bhanjyang in the morning. The journey today had more downhill trek. Clouds were at times seen above and at times below. After a walk of 6.5 KM, H.H arrived at the residence of Shri Chatrabahadur Shrestha in Dhungre Bhanjyang. H.H decided to leave at 8:10 AM after breakfast for Dungrewas, located 14 KM away, from today’s camping perspective. Few monks today are riding on hand pulled rickshaw by monks.

Hand pulled rickshaw in picture, is used for monks who have fallen ill or got injured and is pulled only by monks

As the route has considerable downhill today, H.H. advised the monks responsible for pulling the rickshaw to be careful about abyss and vehicle speed. With H.H. approaching the destination, the mountains started looking taller and abysses were getting shallower.

After a walk of 14 KM, H.H. arrived at Sindhuli Vidya Sadan in Dungrewas. Today’s camping took place at this site. Total distance of journey today was 20.5 KM. Local DSP Mr. S K Mahato with his friends visited H.H. in the evening. H.H. spent the night under the tent - “safe house”.

Acharya Mahashraman during the daily discourse session at Dungrewas

In the past six days (24th - 29th May), H.H. walked 118 KM (19 + 27 + 16.5 + 18.5 + 16.5 + 20.4). This courageous journey of H.H., full with adverse conditions and adventures has become a priceless legacy.