Exploring the hidden Gems of Nepal-Bhasmashur Hiking

Nepal, the land of the Himalayas, is known for its stunning mountains, diverse culture, and beautiful landscapes. The country is home to many hidden gems, and one such gem is the Bhasmashur Mandir Hiking trail.

One of the most memorable hikes that I've been on recently was to Bhasmashur Mandir, a temple that is located on a hill near the city of Kathmandu. The hike was both challenging and rewarding, and it offered plenty of surprises along the way.

The journey to Bhasmashur Mandir started on a previous hike to Champadevi Mandir. At one point during that hike, we reached a fork in the road that led to Champadevi and Bhasmashur Mandir respectively. We were advised by a guide not to attempt both hikes on the same day, so we chose to visit Champadevi on that occasion. However, one of our friends made a promise to visit Bhasmashur if he received his offer letter from a university in Finland. According to Hindu tradition, breaking a promise to a god is frowned upon, so we knew we had to make good on this commitment.

On April 22nd, 2023, we set out on the hike to Bhasmashur. Our starting point was the Naya Bazar gate, and we were excited to see what lay ahead. One thing we were looking forward to was seeing our hiking companion Fuchey again, but unfortunately, we were informed by the tea shop owner that he had been lost on a previous hike and returned with allergies. It was disappointing not to see him, but we pressed on.

After a three-hour walk, we reached the middle point that we remembered from our previous hike. This time, there were a lot more people around than before, and we realized that this place was busier than we had anticipated. We took the right fork to Bhasmashur, but when we arrived, we were surprised to find that there was no temple there. We asked around but no one knew what had happened to it.

Undeterred, we decided to explore the pine forest instead, and we were rewarded with stunning views and some cute pine cones to take home as souvenirs. We had brought plenty of water and lunch from home, so we took a break to eat and rest. We also stumbled upon a beautiful Buddhist monastery, which was not in use but was surrounded by jungle and had a grandeur that made it look like it belonged to a great king. We asked the caretaker for permission to explore and were allowed to take pictures and admire the view.

After two hours of wandering around, we started to make our way back to Kritipur. Our friend was worried about not fulfilling his promise to visit Bhasmashur Mandir, but we assured him that we had fulfilled it in our way. We had thought that Bhasmashur was in a certain place, and we had followed that path. We prayed from the Buddhist monastery and believed that God would understand our intentions.

On the way back, we saw some villages in the distance but didn't want to risk getting lost or tired again. We did, however, come across some golden Himalayan raspberries, which were in season and tasted delicious. We even took a tea break at Fuchey's village to refresh ourselves before heading back to Kritipur.

Looking back on this hiking adventure, I realized that nature is full of surprises. You never know what you'll find around the next bend or over the next hill. Every hike is a chance to collect memories and make discoveries.