Between a hazy dream and the sound of footsteps going up and down every few minutes, I was awake at 5:45 am and almost ready to be off to Chitwan. After a last-minute grab of clothes and essentials, I was seated in the car with my mom, sister, and neighbors. I have seen a lot of photos of myself on trips as a kid, but this was only my second road trip where I could recollect memories on my own rather than others recounting stories for me.
Along the road, my imaginative juices ran wild from the views of hills and different landforms until the early morning start caught up to me and I was fast asleep. And the next thing I knew, we had stopped for a coffee break and EV charge at Triple Crown, a roadside hotel in Baireni. There was a playground, where we stretched ourselves out and could feel the breeze of fresh air. We picked up some snacks and hit the road again.
It finally felt like a road trip—like the ones shown on TV series—as music blasted through the speakers and we played a bunch of games, including Spyfall—a spy game. We hung onto being mysterious and voted out spies. Soon enough, we climbed onto the central console and had our arms out the sunroof, while being faced with a rush of air and even light rain halfway along. Four hours later, we arrived at Manakamana Temple, our first destination on the list. Some steps and a long line later, we got into a cable car. It was my first time, and the shaky motion of the cable car at tower stops gave me butterflies in my stomach. I could see greenery all around, a river flowing by, and a small village with cows and goats in sheds.
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The path to the temple was lined with shops full of puja items, special foods, and toys on both sides. I was shocked when I got to see the Mandir: there was a really long queue exceeding the temple boundaries and into a random road to even do the puja properly. It was hours of waiting. We gave the offerings of “Batti” and “Dhup.” After some photos and prayers, we sat down for lunch. The restaurant had its staff make songs on the spot and bring in customers. It was my first. We had a typical Nepali lunch.
The drive to Chitwan was a blur of trees, hills, and more sleep. The moment we entered Chitwan, I was in awe. Paved, clean roads even in small alleys, picturesque views of mountains, clear skies, and large fields with crops and animals. It was a beautiful place. After a stop at “Bhetghat,” where we filled ourselves up with “Taas” and “Mutton Momo,” we visited Bhat-Bhateni. A little later, at around 5 pm, we arrived at our resort.
It was called Jagatpur Lodge by Annapurna, and we were welcomed with fresh towels and a hibiscus drink. It cooled us down from the evening heat. We planned for a sundowner, swimming, and dinner. There was a deck where we saw deer on the other side with our binoculars. We swam for half an hour and headed for dinner, which was a mix of Western and Nepali cuisines and tasted good. The night ended with me crashing into bed.
The next day, we planned a list of outdoor activities. After breakfast at 8:30 AM, we went boating on the Rapti River. On the way, I met a Canadian couple who were visiting Nepal. They exclaimed how they loved the people and our country. I had fun chatting with them. From the boat, I saw crocodiles, both baby and adult, as well as egrets and even water lilies. These flowers have air sacs that let them float on water, and when I popped one, it felt satisfying. The Tharu Museum was our second stop. There was a hut with Tharu jewelry and tools used in everyday life, like Dhiki. I learned that it is used to grind grains. On the side, there was a shop displaying bamboo bags and T-shirts/hats with the Chitwan National Park sign for sale.
In the afternoon, we were taken to a Crocodile Breeding Farm with crocodiles of all sizes and ages. I got to see a crocodile egg, too. Then came the Jungle Safari. I was especially excited for this one. We went through the dense forest and grassland at Chitwan National Park in a jeep. The ranger had advised us not to interact with the animals or make loud noises to avoid triggering the animals and disrupting their natural habitat. At the start, I saw a lot of birds like the Asian Open-Billed Stork, Woolly-Necked Stork, Red-Headed Trogon, Peafowl, and Red Junglefowl. We spotted a few deer and reindeer. I was hoping to see a tiger, but unfortunately, aside from the few sightings in the beginning, we passed through the different forest landforms without any luck. Towards the end, I did get to see an elephant, a rhino, and Sambar deer, so I guess it counted as a win.
After an hour, our tour ended. I was exhausted by the time we reached the lodge. But we still had a Tharu Dance waiting for us. I enjoyed the dance and even joined them in the last performance. It was our last night at Chitwan, and it couldn’t have been any better.
The minute my eyes opened on the last morning of our trip, I wished for our trip to stretch longer, even for a day. I had crafted different scenarios, from heavy rainfall advisories to magically resetting everyone’s memory. But all good things come to an end, and I am glad that I could experience the rawness of nature, and stories and cultures different from mine. This trip will be at the core of my heart, making way for more road trips to come.
The author is a Grade V student at Rato Bangla School.
