Tuesday, 28th August 2012. Third Day of Third Leg of our Trip
Our flight from Jomsom to Pokhara was early in the morning. Our flight was Tara Air. A few members of our team had to leave hotel as early as five in the morning to catch six o’clock flight. Airport is only about fifteen minutes walk from hotel. For these local flights you do not have to be there more than half an hour in advance. And the uncertainty and cancellation of the flights are very frequent and wind and cloud being the major controlling factors. The flight took off only around seven with the first batch from our group. We were scheduled for seven o’clock flight. But we took off around 8:30.
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Jomsom – Pokhara flight was also very exciting. You can have clear view of trekking path of Annapurna Mountain ranges. Please see the pictures in the link for more details.
But all of us where ready for our Pokhara sight-seeing around ten in the morning. There are many tourist attractions in Pokhara. Naturally the Himalayan Ranges are all very attractive. The stunning panoramic view of Annapurna range can be viewed from anywhere in Pokhara. We had only one day to spend in Pokhara. So we had to segregate into two different groups as some of them planned to have a boat ride in the famous Phewa Lake and go to the island temple of Barahi.
I along with few others opted out as we wished to try for Paragliding. In the morning we visited a few temples. There was a platform on the road with the idols of Lord Sri Ganapathy, Shivalinga, Nandikeswar and Nagadevta. Though there is no temple and sanctum sanctorum it is very convenient for devotees for darsan and worship of their favorite deities during their trip without any deviation. It is a tourist attraction too being in the middle of the road.
Next we visited Devi’s fall. Off late it is also known as Davis Fall because one Mrs. Davis a Swiss woman died while she was taking her bath and her dead body was recovered after a few days from the fall. This happened in the year 1961 and since then it was called as Davis fall also. The flashing water from the fall may drench you well enough and is good for a splashy shower. In Nepali it is called Patale Chhango meaning Nether Fall or Fall of the Underworld. There is a large Durga Devi Temple here for those who wanted to visit and have a darsan. Another main attraction is goddess Maha Lakshmi installed under water near Devi’s fall. Nepalese believe that your offerings of coins thrown on the idol will touch the idol only if you are a true devotee and a lucky one.
Then we went to Mahadeva Gupha (Cave) temple. The cave is full of bats and steps are slippery. Be careful if you go there. It is very near to Devi’s fall. At the bottom of the cave you can have darsan of Ganapathy and Shivalinga.
Also we visited Radhakrishna Mandir of Pokhara. This is typical Nepalese style temple constructed on the top of a hill. We had the darsan of Lord Sri Krishna Bhagawan with his most favorite play mate Radha. From the temple you can also have the most panoramic view of Annapurna range. This temple has got vast fully tiled open compound. One of its kind I have seen in Nepal and for that matter anywhere in the world as other Indian and Nepalese temples have mini sanctum sanctorum for other deities around the main deity.
Paragliding
After visiting the Radhakrishna temple we went for a Paragliding. Nine of us really wanted to go for this most adventurous and exciting experience of life. They take in a batch of three at a time. Paragliding is also very uncertain like the flight to Everest. It is really controlled by the Sun god, Wind god, Cloud god, Weather god, and then your luck also.
Minal, Pankaj and I were in the first batch. And unfortunately that was the only batch that got a chance to paraglide on that day. From the booking office you will be taken by a jeep to the top of hill called Sarangkot from where the Paragliding takes off. Sarangkot is almost five thousand feet above sea level.
It is definitely and undoubtedly a marvelous and adventurous, but scary by all means, experience. The pilots are well experienced and the experts in the field. Once you are buckled on the chute you have to run and pull with good force till the edge of the cliff for the balloon to get airborne. You have to really pull very hard as the wind would be pulling you back. And pilot will be pushing you from behind to the front. A few helpers also will support you to pull forward. It is very possible that you may bend your legs and could even fall down a couple of times before you take off. Each time you may have to start from the very beginning because at least you have to run for a thousand feet for more to get airborne.
