Kailash Manasarovar Yatra -2012 - 44

Saga to Kathamandu

Greener Saga to Nylam Road

Nice Tar Road

Serene atmosphere

Prayer flags in between .....

Tunnels

Waterfalls

Nylam Town

Kodari Border

Friendship Bridge - Kodari

Waiting at Kodari for Bus

Happy playing Children of Kodari

Bus to Kathmandu

Saga is a garrison  town  and there are many military  establishments situated in this town. We got up early in the morning and  went around the town we saw many  school going kids in uniform and there were many nice hotels in the town. After  breakfast we left for Kathamndu, unlike the earlier day as the altitude was less the route was greener.  As usual the bus journey was pleasant we bypassed Nylam and reached Kodari around noon time, there was no problem in emigration we were cleared quickly. All us were happy that we are back from Tibet. But our luggage was retained there itself. Shreshta informed us that they will collect the same the next day and will deliver them at the hotel. We had lunch at Kodari and were waiting for the bus. During that time we watched the children of Kodari playing merrily and collecting  gifts from  the yatris.

The bus journey from Kodari was very slow because of heavy congestion in that route we recollected the places we passed during the onward journey, but here was no check by military as during the onward journwy. We reached Kathamandu at around seven in the night. We were accommodated in  Marshyangdi Hotel in busy Thamel area. After about ten days we had a full bath and had a nice sleep after an arduous yatra. 

Kailash Manasarovar Yatra -2012 -9

Entry into China

Our group on the streets of Kodari

As Kodari connects Tibet via the Sino -Nepal Friendship bridge built across Bote Koshi River,  all the vehicles crossing into China  are stopped here. Also all the luggage being carried by the yatris  are transported manually across the bridge so that they can be x-rayed before entry into China. So  Kodari town is crowded with vehicles and yatris. The vehicles from Nepal  are not allowed into China so our vehicle was also stopped at about 1 Km from friendship  bridge and we carried all our personal luggage upto the bridge. Small children also act as porters to earn some money.  Our Shepa's arranged for the transport of the  luggage through porters available at the border. 

Breakfast at  Kodari

We reached Kodari at 9 AM and had our breakfast at a small restaurant and waited for Immigration clearance.  Our passports were stamped at the border check post.  There is a red line at the center of the bridge and we queued   up at the line with our passports  in hand after sometime we were allowed entry into China and were asked to sit down for immigration  clearance.  We saw many groups sitting there waiting for their turn to enter into China for the darshan of Lord Shiva.

The River Bote-Kosi forms the natural border between Nepal and Tibet autonomous region  of China. On the other side we could see the majestic customs and military buildings.  We were advised not to photograph the buildings and the friendship bridge. The  friendship bridge was first built in the year 1965 to further co-operation between China and Nepal, it was damaged by floods in 1981 and the existing bridge was built in 1991 further north of the old bridge. The welcome arch was constructed in 1991.  

Luggage being carried manually for immigraton. 

Though symbolically Chinese have built a welcome arch in reality it seems they  don't  welcome  you wholeheartedly. The moment you enter inside their territory you are under the watchful eyes of the army personnel. They always keep a watch and follow your movements. We were not even allowed to stand and were asked to sit down and wait for our turn.  

Lady porters transporting luggage across the bridge

Waiting for our turn we watched the Chinese soldiers, two guards, stand at the welcome arch like stone statues, they don't even blink. Their shift change every two hours. New guards march to the arch in synchronization  majestically and stand before them then they exchange places and the old guards march back   in the same manner till they reach their building. The precison training given to the peoples army soldier's can be seen here.

Bote Kosi River and the  buildings n the Chinese side

Our luggages were being transported manually by lady porters across the bridge, it was a pathetic site,some women were carrying their infants also. They work from morning till evening carrying very heavy loads on their back.   

The friendship  bridge

We waited for about 4 hours  before entering into China. We were told that normally about 400 yatris are allowed entry on a single day ans others who reach late has to wait for the next day. Chinese does not allow animal products and plants to be taken into China. That's the main reason for throughly checking of all the luggage of the yatris. We had some ghee and twigs for Havan, really we were wondering if these will be allowed inside.    

 சீனப்பகுதியில் இருந்து கொடாரி

At last our turn came and all our personal luggage were subjected to x-ray examination and after verification of all our passports we were allowed entry into China. During this time we saw that the books being carried by westerners were throughl checked for its contents, so as to avoid any reference to Dalai Lama entering into China. One of our yatris was also heldup for a longtime as thay had some doubt regarding his surname and later he was also cleared.

 View of Kodari from China

Thus by the benign grace of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati we entered into China  without much difficulty  and it stared raining immediately. As our Chinese vehicle had been parked  some 2 Kms from this point we trekked upto that place after the rain stopped. 

