Samundra Acharya
On Kartik 22, 2082, Deerwalk Bharatpur School decided to organize a trekking tour at Chaukidada. We came to the school very early in the morning, full of joy and laughter carrying our water bottles and lunch boxes. After getting the green signal from the teachers, we boarded the bus and left from Bharatpur for Satra Kilo from where our trekking starts in true sense.
It was quite a bumpy ride, but it was great fun. Everyone was in their best moods - talking, laughing, and playing, and at the same time, listening to their favorite songs. A few students were admiring the magnificent natural view through the bus window while some others were singing songs and telling jokes. No one was scared of the bus shaking because everyone was busy enjoying the ride. After a long wait, we finally arrived at Satra Kilo, the starting point of our trek.
Once off the bus, we chose to hike up the hill. The sun was out, and the weather couldn't have been better for a hike. The trail was mostly uphill, and it took us about four hours, though it was a great experience. While passing through the green forests and small houses, we saw animals eating near the road and nice hills and the view of the area which slowed our pace. I was walking while listening to music which made the hike more fun and calm at the same time. The teachers continued to encourage us to keep going and everyone was cooperating.
Finally, we arrived at Chaukidada after a long walk and some rest. The view from the top was breathtaking. The first things we saw were the valleys, then the mountains which were quite far from us, and lastly, the vast and blue sky. The air was extremely cool and refreshing. We all once again decided to get out of our tiresome positions for a better view and also to try to feel the atmosphere. After that, lunch was served and the clicking of photos was done a lot.
It was also time to go back after a while. We went down the hill and, to me at least, it was more difficult than the climb. Though the road was the same, there was an unpleasant feeling in my heart hence I had to be very careful not to fall. Our legs were very weak even though we ate our snacks and going down slowly made them hurt even more. The sun was slipping quietly into dusk, and the hills looked even more beautiful in the sunset. When we reached the bus, we were all very tired, but very happy.
The bus trip back to Bharatpur was very calm as everybody was taking a nap but I spent the time looking at the moments I had captured on my phone. Some students shut their eyes, while others gazed out of the window. I was full of peace after such a long day. The walk through the forest to Chaukidada was absolutely great. I will always remember the amazing sceneries, the great fun I had with my friends, and the feeling of accomplishment after such a long walk. It was the day I understood the joy of hiking.