Once you are airborne then you are flying like a free bird in the sky with no holds. The feelings and excitement can never be put into words. You are already about three thousand feet above the ground level then you are going to fly another thousand five hundred to two thousand feet up again. I was tightly holding my both hands on the strings/belts. The pilot asked me to completely release my hands. I was not sure but let one of my hands free. I did not feel any difference in and after another minute or so I let my other hand also freed.
I did not believe I was still on air and still flying. I was thrilled. It was amazing. It was awesome! I was really flying up in the sky. On all sides I had the mesmerizing view of the Himalayan Ranges, The Everest, The Annapurna, The Dhavalgiri, The Kailash and The Gauri Shankar looking so majestic. All these I saw with open eyes in open sky with no hindrances of glass panels or any other covers like that of an airplane or a copter. The feeling was I had wings. I looked down and I could see Phewa Lake and scenic green paddy fields. I was in ecstasy of enjoying the beauty of the nature as it is from open sky.
Pilot asked me to scream and shout if I was really thrilled and excited. He told me not to have any inhibition of any sort in expressing my emotions. I knew I was in good hands and he had total control. He asked me if I was ready and not scared of then we could do some acrobatics. I had no clue what he was going to do but told him yes.
Oh My God! What he did was simply mesmerizing magic. He turned me a full ninety degree left and then a full ninety degree right. I was truly holding my breath. Then he made full one hundred eighty degree nose dive. I thought my stomach came out. Because I felt so I knew I did not had giddiness. A couple more turtle turns and he asked me whether I was OK and how I felt it. I told him it was Fantastic! It was Marvelous! However, I would definitely be too short of words in explaining the thrilling and excited feelings and emotions. The only thing I can tell you is that you have to experience it by yourselves at Pokhara in order to get some idea about that experience.
The photos and videos cannot reflect the true excitement and the emotions going through your mind. I truly felt we had the blessing from Lord Kailash Natha. Otherwise this could not have been possible. This was one of its’ kind. It was a thirty minutes nonstop super mesmerizing magic.
Of course when we landed I fell down on the sandy ground and was dragged about hundred feet or so. There were a few boys to help. I will plead with all that if you get an opportunity do not miss it. It is worth the risk. As both your hands are free you can also take the pictures of your performance but you do not have to do it as the pilot would be taking quality still photos and videos of the entire performance. Within ten or fifteen minutes they will prepare a CD for you at a nominal charge. I would recommend you to purchase the CD rather than depending on your photos/videos.
After Paragliding the same pilot drove us back to the booking office and then to our hotel also. This Paragliding was the most exciting and adventurous feat in my life. And I do not expect another one to surpass this either.
Minal, Pankaj and I were lucky to experience a life time experience of Para Gliding. This is definitely an unmatched one time life experience to fly above the scenic Pokhra Valley from Sarangkot hill to land at Phewa Lake. Without the mercy of the Sun god, the Wind god and the Rain god this adventure cannot not take place. We three of our team were blessed by all these gods. Of course this is a blessing of Kailasanathan (Lord Maheswara) as it was post Mansarovar Kailash parikram (circumambulation).
Our flight from Jomsom to Pokhara was early in the morning. Our flight was Tara Air. A few members of our team had to leave hotel as early as five in the morning to catch six o’clock flight. Airport is only about fifteen minutes walk from hotel. For these local flights you do not have to be there more than half an hour in advance. And the uncertainty and cancellation of the flights are very frequent and wind and cloud being the major controlling factors. The flight took off only around seven with the first batch from our group. We were scheduled for seven o’clock flight. But we took off around 8:30.
\
Jomsom – Pokhara flight was also very exciting. You can have clear view of trekking path of Annapurna Mountain ranges. Please see the pictures in the link for more details.