Border own Jangmu on the Chinese side 

Kailash Manasarovar Yatra -2012 -8

                                                              Kathmandu to Kodari

After one day's rest at Kathmandu which we utilized for a tour of the capital of  Nepal, on 31/05/2012 early morning we  travelled by bus to the border town Kodari. The bus reached the hotel around 4:30 A.M and  we travelled  on the  Aranika Raj Marg, the 114 KM  highway built in 1963-64 with aid from China and converted into a two way road with the aid from Japan. Upto Dhulkhel the road was very good we had the darshan of 143 m Lord Shiva statue at Dhulikhel. The scene was mesmerizing at  the crack of  dawn on that day.     

We travelled along the banks of Kosi River

The highway was  along the  banks of Kosi river and  crossed many villages in between after Dhulikhel the journey was bumpy. The mountain peaks were lined with clouds and the greenery in the form of tall trees was refreshing and around the villages there were fertile fields. Mountains are there allover the world but Himalayas have their own majesty and charm, and each part of the mighty Himalayas have their own beauty, here we enjoyed the beauty of the Himalayas of Nepal. Most of the   peaks above 8000 Meter  are in Nepal.   On the way there were numerous  waterfalls and confluences all along the course of the river.

 Beautiful  cloud covered mountain peaks

After about two hours journey we reached the beautiful Palanchowk valley and crossed the Dolaghat town, many travel operators arrange for river water rafting in the rapids of Kosi River in this town. It rained in between. As the road was not good the journey progressed slowly. We enjoyed the beauty of the changing landscape.

Rain in between

All along the journey there were  checked by the  black uniformed special police of Nepal at regular intervals. At one point all our luggage and passports were also checked.  When we enquired  our Sherpas about this,  they  reasoned  that so much checking is being done to prevent  smuggling to China, especially Sandalwood. Naturally so much checks delayed our journey also. During monsoon season this part is prone to landslides but as we travelled in May there was no problem.

Stay for a cup of tea

In between we stopped at a village called Zero Kilo and had a cup of tea  and enjoyed the beauty of the mountains on the both the sides. The place is desolated and the villages are dotted in between. Slowly the journey progressed as the road condition was bad .

Waterfalls and confluences everywhere

After that we crossed the bridge at a place called Barbise from where Bungy jumping is done. The Nepal Government has built lot of checkdams along the course of the Kosi River and utilize this water for electricity generation we saw  a number of small hydro electric generation units along the way. In the fag end of the jouney we crossed the Palping bridge and entered Sindpalchowk Distict in which Kodari town is situated. The Totapani hot springs are situated near Kodari town.   

Beauty of mountains

 Green carpeted mountain tops 

Typical  village of Nepal 

Two trucks with all the cooking and utility items needed for the remaining days of the yatra accompanied us. Rice, wheat flour, milk powder, sugar, edble oil, water bottles, bread, cooking utensils, LPG gas cylinders, snacks, vegetable and fruits, plate, glass all are purchased in Kathmandu by the tour operator and sent along with us . Normally the Sherpas sleep in these trucks. As the plate and glass is carried by them, there is no need to carry plate individually. All our luggage are also transported in these trucks.  

A hydro electric station

After a slow journey  of about 4 hours along the winding ghat road,  we reached Kodari the border town of Nepal from where we will cross over into  Tibet Autonomous region of China for the darshan of Holy Kailash and Manasarovar.

Kailash Yatra 2011 - 3

On the first day of the yatra ie on 09-05-2011 the yatri's left by bus to Tibet. The border between Nepal and Tibet is a river and across the river there is a bridge so that yatri's can easily cross over by walking .

Enroute they halted at a the border town of Nepal called Kodari where they had their lunch, little rest and converted U.S $ to yuan. This day they travelled about 125 Km in Nepal by bus and 25 Km in Tibet by Land Cruiser.




A beautiful view of Kodari town.

This is the view of the friendship bridge. No vehicle is allowed to pass over the bridge so the yatris cross the bridge by foot. After reaching Tibet they are taken in the land cruiser in which they will be travelling for the whole yatra. Four yatris one sherpa and driver constitute the team for a land cruiser. heavy luggages are and cooking utensils and food items are transported in trucks. The sherpa looks after most of the needs of the yatris including transporting their luggage.

Ravi at Kodari on the Nepal side




After crossing the bridge the yatris proceeded to Naylamu where they were given oneday rest for acclamaitasion. There they also practiced some trekking in the form of mountain climbing.

Ravi at Zangmu on the Tibet side

Shri Ravi suggested that it will be better to convert U.S $ to yuan on the Tibet side instead of Nepal side as you get more yuan. Or don't convert the full amount you can do 50%- 50%so that it will be benificial to you.

Co-Yatris' of Land Cruiser

Yatra continues.........