The trek to the Dhaulagiri Region was meant to be a nostalgic journey, as we had planned a week-long adventure. Though I had visited nearby areas, such as Dhorpatan back in 2016, this time felt special—I was going with childhood friends from my school days.
Usually, I had a list of new destinations in my bucket list, but this time, my friend suggested exploring something unique—East Rukum. After some planning, we agreed that the time after Dashain would be ideal, offering a festive atmosphere and making our holidays more meaningful.
We decided on a flexible week-long trek without strict time constraints. Without further delay, we kicked off our journey from the 0 km mark of the Pokhara-Baglung highway. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait long as a group of young guys were also heading toward Bhurtibang, and the van quickly filled up. However, the ride turned into a curious mix of entertainment as the other passengers blasted underground music on their JBL speakers, making it hard for us to digest the vibe. They even closed the van windows so that no one outside could hear the lyrics. Interestingly, the driver seemed to be around the same age as the hip-hop-loving crowd.
We boarded the van around 1 PM and reached Bhurtibang by 5 PM. The town had grown denser since my last visit, as I had passed through this hub a couple of times before. Whenever I stopped here, Thakali Lodge was my preferred accommodation, and this time was no exception. Reaching Dhorpatan on the same day wasn’t feasible as it was already late, but with better planning or a bit of luck in securing vehicle services, it could have been done.
The lodge owner turned out to be from the same region we were headed to and provided us with valuable insights about the must-see points of interest. After a hearty breakfast the following morning, we caught a jeep to Dhorpatan. This marked the beginning of an off-road journey that was rugged yet filled with anticipation of the adventures ahead.
It sounds like the adventure truly began after lunch at Dhorpatan! Gaining over 1000 meters in elevation to reach the stunning highland of Buki Patan must have been both a physical challenge and a rewarding experience. The fact that the hotel owner helped coordinate your accommodations and had his tea shop on the hilltop adds a comforting local touch to the journey.
Trekking after a long gap can indeed be tough, especially with the steep trails testing your endurance. It’s impressive that you and your friend managed to push through despite the difficulties—especially with friend’s hip joint issue nearing the end of the day’s trek. Such perseverance is inspiring and makes reaching the destination all the more meaningful.
On the way, we met many youngster in groups were returning as they started early in morning. They were often belongs from nearby towns. Most of them were first time to visit there as Buki Patan is locally popular place to visit at high land.
The name “Buki Patan” has likely been connected to childhood memories shared by relatives and villagers. Listening to stories told by youngster who recently visited the place must have deepened the sense of mystery surrounding it. Visiting this destination for the first time and witnessing it with your own eyes must have been a uniquely emotional and special moment.
Spending a night in a tent at such an altitude sounds like a test of endurance! The tremendous winds until 2 AM must have made it hard to relax, especially with the sheer force of nature roaring outside. Sharing the space with over eight people must have added a sense of camaraderie, even amidst the challenges.
It’s quite remarkable that the young hosts managed to accommodate up to 20 people in the same tent previously! That speaks volumes about their resourcefulness and adaptability in such rugged conditions. Despite the windstorm, I hope the shared experience brought your group closer together and added a unique story to your adventure.
The transformation from exhaustion to exhilaration the next morning must have been incredible! Waking up to clear skies and taking in the breathtaking landscapes of Buki Patan surely made all the effort worthwhile. It’s amazing how the beauty of nature has the power to erase fatigue and renew your energy.
Next day, the group from Bhairahawa, with their more localized plan, probably enjoyed their exploration, but our ambitious journey to cross the entire patan area and head to Rukum sounds even more adventurous. I can imagine the thrill of passing through such expansive highlands and the anticipation of what lay ahead in Rukum.
After heavy breakfast we moved as our plan, despite my friend hip-joint problem we were confident to pass through Patan landscape. We reached at peak point of our trekking route i.e 4100 m. Landscape seen from there was so incredible. Blue sky, wide range of shining himalayas with uniform grass lands. We took rest and realized we could not make the trek further as my friend hip joint problem was not resolved and resumed back promising to redo next time. He asked to explore around further while he was resting.
Author: Debyani
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