But all of us where ready for our Pokhara sight-seeing around ten in the morning. There are many tourist attractions in Pokhara. Naturally the Himalayan Ranges are all very attractive. The stunning panoramic view of Annapurna range can be viewed from anywhere in Pokhara. We had only one day to spend in Pokhara. So we had to segregate into two different groups as some of them planned to have a boat ride in the famous Phewa Lake and go to the island temple of Barahi.
I along with few others opted out as we wished to try for Paragliding. In the morning we visited a few temples. There was a platform on the road with the idols of Lord Sri Ganapathy, Shivalinga, Nandikeswar and Nagadevta. Though there is no temple and sanctum sanctorum it is very convenient for devotees for darsan and worship of their favorite deities during their trip without any deviation. It is a tourist attraction too being in the middle of the road.
Next we visited Devi’s fall. Off late it is also known as Davis Fall because one Mrs. Davis a Swiss woman died while she was taking her bath and her dead body was recovered after a few days from the fall. This happened in the year 1961 and since then it was called as Davis fall also. The flashing water from the fall may drench you well enough and is good for a splashy shower. In Nepali it is called Patale Chhango meaning Nether Fall or Fall of the Underworld. There is a large Durga Devi Temple here for those who wanted to visit and have a darsan. Another main attraction is goddess Maha Lakshmi installed under water near Devi’s fall. Nepalese believe that your offerings of coins thrown on the idol will touch the idol only if you are a true devotee and a lucky one.
Then we went to Mahadeva Gupha (Cave) temple. The cave is full of bats and steps are slippery. Be careful if you go there. It is very near to Devi’s fall. At the bottom of the cave you can have darsan of Ganapathy and Shivalinga.
Also we visited Radhakrishna Mandir of Pokhara. This is typical Nepalese style temple constructed on the top of a hill. We had the darsan of Lord Sri Krishna Bhagawan with his most favorite play mate Radha. From the temple you can also have the most panoramic view of Annapurna range. This temple has got vast fully tiled open compound. One of its kind I have seen in Nepal and for that matter anywhere in the world as other Indian and Nepalese temples have mini sanctum sanctorum for other deities around the main deity.
Paragliding
After visiting the Radhakrishna temple we went for a Paragliding. Nine of us really wanted to go for this most adventurous and exciting experience of life. They take in a batch of three at a time. Paragliding is also very uncertain like the flight to Everest. It is really controlled by the Sun god, Wind god, Cloud god, Weather god, and then your luck also.
Minal, Pankaj and I were in the first batch. And unfortunately that was the only batch that got a chance to paraglide on that day. From the booking office you will be taken by a jeep to the top of hill called Sarangkot from where the Paragliding takes off. Sarangkot is almost five thousand feet above sea level.
It is definitely and undoubtedly a marvelous and adventurous, but scary by all means, experience. The pilots are well experienced and the experts in the field. Once you are buckled on the chute you have to run and pull with good force till the edge of the cliff for the balloon to get airborne. You have to really pull very hard as the wind would be pulling you back. And pilot will be pushing you from behind to the front. A few helpers also will support you to pull forward. It is very possible that you may bend your legs and could even fall down a couple of times before you take off. Each time you may have to start from the very beginning because at least you have to run for a thousand feet for more to get airborne.
Once you are airborne then you are flying like a free bird in the sky with no holds. The feelings and excitement can never be put into words. You are already about three thousand feet above the ground level then you are going to fly another thousand five hundred to two thousand feet up again. I was tightly holding my both hands on the strings/belts. The pilot asked me to completely release my hands. I was not sure but let one of my hands free. I did not feel any difference in and after another minute or so I let my other hand also freed.
I did not believe I was still on air and still flying. I was thrilled. It was amazing. It was awesome! I was really flying up in the sky. On all sides I had the mesmerizing view of the Himalayan Ranges, The Everest, The Annapurna, The Dhavalgiri, The Kailash and The Gauri Shankar looking so majestic. All these I saw with open eyes in open sky with no hindrances of glass panels or any other covers like that of an airplane or a copter. The feeling was I had wings. I looked down and I could see Phewa Lake and scenic green paddy fields. I was in ecstasy of enjoying the beauty of the nature as it is from open sky.
