Our Trip to Palanchowk Bagawoti Temple

Shuvanjali Manandhar, Grade 5,

St. Mary’s High School.

 

Palanchowk Bagawati Temple is about 15 km from Dhulikhel and 42 km from Kathmandu. From Kathmandu to Bhaktapur, it will take about 25 minutes by vehicle, and from Bhaktapur to Banepa, about 30 minutes, and from Banepa to Dhulikhel it will take about 5 minutes. From Dhulikhel, after reaching Panchkhal, it can be reached by vehicle in 10 minutes. From the foothills of Panchkhal, there is also a foot-trail uphill that can be reached in about 1 hour’s walk.

Palanchowk Bagawati is a very famous temple, mainly with Hindus and Buddhists. In the temple, a black stone is beautifully carved into the shape of goddess Bagawati, which is about 1m in height. The goddess has six pairs of arms, each carrying different weapons. This temple is very famous and many people come to worship the goddess, especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

It was Friday, 14^th January 2022 , and my family decided to visit this holy temple. My mother did not come, since she had her work that day. We packed some necessary items, and left after having our early lunch. The road to Panchkal was not too bad, but still was dusty. After reaching Panchkhal, we took a road to the foot-hills, but when we reached mid way, the road was blocked due to its construction. The local people suggested that we take a different, and commonly used motorable road to the top of the hill where the Temple was. But our plan was to take a one-way hike and then ride back from the Temple, when we return. So, we discussed among ourselves, what to do ? and who would hike and who would go by the car to the Temple. I had wanted to hike too, but my dad and brother decided that I would ride to the top of the hill and wait for them, while they hiked uphill. My dad had decided this, because he too was not sure how long it would take to walk uphill, and it would be very difficult for me to come with them. So he decided not to take the risk, since it was their first hike there, and did not know well about the hiking trail.

So, we got separated and promised to meet again at the hilltop, at Palanchowk Bagawati Temple.

I continued with the driver uncle only. And all of a sudden, the car started to throw black smoke and the car was also filled with its harsh smell. The smoke and its smell burned my eyes and it was intolerable. The driver also did not know what caused this problem, and could not do anything about it. As we continued slowly, and stopping very often - people around stared at our car, and we felt embarrassed. Finally we reached the hill top at the Temple site, after about 20 minutes.

I waited for my father and brother to arrive at the hilltop, near the Temple, for quite a long time. I called my father on his mobile phone. Luckily I could reach them, and he said they will reach within one hour, so I waited in the car, playing with my phone. But an hour passed, but they did not arrive. Again I called him, and he said, they hope to reach within 30 minutes. It was difficult for me to wait for them. But I could do nothing about it. I waited and waited, hoping they would arrive soon. Finally, I heard a whistle’s sound, that my father usually blew to call us - and was sure it was from my father. They finally appeared, to my delight, but was sorry to see them exhausted from their 2.5 hour hike steep uphill and panting for drinking water.

I had lots of questions to ask, but the first question was why did it take so long to reach here? My brother answered that they had been lost and could not find their way up the hill. So, they had given up hope to reach the temple, and started to return downhill. But luckily they found the road that led to the hilltop. I could not believe that they had actually lost their way ! My brother told me he will tell the whole story later, after some time.

So, then we went to the Palanchowk Bagawati temple. At that time the Temple’s priest was cleaning the goddess’s statue. We worshiped and asked for blessings. We took some photos of the outer structure of the temple. The temple was in pagoda style. It had carved tudals and a golden pataka.

After visiting the temple, we went into a small tea-shop to take some rest and have some snacks. While having our snacks, I was eager to know how my father and brother had lost their way. They told me that they could not find the way up, after walking for one hour. The track was very steep and they were extremely tired also. They could not even find a walking stick for support while walking uphill. They said they asked many people before starting their walk, and all of them did not say that we might get lost, so they continued. They walked uphill for two hours continuously but did not reach the top.

The forest was deserted and there weren’t even birds. When my brother and father were in the middle of the hike, they also saw a snake on a tree. It was not long and did not look poisonous, so they ignored it and walked away. As they continued, in the mid way, they did not find the track ! The track had ended. They were afraid, because they were in the middle of a forest hill and nobody was there. They decided to look for the track, by splitting into two – but it was no use. Then my father spotted two pumpkins. My father said, the first thing that came into his mind was – if they have to spend the night in the forest, they might have to eat these pumpkins, because they were carrying no food and had only half a bottle of water left.

So they decided to go back downwards, and gave up the idea to reach the temple. But after some time, they luckily found a motorable road. They also met some village people, who told them that they could reach the temple if they followed the road uphill. So my father and brother again decided to go up, by following that road. All the people they met asked them why they did not take a motorable nice road from Panchkhal to  reach the Temple easily. My brother said, the village people thought that we were foolish to walk uphill !

I felt shocked to hear this story. I really thought that it was a good decision that I did not force my father to take me on the trek with them. Otherwise, I would not be able to complete this trip. Anyway, this was a remarkable and memorable trip, both for me and my father and brother. I remember my father telling us that he visited this temple when he was my age, but at that time they had to hire a truck to come and the road was very bumpy. So, I also hope that I will remember this trip and its adventure for a long time.

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