Road Trip at Birgunj (Motorcycle Diary)

Planning a Road Trip?  Ready for the Rock and Roll!  Outdoor adventure waits! Roads, landscapes, Hills and mountains - expect all these and more. Pack your bags and let’s head to BIRGUNJ.

There are many day trip opportunities in Nepal.  Depending on your personal level of adventure, you can swim, hike, follow naturalist trails and arrange camping trips. You can do all that in your way. It is an enchanting town located in the south of Nepal, at the junction of Nepal and India border Highway.

The trip to Birgunj is well worth it. Known as The Valley of the Business, you will instantly fall in love with it clock tower, Temples, deep sparkling Ghadiarwa Lake park , gentle Birgunj gate, At the highway open spaces and fields of grain. Here is a Temple named called Gita Mandir where you can learn about Holy Mahabharat with beautiful Architectural fine art. Indeed, it’s best for those city dwellers who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of a busy lifestyle. Major festivals are the Blossom Festival held in March the Holi and November, the Chhat, Dasahara and Diwali Festival every October and the fall at night with beautiful glowing City. Even without these festivities, there are enough places to see and do in this business town. Visit the Holy place Bindabashni Mandir for open beautiful landscapes and appreciate the Murals of local which depict the life in the village. 

Day #1 @2009-10-4 :It was September, rays of wintery-wormy day at Kathmandu. The counting start on the way in the cold morning, I reached Pharping, where traffic stopped me for License
checking after a while I passed through 15 minutes ride and I stopped for  a cup of hot tea coz’ environment was so naughty. After having tea and cigarette my road trip began with The Door’s song “People are strangers” on my mp4 player. On the way I remembered my past life at Birgunj.. “Who am I? What am I now? What I’m doing now?, Is this called life what I’m having now? I’ dont belong here” Questions were going on and on. Then I changed track again there is the doors:-“Riders on the storm” This was good music for Road trip..Wow!! Then I headed towards crossroads, I stopped my motorbike, I didnt have a clue  where to go. I looked around but nobody was there. Then I lightened my cigarette, after a while I got the way. I followed other bikers. After a long drive of more than three hours I got hungry. I stopped for a lunch at Chisapani, Dewrali called Bhok mitho hotel, although it sounds weird but I started  my ride after having Sanmiguel beer at around 11:00am. I reached the ‘Kulekhani dam’ at the bank of the beautiful river. The dam locked by Nepal Army and you don’t have permission to get though without entering your ID cards numbers or have been checked; and its restriction to  photograph, but I liked miniatures capturing every details of microcosm nature. And it’s me “There is no any rules that can rule me”.I stopped at check post the army asked “Kaha janalageko?”.I said “Birgunj jana lageko”.“Licence number. Bhannush”-he strictly asked.And I said “05-522477/35827”.The Army man Smiled and said “Kati laamo Number ho?”.”Khoi sarkar le diyekai yeshtai cha” I said.After that I passed through. The Dam was so beautiful. It is well said ”Nazar nahi hatti nazaare hum yeh kya dekhe”. Destination kept changing from one place to another. Finally I arrived at Birgunj. It was quite changed then before..But one thing was not changed still..!!! It was still TOO HOT MAN!!! I met my best friend Santosh and we had good time at Bishwo raj’s small restaurant, we all were class mates when we were at Trijudda School. At night I stayed at Santosh’s
new home.It was a bit difficult to sleep at my friend’s house, a lot of memories
carrying in this city. Once I ruled this city I had got home here, business,Name
and fame…but today???? I have nothing; except sweet memories.

Day #2: 5-10-2009: An early bird as I am not … I sacrificed the tempting Monday morning sleep and I wake up for  meeting some old friends and take  shoots. I had stunningly beautiful changed city to look forward to, and the scenes right ahead. Riding in the morning through beautiful city with fresh air was fun. I took out my camera and captured some beautiful landscape of Birta mai, Ghanta ghar and my old house; where I was grown up, The sad part was, Now that house does not belong to me. Something still got into the house. it was the letter written on the top“NIRAJ BHAWAN”. It was really painful to see that name still on it. With the hurtful tears but not a drop to see. I tried to start my bike but starter was broken.I left my bike in Sita ram’s garage and took rickshaw for visit to Maisthan. I met Suman, Sanju,Dhiraj and My rakhi sis Anju...they all werefine and got good life and business. I had some marvelous tea at Anju’s house, but still I could hear that word “Ghar na-aaunu” in my thought. I could feel blisters inside the heart – “I should’ leave now!!” I took my bike from garage and Sita ram said: “Dai ahile sama yehi motor cycle chadnu huncha, Maileta socheko thiye tapai le arkai bike kinnu vayo”. I said:“Kinnu ta hunthiyo dai tara ke garnu petrol pahile ko jashto paundaina, pahila po 20/- rupiya ma paunthiyo ahile shortage huncha tesh ma pani petrol ko daam yeti mahango cha, Kathmandu- Birgunj jashto sano town hoina teshma pani pahad cha, mero bike 1 litter 70 kilometer dincha, aba kashlai dekhaunu cha ra pulser chadera”. Sita ram laughed and said “tiyo ta ho dai yesle jashto mileage aru bike le kaha dincha ra.” I had planned to lhave ocal wine with Ajay at evening but Santosh changed the plan, He arranged the small party at his sasuraly and I was surprised. After party I bought cheap helmet and winr for an evening bikeride. Now we were at maisthan chowk...having some paan and cigarette. And I was shocked coz all peoples are breaking traffic rules, without helmet and proper number plate they  were enjoying the ride and bichara traffic couldn’t do anything. I remembered Santosh said: “Yeha yeshtai ho Niraj. Time has been changed, Madeshi haru kai raaj cha ahile, Traffic kehi bolosh ta mukhai ma khancha, Bina helmate tabor load bike chalauncha.”  I said:“Ho yaar, pahile yehi chowk ma one way bata aayo vanera mero licence leyeko thiyo traffic le, but aaja one way ko board ko kehi matlab chaina”.Tonight is my last night at Birgunj. Uncle and Aunty they love me as own child they can’t stop saying “Babu dui char din basera jau”. At dinner they made especial dish for me with heart full of love.

- Niraj Man Singh @ 2009 (Memory Never Die)