Today, I saw one of my childhood dreams materializing: walking all the way up to the Dharahara and viewing the Kantipur city from the top of it. Dashing Deep’s blog revived my dream and I didn’t wait too long to forget it. When I find a little leisure time today, I went all the way to Sundhara, paid Rs. 99 (with a minute long hesitation) and went all the way up to the monument and watched the city.
Let’s begin from the beginning:
As I was studying for the History Of Mass Communication preparing for my examination, I suddenly realized that I didn’t have anything to read about history of books and magazine and many many other things. I thought of a way out and remembered the Encyclopedia. Then I started my journey to buy CDs straightaway.
My bus journey from office to Sudhara went fine. But when I reached at the bottom of Dharahara, I remembered the blog of Dashing Deep and thought of climbing the ladder. I think thrice before investing Rs. 99 for ticket, bought one and went inside the premises, deposited my mobile and pen (they told me pen or key or anything like that is not allowed to save the wall from scratches!) and went inside the monument.
Halfway, I was enthusiatic so was sort of running, then my thin-turned-fat body let me down. I was too aghast and dizzy (because I was going round and round through a small pathway). Thank god, the people there have painted down the number of steps at each window and the direction, otherwise I could have felt the lack of oxygen.
After tiring journey of 188 steps (and 24 down the base), I reached the balcony. Five minutes, I caught my breath, then started looking around. The Singha Durbar looked magnificent and Royal Palace looked beautiful surrounded by greenery but everything else was eye-paining. Thanks god, it was evening and I could enjoy the reddish sky just before sunset.
After I was done with the balcony, I asked the guard there what’s at the top. “A temple,” he replied. That was the last thing I could have imagined there. I went 25 more steps to find a little Shiva Linga covered with a few coins. (A flashy realization: the ticket price is Rs. 99 because the traveller to the temple will be able to offer the remaining one rupee to the Shiva Linga). However, I didn’t offer my coins to the Lingum and kept it firmly in my pocket and walked back.
When I was out, I looked back and was thrilled thinking that I was at the top.
