Today, it seems it is a far cry to materialize a dream of losing into ecstasy of a complete virginal natural beauties in this artificial and mechanistic scenes dominated world. However, there is still a place on earth that is 100 per cent sure to make your dream come true. And, when you leave once after visiting it, I am sure your heart will long to go back.
Chainpur, Nepal, which is approximately 730 km far away from Kathmandu in the eastern region. You have probably never heard of it.
It is a beautiful place with the mountains at the backdrop, the greenery, bushes and hills around. Being thrown into the ecstasy of seeing the snow caped mountainous and the greenery would simply be desirable. Most of the green and inviting hills and serene and peaceful valley round Chainpur are still virgin and undestroyed.
Chainpur has only been well known for its scenic beauty, lively culture and religiousness. Chainpur is essentially different and has nothing in common with all that surrounds it. The physical features and the geographic location of Chainpur are simply superb and unique.
With an altitude of about 5,000 ft. above sea level, it lies at a vantage point where it is overlooked by the world's fifth tallest mountain, Mt. Makalu with a height of 8,463 m. from the north.
The fascinating sight of Arun valley towards the southwest is another attraction. The valley is known as a “ Bird Bank” where we find more than 440 species of birds, among them 16 species are rarely found in the world. Similarly 150 kinds of butterflies, 25 kinds of rhododendrons, 67 kinds of herbs, 25 kinds of orchids, 48 kinds of wild roses, 47 kinds of Sunakhari (flowers), 24 kinds of fishes and 17 kinds of bamboos are also found there.
Likewise, some neat little villages with lush green fields merging into the Piluwa River towards the South with Siddhakali, the holy temple of the eastern Nepal, situated on its head. People from all walks of life and of all age visit the sacred spot seeking progress and prosperity.
The journey of Chainpur is not considered successful if the visitors do not reach up to Pokhari bazaar, Siddha Gupha (cave) and Millke Danda (hill) to lose themselves amidst the blooming rhododendrons where the largest number of its kinds in the world is available.
The half an hour easy walk to the west of Chainpur is rather pleasant for visitors due to the beautiful hills and meadows of another hill named Baneshwor Danda, a natural park and attractive picnic sport. One can get a chance to hear the sweet music of chirping birds and the pine trees making you feel something satisfied and blissful from within. At the top of the hill, a famous temple is located; where every Shivaratri of the year, a great fair takes place for it is believed that this is the dwelling place of lord Shiva and Parvati. People from all walks of life and ages visit this temple seeking for progress and prosperity.
Surprisingly, at the top of the hill to the northern side there is a pond where colorful natural fishes can be seen. Those entire surrounds make the hill as if it is a peace of real heaven.
Although Chainpur is away from the facilities of a motorable road, the visitors enjoy the green meadows, snow capped mountains, jungles all around and the old stylish and typical traditional houses as well as the fascinating scenes of rhododendrons, which can be seen while trekking. There is a motorable road up to Mamling- a three-hour distant village from Chainpur from Biratnagar, Dharan, Birtamod and also from Kathmandu. Nevertheless, a motorable road is being built to Chainpur and almost 80,000 people in the small business city are patiently expecting it to complete soon.
From the UAE people can fly to Kathmandu by any of the aircrafts available in the country. After getting off the international airport in Kathmandu, they can book the tickets for Tumlingtar, an airport near by Chainpur by one of the four domestic aircrafts that have daily flights for Tumlingtar if the visitors don't like to go there by a bus. And, four-hour walk to northern side from Tumlingtar all along the road lied on the top of the lustful greenery hills savoring the invigorating cool air blowing from the snowcapped Himalayas in the northern part that are apparently seen from the road.
The people here are fair, honest, hardworking. They welcome the visitors straightly to their hearts, as they believe guests are God sent. Though, people here may be customary and traditional, they seem very aware of the fact that education is a must. Many people are highly educated, even though a big number of the people yet to be literate. Almost 80 percent of them are farmers and the rest of them are teachers, businessmen, and different jobholders.
The weather in Chainpur is cool, as it doesn't exceed 30 degree centigrade even in the summer.
The visitors don't have to compromise with the quality facilities during their stay, as there are many comfortable hotels, guest hoses, restaurants and night stays ranging from descent to sophisticated ones.
While traveling make sure to enjoy the local fresh local fresh fruits like bananas, mangoes, oranges, guava, and pineapples to name some.
Gulf News Reader's Club Member
(The writer is a local of the place staying in the UAE. He can be contacted at ck_phuyal@yahoo.com)