Pilot asked me to scream and shout if I was really thrilled and excited. He told me not to have any inhibition of any sort in expressing my emotions. I knew I was in good hands and he had total control. He asked me if I was ready and not scared of then we could do some acrobatics. I had no clue what he was going to do but told him yes.
Oh My God! What he did was simply mesmerizing magic. He turned me a full ninety degree left and then a full ninety degree right. I was truly holding my breath. Then he made full one hundred eighty degree nose dive. I thought my stomach came out. Because I felt so I knew I did not had giddiness. A couple more turtle turns and he asked me whether I was OK and how I felt it. I told him it was Fantastic! It was Marvelous! However, I would definitely be too short of words in explaining the thrilling and excited feelings and emotions. The only thing I can tell you is that you have to experience it by yourselves at Pokhara in order to get some idea about that experience.
The photos and videos cannot reflect the true excitement and the emotions going through your mind. I truly felt we had the blessing from Lord Kailash Natha. Otherwise this could not have been possible. This was one of its’ kind. It was a thirty minutes nonstop super mesmerizing magic.
Of course when we landed I fell down on the sandy ground and was dragged about hundred feet or so. There were a few boys to help. I will plead with all that if you get an opportunity do not miss it. It is worth the risk. As both your hands are free you can also take the pictures of your performance but you do not have to do it as the pilot would be taking quality still photos and videos of the entire performance. Within ten or fifteen minutes they will prepare a CD for you at a nominal charge. I would recommend you to purchase the CD rather than depending on your photos/videos.
After Paragliding the same pilot drove us back to the booking office and then to our hotel also. This Paragliding was the most exciting and adventurous feat in my life. And I do not expect another one to surpass this either.
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| Cockpit of Buddha Air flying us from Jomsom to Pokhara |
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| Scenic Himalayan Valleys and Rivers En-Route Jomsom - Pokhara (1) |
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| Scenic Himalayan Valleys and Rivers En-Route Jomsom - Pokhara (2) |
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| Ganpathy - Sivlinga - Nandi - Nagdeva at Pokhara |
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| MInal & Pankaj at Davis Fall (Pathal Chhango = underworld fall) at Pokhara |
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| At Davis Fall (Pathal Chhango = underworld fall) at Pokhara |
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| At Davis Fall (Pathal Chhango = underworld fall) at Pokhara - Seven from our group |
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| This is at Davis Fall (Pathal Chhango) - devotees will try to throw coins at the idol- Belief is that only the lucky ones can hit the coin on the idol |
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| Devi's Fall (Patale Chhango) at Pokhara |
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| Radha Krishna Temple at Pokhara - Traditional Nepali Style Architecture |
Minal, Pankaj and I were lucky to experience a life time experience of Para Gliding. This is definitely an unmatched one time life experience to fly above the scenic Pokhra Valley from Sarangkot hill to land at Phewa Lake. Without the mercy of the Sun god, the Wind god and the Rain god this adventure cannot not take place. We three of our team were blessed by all these gods. Of course this is a blessing of Kailasanathan (Lord Maheswara) as it was post Mansarovar Kailash parikram (circumambulation).
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| Pankaj and Minal ready for Paragliding |
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| Once in a Life Time Experience of flying above the Scenic Pokhra Valley from Sarangkot hill to land at Phewa Lake (1) |
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| Once in a Life Time Experience of flying above the Scenic Pokhra Valley from Sarangkot hill to land at Phewa Lake (2) |
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| Once in a Life Time Experience of flying above the Scenic Pokhra Valley from Sarangkot hill to land at Phewa Lake (3) |
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| Once in a Life Time Experience of flying above the Scenic Pokhra Valley from Sarangkot hill to land at Phewa Lake (4) |
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| Once in a Life Time Experience of flying above the Scenic Pokhra Valley from Sarangkot hill to land at Phewa Lake (5) |
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