Eastern Trails: Dharan - Bhedetar - Chanambar Budhabare

"Bhai, I have a work for you", said Sahasnath dai an EIA consultant, "this time for Dhankuta and Sankhuwasabha". Well, I was more than happy to accept this job, an EIA surveyor for roads. He gave me survey map previously done by the engineers. This time I have to survey two roads one from Dhankuta another from Sankhuwasabha. Sahasnath dai called the engineer who is working on this road and gave me the idea how to get there. First, I have to finish the Dhankuta road. 

Early morning at Bhedetar from Charles view point.

After a bus ride of more than 15 hours I reached Bhedetar on a sunny morning.This small town on hill was the place where my survey should begin. Charles View point was the first thing that came on my mind upon reaching Bhedetar. It was a really cool view, 360 degree view of Mt. Makalu, Dhankuta, Terathum and the plain Dharan town. 

Bhedetar as seen from the road to Rajarani.

According to plan I should have hired a motorbike from Bhedetar for the survey. Mr. Engineer should have managed the bike so I called him, but he had not. Tried to manage myself but the local said its very hard to find bike on hire here and even in Dharan. Again, I came back to Dharan for the motorbike instead of motorbike I climbed 17 KM uphill to Bhedetar on a mountain bike. I easily get mountain bike on hire from Green Wheels Dharan, a mountain bike shop based on Dharan. Met CEO of the bike shop Hem Limbu and manager Krishna KC, two mountain bike enthusiasts. It was 1 PM when I left Dharan.

Chain Jomsom S2

Scorching sun, 17 KM uphill, jeans, a pair of hiking boot and a heavy backpack! My mountain bike spirit overcome those hurdles. In my mind was just off road trails of tomorrow. Reached Bhedetar at 4 PM. Managed to do my small survey job there.

Bhedetar-Rajarani road from google earth.

The next day,
It was a total 45 Km offroad from Bhedetar to Budhabare. This was my task, to survey this road. Left Bhedetar at 10 AM and headed East. Met a road supervisor who has been working in this road for more than 20 years. He asked me "why on bicycle, you should have taken local bus, you can't reach Budhabare today". I simply replied, "I couldn't find motorbike on hire". The road I was traveling was along the Mahabharat Range. Slightly uphills and downhills, it was not a tough route. There were regular buses and trucks moving.

Namje bajar, about 4 Km east from Bhedetar.

It was a sunny and cold winter afternoon. I pedaled on my pace taking photographs of the road. Soon after reaching a small bazar called Dandabazar I broke my chain. It was my first experience of having broken chain, took an hour to fix it. 

Road along the Mahbharat Range.

Reached Rajarani(around 22 KM) at 2 PM, talked with locals about the road project. Finished my job there. Some locals suggested me to take local bus from Aitabare bazar because I was only half done! I had to pedal 23 KM more.

Rani lake at Rajarani

Left Rajarani at 3 PM after having lunch. Now, I started increasing my pace. It was little downhill at first and you know what goes down must come up! Started climbing up, the sun was near the western horizon but the road was still uphill. 

Local kids amazed seeing a Gearwala cycle.

School on wheels: Local kids returning from school on style.

Encountered a group of local people working on the road. Amazed by seeing a lone guy on a cycle, they started asking questions and it was dusk already. They said the uphill is almost over but you can't reach Budhabare better to take shelter around. Well, they said uphill is over and that was it! I am on a mountain bike dudes not on foot! Let the gravity do the work!! It was still 7 KM to Budhabare.

Just downhill.

It was a very smooth downhill. You can see the road going down and down just downhill. I was missing my bike. 

A beautiful valley near Budhabare Bazar.

Finally reached Budhabare at around 6:30. It was a small but beautiful town in a valley surrounded by beautiful green hills. I introduced myself as the surveyor of the road to the local. They managed a hotel for me. After having a good local Dal, Bhat Tarkari went to bed thinking what a day today was!