Shikha Pun
Hike Report: Hike to Kaskikot
Hike Report by: Shikha Pun
Date: June 6, 2025
Location: Kaskikot, Pokhara
Duration: A 2-hour uphill walk to Kaskikot, followed by a 1-hour descent
Participants: Class 9 & 10 (17)
The purpose of this report is to document the hiking trip taken by students from grades 9 and 10. The hike aimed to enhance our appreciation of nature and strengthen our bonds as classmates while exploring the scenic area of Kaskikot.
On the day of the hike, we gathered at school at 9:00 AM, filled with excitement for our adventure. We departed at 10:00 AM and reached our destination by 10:55 AM. After a brief 5-minute walk, we arrived at an open park where we took a group photo at the entrance gate, marking the beginning of our hike. The area was alive with local village life. We observed hens and goats roaming freely, lush maize fields, and traditional old-designed houses that contributed to the charming scenery.
We encountered drinking water taps at various places, which helped us stay refreshed and hydrated. Moreover, we experienced many other highlights that made our trip memorable. One unforgettable moment occurred when we met an elderly man, around 70–80 years old, sitting on the stairs. He greeted us with a warm "Namaste" and shared his remarkable story of survival after being struck by lightning, which resulted in the loss of both his hands. His resilience, fate, and perseverance left a lasting impression on us. Seeing his condition, I wondered how difficult life must have been for him. He became an inspiration to all of us to never give up, no matter how tough life gets. There will always be ups and downs, but still living and facing all challenges is the bravest thing we can do. That day, I promised myself to never give up, to keep trying, and to continue living. He was an incredibly brave man.
After that, we paused briefly for rest, and laughter filled the air as someone cracked a joke. We also explored abandoned temples, which added an element of intrigue to our journey, and enjoyed the fresh air while taking in the breathtaking views.
Finally, around 11:45 AM, we reached Kaskikot, where I was the first one to arrive at the temple. I felt a sense of familiarity as I remembered it from the Nepali movie Pujar Sarki. It was exciting to explore the temple and enjoy the stunning views from the top.
At 12:05 PM, we enjoyed the homemade lunch we had brought from home, sharing stories and laughter while taking in the beautiful surroundings. After a fulfilling day of exploring and bonding, we began our return journey, arriving back at school by around 1:55 PM. This hike was a memorable experience that not only deepened our connections as classmates but also enriched our understanding of the local culture and nature. The meeting with the elderly man was especially memorable. We will always remember him.
Hike Report: Hike to Kaskikot
Hike Report by: Sanij Basaula
Date: June 6, 2025
Location: Kaskikot, Pokhara
Duration: A 2-hour uphill walk to Kaskikot, followed by a 1-hour descent
Participants: Class 9 & 10
On June 6, 2025, at 10 am sharp, we students from Grade IX and X left for our hiking trip from Deerwalk Pokhara School to Kaskikot. The team included approximately 20 students from Grades IX and X along with 3 teachers. It was my first experience going on a hike so I was pretty ecstatic.
The bus ride to Kaskikot, which started at around 10 am, was silent as we didn't know what to expect from the hike. We didn’t know about the things we could bring but we all pitched in with songs and jokes to make the bus ride more fun. Well, the silence wasn’t too boring. On the bus, we could see plenty of beautiful scenery of Pokhara, all the beautiful buildings, blue lake, and greenery, which left me stunned.
Then we arrived at our starting point of the hike at around 10:50 am. There was a small pond near the starting point which grabbed my attention. We took the first picture of our trip in front of the entrance gate. Finally, we started our wonderful journey towards the "Kot", which used to serve as the royal palace for the Shah Kings of Kaski before unification. Stairs were guiding us as we took our steps towards the top. We saw many plants that we did not know about until our teacher told us about them.
It was pretty tiring when we reached the top. And the timing didn’t help either as it was right around mid-day when we reached the top, with sun blazing down on us. Surprisingly, the cool breeze and the scenery made us forget about it all. Being able to enjoy the 360-degree view of Pokhara was magnificent. Also, there was a small stone monument created there and there is a myth that if we make a wish, it will come true. Which, of course, most of us did.
At this point, we were all hungry and wanted to eat our lunch. So, we found a cool spot and started having our lunch. Everyone had brought delicious food, so we shared each other's lunch. I got full quite quickly to the point where I couldn’t walk anymore but I pushed through. We had to return to our school soon. We started taking photos as memories for us to remember this day.
Finally, we went back down to the bottom after an hour or so, where our school bus was waiting to pick us up. We were all tired and wanted to rest. At last, we reached our school and had snacks but not before bouncing some basketballs around, and the trip ended just like that.
