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My 1st trip to Nepal, Kathmandu to Birganj
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My 1st trip to Nepal, Kathmandu to Birganj 

Hey There,

My trip to Nepal wasn’t a planned getaway; three main reason why I went there was, first, a project came along, second my best friend sister’s wedding and third the obvious,  I blog hence explore,  meanwhile; Today at TSS, in my Nepal blog post, I m writing down second and third reason, how this trip was a major testing phase of my life, like living in a village where the power cuts are rampant , No non-veg for 8 days and attending a small Bihari wedding. Last few day exploring Kathmandu and vlogging. Nepal is a beautiful country, blessed with nature’s choicest attractions. The country also boasts of remarkable historical and cultural attractions like temples and monuments that speak volumes about the rich history and culture of the place. Enjoy reading and photography I live for…


 

I was excited and freaking out at travelling out of country for the first time and that too alone, constantly making call to cancel this trip as I m very pampered and always rely on other fellow travelers while travelling. Infact I was sitting home in dilemma till 3 pm (Indian time) while my flight time was scheduled for departure at 5.30pm, I can’t do this. Then finally decided, I have to do this now or never, there is always a first for everything. I took Royal Nepal Airlines on 1st of July, carry my oh so of my extra luggage and keeping my calm and finally , scared within I was off to Nepal.

My friend Tribhuvan Mishra aka 3riiphotography came to pick me at Tribhuvan International Airport at Kathmandu, Nepal. He was there all the way helping me out in my journey from start to end. Did I forget to tell I was attending his younger sister’s wedding? That is where the fun and my trying period begins.


Next day, I went to explore nearby multiplex Civil mall and some local food joint, also helped my friend with the wedding gifts as you must have seen in my stories on SnapChat and Instagram.

Chilling out over lunch

 Late night we went for movies and to my surprise somewhere at 1 am to 2, I came to know I have to wake up early my 5am and take road trip to Birganj which takes 6 to 7 hours from Kathmandu . I was all set and mentally prepare that I have to stay in a village area for next 5 days of my life which became 8 days due to xyz reason. Road travel was something I ll never like to experience again, from rains to narrow lane full of mud, temperatures dropping , my car sickness striking, and then when we reached at Birganj, My friend’s place was scorching in heat.


Here starts my testing period, first I came to know there won’t be any non vegetarian dishes cooked till the wedding which is over next 5 to 6 days approx. Second , power cuts lasts more the 10 to 12 hours a day. Third, the only network / Internet connection is on the terrace at a particular place. Okay I can do this as that was my only chance. It was difficult though, but my friend’s family kept me comfortable and took good care of me. People around me where very simple and led a very humble life which I can dream off. Let me take you to the journey and part of my life with photography.

Since it was mid July, when heat waves lash through the plains, almost every household in the village had carried their beddings on their roofs to sleep. My room was burning as hell because on top of my room was the earthen Chula on roof which made it even more hotter. The well spread out village comprised people from different castes and my friends family were Pandits. It has sporadic electric supply and limited network connectivity. Two days prior to wedding, the house was already filled with relatives and guests.


Priyanka Mishra, the bride was wearing this yellow saree, which she is suppose to wear 5 days without washing it or taking bath till the day of the wedding and every single day they practiced Haldi ceremony with old ladies singing handi songs as a ritual. The Haldi ceremony takes place at both the bride’s and groom’s places. The turmeric paste that comes from the respective in-laws’ houses are smeared on the bride/groom by married ladies amidst a lot of singing and teasing. You ll see all this in my next YouTube The Season Style Vlog coming soon.



 The day of wedding was a mad house, I woke up at 4am, thinking its going to be one of the most memorable days of my life. Guest and relative started  pouring and filling the house like flood. I was going to be with the bride most of the time even attend the ceremony of tilak and faldaan— a custom of giving gifts, fruits and blessings to the would-be-groom. Spot Me !!


By midnight, as the ceremony followed by stupendous dinner ended, after the tilak ceremony, marriage moved to one of the roofs of the house, where arrangements for people to rest were made. The ceremony which continued till dawn had many interesting rituals, this lasted till 6am and I was still awake with my sleepy eyes. But once the Vidaai start the whole house was filled with voice of tears and cries. The bride’s brother (my Friend) escorted the newlyweds to a bedecked car. As the car  moved, the family members showered them with akshat and flowers. The car moved forward and backward thrice, to ward away any evil omen and then  finally took off.


So many of her relatives had come to attend her wedding and had stayed with her for few days giving her precious little memories that will unfold many years down the line. This lady (choti buwa) was one of my favorites one out there she cooked me tasty vegetarian dishes on chulas and we communicated in funny way as she spoke in Bhojpuri and me trying to catch the words.

Did you know that cow dung is still used in rural India for cooking? They did have gas stove but ladies here love cooking food on earthen chulas.

It’s difficult to imagine such weddings in the cities, where grandeur and splendour overshadows the tidbits from relatives, family and friends. And few days later, I took road trip from Birganj to Kathmandu feeling nostalgic.


