Bhaskara Kumar's Blog

Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trip (Monday, 13th August 2012)

As decided on the previous day we were to assemble in front of the hotel by eight in the morning after break-fast. Subhash Varma was my roommate as long as he was in the group. With his permission I used bathroom first around 6 in the morning.

While I was waiting for Subhash to get ready the best thing I could do and wanted to do was to recite Vishnu Sahasra Namam. By the time Subhash came out I finished it but he asked whether I was chanting some Manthras. I told him that I was reciting Vishnu Sahasra Namam and hoped it did not bother or disturb him. His response was so positive that he was listening to me from bathroom and asked me to wait for him from the next day onward so that he can also sit beside me when I read Vishnu Sahasra Namam. It was a pleasure for me and told him that we will recite Vishnu Sahasra Namam until we start our trip to Manasarovar – Kailash and once we start the trip we will switch to Siva Sahasra Namam.

And I have to state with utmost gratitude that two or three days Subhash lit me the torch to recite Shiva Sahasra Namam as there was no light available in our rooms during the Parikram.

After the breakfast we set off to the airport in couple of mini buses for our EBC (Everest Base Camp) trip. We all were very thrilled. Let me state that this EBC tours are very uncertain as it is controlled by wind, cloud, weather conditions, etc. which are not within the control of airlines or the airport control personnel. And again there will not be any flight after 12 in the noon. There are many days passengers will be waiting in the airport and returning without undertaking the trip.

Our Travel Agent Earthbound Expeditions have arranged the ticket by Buddha Air. It takes off from Tribhuvan International Airport. Buddha Air has 19 seated Beechcraft – 1900D flies from Kathmandu to Everest Range. It is a two engine aircraft and supposed to be the safest to fly in such high altitudes. [Of course there was a crash on 25th September 2011 of a similar flight of Buddha Air and all 19 passengers and crews were killed.] They also have a team of the safest and most experienced pilots and of course very courteous crew.

I found our waiting in the airport as the most anxious experience as we were warned that delays and ultimate cancellations are very common. We were to go in two batches of 11 in the first flight and 8 in the next flight.

Some of our group members anxious to take the first flight

We are ok for the second flight

They think it is OK to take the second flight

They were the luckier ones to take the first flight to EBC

I was able to get into the second flight only. Those who sit in the back during onward journey should go to the front during the return trip to enjoy travelling from both sides. The flight cockpit is open and we can watch all the gadgets in the flight. But who wanted to do that? You look outside always at both sides. It is no doubt once in a life time experience. The flight itself is only about 50 minutes.

Trekking to EBC may take about 26/27 days from Kathmandu valleys. Anand, our son, did trek to EBC and it took for him twenty seven days. But I think trekking is a different experience.

I consider flying over the Everest Ranges is more marvelous and truly breathtaking. As a picture is worth a thousand words, please see and enjoy the magnificence of these mountain ranges from the following pictures I clicked from the aircraft. I have no words to explain the excitement and emotions I had during each moment of the flight. I was in an imaginary world. This Himalayan ranges are so beautiful, so exciting, so emotional, so marvelous, so magnificent, so majestic, and I fail to explain it. These memories will stay afresh in my mind, for that matter in the minds of anyone who had the opportunity fly over these mountain tops, till the end.

As we could imagine it is only a circular trip for the purpose of enjoying the sights and will not and cannot land on top of Everest or on EBC. And till the moment your plane land and feet touch on the ground you cannot be certain that you completed the trip. No doubt that this would be most adventurous trip you can ever imagine in your life time. I believe that it was due to the blessing of Lord Shri Maha Deva we were able to complete the trip successfully.