Section 3: Ascending from Hetauda to Kathmandu

Part 1: Start of Ascending the Mountains

Acharya Mahashraman taking temporary farewell from Sadhvi Pramukha Kanakprabha at Hetauda, Nepal

8^th April 2015:

Two streams took two directions:

From today onwards Sadhvi Pramukha Kanakprabha, with a group of nuns, will take a different course of journey. Mukhya Niyojika Sadhvi Vishrut Vibha together with a group of nuns will accompany Acharya Mahashraman for Kathmandu sojourn. However due to lack of accommodation facility, Mukhya Niyojika and nuns group will be trailing by one-one day behind Acharya Shree on the journey towards Kathmandu. For next few days only monks will be staying with Acharya Shree.

Nun group assembled near H.H. in morning hours. H.H. blessed the nuns group and requested Sadhvi Pramukha Kanakprabha Ji for auspicious hymn (Mangalpath).

When H.H started the day's journey towards Bhaise village, nuns near the camp site sang auspicious songs. H.H accepting the wishes moved on towards the destination. At the same time Sadhvi Pramukha Kanakprabha and a nun group started towards Birgunj. Mukhya Niyojika and a nun group to stay at Hetauda today.

How H.H. and Ahimsa yatra will cross over these high mountains in Nepal to reach Kathmandu; how walking in these difficult routes would be possible; these doubts have been echoing for a while and the actual journey in these mountain range has now started.

Ahimsa Yatra started uphill trek towards Kathmandu

H.H. was on his way from Hetauda which is 1506 feet high from sea level towards Bhaise which is at 1679 feet height above sea level. H.H dismissed all the doubts raised regarding mountain range travel and was swiftly moving on uphill. This route though being difficult however offered very beautiful natural landscape. This area covered with millions of trees of various varieties and surrounded with high mountains mesmerizes the tourists. Nearby flowing river Raapti is icing on cake.

It was possible to see both - pure flowing river and pure-soul saint but moving in exactly opposite directions. The river collecting water from waterfalls here-and-there enroute is flowing downwards whereas H.H is taking the uphill. Long narrow suspension bridges built with cables at considerable height were hinting on the height of river flow during rainy season.

9 years old Muni Prince Kumar catching the hilarious landscape

From Geographical point of view, Nepal can be divided into regions of plateau, mountain and Himalaya. Ahimsa yatra has now crossed over the plateau region and taking its course on mountain ranges. Though today's journey doesn't have much uphill but had many turns. And that's why it was difficult to know the direction of the progressing caravan. At times left, at times right, more or less the caravan was proceeding through all the directions. Though it was sunny but huge mountains were hiding the sun and caravan was saved from direct rays. Ropeway and cable car attracted glimpse from H.H. It was told that this ropeway from Hetauda towards Kathmandu is not operational since many years. It was used for transporting stones and other goods from one end to other.

Nepal Army cantonment was also seen in the route. H.H. stopped for a while and had a view of soldiers jogging in the morning, practicing Taekwondo, playing football, basketball. Many soldiers got inspiration from H.H and vowed for addiction free life. A person from Mahadev Temple enroute greeted H.H. and got guidance from H.H.

Ahimsa Yatra towards Bhaise

That's how H.H. reached Bhaise after a walk of 10.8 Km and climbing up 164 feet. Today's camping is at Shree Krishna secondary school. Usual morning hour discourse session was arranged. H.H. during discourse wished for touring Mahavideha (region believed to be in another plane and boarded by present Tirthankars), seeing Tirthankars there and drew analogy of facing similar difficulties of crossing over high mountains and rivers to reach there. Many villagers gathered during the evening program. Local people were able to understand simple Hindi.

9^th April:

Acharya Shree started for Kalitaar (2685 feet above sea level) in the morning hours. Today's journey is just 6 KM but has much uphill as compared to yesterday's journey.

Ahimsa Yatra towards Kalitaar (2685 feet above sea level), Nepal

Cool breeze felt pleasant. Though this area is not densely populated, still one can see many houses on these mountains. Most of the houses are built like huts with tin shed as roofs and have brick walls. The ceilings of the ground floor of two storey houses are made of wood. Local people are quite vulnerable and scared of landslides during rainy days. Heavy rain during June, July and August are very scary. There are villages but no transport arrangement for students. Children have to walk many kilometers to reach school. People use "Namlo" to carry heavy goods. Namlo are wooden baskets that people carry over their back. All these hinted of a very difficult life of the habitants of these mountains.

Acharya Mahashraman taking short break on the way to Kalitaar, Nepal

There are treks in the mountains to shorten the road distance but H.H. preferred to take concrete roads. On the way, H.H. stopped for a while to see buffaloes being used for ploughing in terrace agriculture. After a walk of 6 KM and climbing up 1015 feet, H.H. arrived Kalitaar. Today's camping is planned at Kalika secondary school.

Acharya Mahashraman’s camping room in Kalitaar, Nepal

H.H. during the usual morning discourse mentioned that the secluded places in these mountains offer good site for meditation. Vice President of "AMALE" youth wing visited H.H. in the afternoon. Many villagers were present in the evening program.

10^th April:

Acharya Shree started for Baghmaar in the morning hours from Kalitaar. The journey path is very curvaceous and has high uphill. "Twelve-Turns" started from Kalitaar itself on which one has to take twelve turns while climbing the same mountain. There doesn't seem to be an end of these turns. "See we have to climb that mountain", "Ohh didn't we come from there just now", "Look there, monks are going" monks and followers accompanying H.H. were having such chit chats. The path had abyss on one side and mountain on other. The abysses were posing great danger to the travelers.

Acharya Mahashraman towards Baghmaar, Nepal

Some monks were taking the treks to shorten the journey whereas H.H was on main road throughout. Many young monks used sticks for the steep climb but H.H. was ascending without any support and spreading positive energy in the caravan.

Great leader: leading from the front

The path taken by H.H. towards Kathmandu is built by Government of India in 1955-1960. This is the first concrete path towards Kathmandu. The path is made curvaceous to reduce the difficulty of high climb. Not much vehicular traffic in this route but sufficient arrangement has been done for the outlet of excess water during rainy season.

This area is declared as "free from open toilets" and each house has its own toilet. This hints on the localities consciousness towards cleanliness. On the way many villagers at Chuniya Bazaar vowed for addiction free lifestyle.

Ahimsa Yatra ascended 1670 feet today, 10th April

Climbing up through the snake-like curvaceous road, H.H. walked 9.5 KM and ascended 1670 feet to reach Baghmaar (at 4355 feet above sea level). Principal of the Kalika secondary school was with the caravan in today's journey. Today's camping is at the office of "Bakha Palan Ko Tras". As the camping space is not large enough, many monks stayed at the houses of local people. It was a wonderful view of the sunset from the campsite.

Two Buddhist monks from local area visited H.H. in the afternoon. Usual discourse sessions were organized in the morning and evening and participated by many local villagers.

Acharya Mahashraman ►Ahimsa Yatra Nepal ►3.1 ►Start of Ascending the Mountains

Section 3: Ascending from Hetauda to Kathmandu

Part 1: Start of Ascending the Mountains