Nepal Kathmandu

Nepal is sometimes bypassed by travelers because they figure it’s an extension of India; it’s not. Nepal has a beautiful, fascinating, long history. The Nepalese are incredibly friendly and fun. I highly recommend a visit, but that being said,  post-earthquake Nepal is a very different place than it once was as my friend says. The April 2015 earthquake had a devastating effect on the people of Nepal, on the country’s transportation infrastructure, and on the tourism industry. Now, it’s still a place you can travel and have a wonderful time.

My 1st stop Pashupati Nath Temple

 

One of the oldest, most renowned and sacred temples in Nepal, The Pashupati Nath Temple is located on the fringes of Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. River Bagmati flows close to this temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Ardent Hindu followers visit this tourist place in Nepal to gain the blessings of the divine deity. I was super excited to see the heritage, woke up early by 5 am a it became my practice in Nepal, dressed in my pink Indian Anarkali with my pink reflector and off we went.

There’s something undeniable about the Hindu faith. Whether you believe in it or not, it is interesting to watch everything related to it, from ceremonies to festivals, to rituals and daily life. They are mostly peaceful yet cheerful, and even in moments of death, they are still colorful and hopeful. I visited Nepal for the first time with hopes of catching yet another glimpse of the Hindu culture and the beauty of it through my photography.

 Pashupatinath is more than just a temple; it is a temple precinct – a collection of 518 temples, images, ashrams, and ghats (cremation spots) along the banks of the sacred Bagmati River.If you ask me, from an architectural point of view, Pashupatinath has nothing too special to make it a memorable place. It is a piled up mess created with the addition of temples and shrines since the 15th century (though there’s evidence there were other temples here since the 5th century).On the other hand, the culture, life, and even death you see there is an entirely different story. It’s still a mess, but it is an entertaining mess. A human mess. It is what makes this temple, Nepal, and the Hindu culture in it so exciting, colorful, and unique.


2nd  Stop Street Market – Bhrkutim Andap

Kathmandu is a true heaven for shoppers, especially for the ones who are ready to explore street markets. In this city, markets are the place where you can buy quality products without wasting all your money – Monk’s robes, soft silks, woolen garments, artifacts, etc. The list is truly endless. Unfortunately, in Kathmandu you are not allowed to buy authentic antiques, but you can purchase copies.


3rd Stop Kathmandu Durbar Square

 (Basantapur Darbar Kshetra) in front of the old royal palace of the former Kathmandu Kingdom is one of three Durbar (royal palace) Squares in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Several buildings in the Square collapsed due to a major earthquake on 25 April 2015. Durbar Square was surrounded with spectacular architecture and vividly showcases the skills of the Newar artists and craftsmen over several centuries.

The Royal Palace was originally at Dattaraya square and was later moved to the Durbar square. The Kathmandu Durbar Square held the palaces of the Malla and Shah kings who ruled over the city. Along with these palaces, the square surrounds quadrangles, revealing courtyards and temples. It is known as Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a name derived from a statue of Hanuman, the monkey devotee of Lord Ram, at the entrance of the palace.


4th Stop – Civil Mall

This was the place I was mostly chilling out at, from breakfast, lunch or dining to movie was like my second home in Kathmandu Nepal. QFX civil mall is located at Sundhara Kathmandu and it is the center for the Shopping and Entertainment in Nepal. It is one of the best theaters in Nepal loved by the people of Nepal. Attractions of Civil Mall: Food court ,Children recreational centre, PUTT PUTT Mini golf course.


5the stop – Thamel  and Local Food Joint

Thamel is a commercial neighborhood in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Thamel has been the centre of the tourist industry in Kathmandu for over four decades, starting from the hippie days when many artists came to Nepal and spent weeks in Thamel. it is a hot-spot for tourism. Most foreigner stays at this place so it was very friendly and comfortable for me.

One thing I enjoyed eating at local food food joints were momos, sausages, mix tea and vodka.

I wanted to stay longer and catch up with my entire Nepalese friend, but my work had different plans, so I left with more to see and memories,  memories that I ll cherish for lifetime. I traveled alone for the1st time, had no intake of non veg including eggs for 7 days, lived a life with no network and power plus summer heat, village life with simple Indian wedding where people had nothing to offer but love and blessings, visiting Kathmandu was one in my bucklist.


 

I hope you guys enjoyed reading and wait till the vlog goes live on my YouTube channel The Season Style. There is still so much to share. Until my next trip stay tuned and subscribe THE SEASON STYLE.

 

Special thank to Tribhuvan Mishra and his Family for being a part and wonderful host all along. This was last picture I took before leaving Nepal and again my apologies to all my Nepalese friend and fans who were waiting to meet .15th July, I took a Jet Airlines flight from Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu Nepal to Chhatrapati Shivaji  International Airport, Mumbai,.India.


Article writer and model – Jannat Sorathia (founder of THE SEASON STYLE)

Tag on Instagram and follow – @jannatsorathia #theseasonstyle

Photographer – @3riiphotography


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