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Barah Taal-The Hidden Pearl

Lips were dried and feet were answering. Every part of body was exhausted and sweating.Three pairs of eyes were in search of drinking water from last five hours. Suddenly a young couple appeared front to us and again our hope was rebuild. “ हजुर खाने पानी होला? ” a straight question was asked to them, “ छैन त, तपाईंलाई अझै २ घण्टा जती उकालो हिंड्नु पर्छ बल्ल कुम्भिकोट मा पानी पाउनु हुन्छ ”.  We were stunned; at least I was and gazed at each other’s face, then sat there on the rocks carelessly. I felt something wet in my hand, just checked and found that it was fresh cow dung. One more problem, no water to drink and my hand was dirty; looking like hand was painted with a smelly green thing. It was a goof up as well as most embarrassing situation ever in life which forced me to realize the value of water and I promised myself not to waste water.

These were the few haunting experiences which our team had when we decided to explore and collect the facts about Barah Taal.  The Barah Taal journey started with a curiosity developed inside us due to insufficient facts about the place when we tried to highlight this thrilling place on web thereafter we decided to visit and collect the facts. After 90 minutes journey on bus, at 7:45 AM we reached at Hudke in western part of Surkhet.

Believed to be the abode of Lord Barah by devout Hindus, Barah Taal is considered to be the ultimate gift of nature and trekking destination situated in middle of mighty mountains in Surkhet district. Barah Taal is in the western part of the Surkhet which takes around 6-7 hours on feet from Hudke. The journey is along the fixed route chosen by the visitors themselves and really hard to travel for those people who are not habitual of such journey. Lack of accessibility, away from human activities, Barah Taal doesn’t have frequent visitors. Still most of people from Surkhet and its native places are not aware about this “hidden pearl.

Collecting some information from Hudke, we were ready for our mission. Lots of excitements, lots of imaginations, a special joy of walking together and clicking pictures of breath taking landscape, it was giving us an extraordinary experience that we had forgot in Cities. People coming from both sides were staring us again and again which was giving an awkward feeling to our team. May be we were having the striking personality or we were strangers for them, God knows.

Travelling 2.5 KM, we reached at Bardada. While passing from front of a house one young male came to us and gave a warm welcome. We also did the same, he asked us about our journey and offered us his binocular which can be hired and used to see Barah Taal from top of mountain. He suggested us not to go alone because it was the season where all weeds and plants are grow up, it will be hard to find the path and difficult for us to reach. He also warned us about wild animals and thick jungle but we were driven by will power and eagerness.

Some where the fear of being lost in jungle knocked us and we decided to hire someone who can help us to be there and come back with us. Finally we decided to hire a guide and we continued our incredible journey. As our water bottle was empty, we filed that bottle with local water supply tap and reached Kumbhikot after travelling 1.5 KM. It was a small place on the top of mountain and people were busy in harvesting their paddy. Fortunately we found a small tea shop in which few local residents were playing cards and enjoying hot sip of black tea.

We asked the exact distance of Barah Taal and also asked for that person who can lead us to reach their. The Shopkeeper said “ अझै ४ घण्टा हिंड्नु पर्छ र एक्लै जान सक्नु हुन्न ” Still four hours to go! As we have already walked about 2:30 hours, one team member replied to shopkeeper. We request him to manage any local resident who is aware about the lake and can take us there. At first he denied to manage such person but after regular requests he asked one small guy whether he can go there with us. That small guy was quite, neither saying yes nor no. Shopkeeper convinced him and said “जानुस् भान्जा बाबु, आफ्नो पढाई को खर्छ पनि आउछ, sir हरु ले तपाईं को मेहनत दि हाल्नु हुन्छ, अब आएका पाहुना लाई सहयोग गर्नै पर्‍यो” We were happy to get a young guide.

Shortly we reached at the place which was full of surprises and was looking like a fairy land. Spotless white clouds were swimming in the sky; Bheri-The soul of Surkhet was following between two high green mountains. It was really incomparable scene which we saw and captured from top of Kumbhikot.

Our guide was leading us and we were following him. We were walking through wet and narrow passageway which was full of rocks as well as very dangerous. We could slip anytime as passageway was very wet. A dense jungle with tall trees of Saal was blocking sun light to reach at ground. We were now tired of walking due to rocky way. Anyway we reached at Bhutuke after a journey of 2 K.M. We had some snacks and some rest, drank water and again got ready for our journey.  Travelling a journey of 2 Kilometres, we reached at Gauramare. Time was short and distance was long so we again got ready for our journey.  We continued our most hard-hitting journey after relaxing for 15 minutes in “Gauramare”.

Crossing many khola and narrow passageway full of wild weeds we reached Tallo Bhare. Water of Bhare khola was shining in sunlight. We were walking with Bhare khola and enjoying its cold water. After a travelling of 1 hour we reached at a place which was looked like an old cave and was build of sand stones. Bhupendra pointed one high peak and said “ हामीलाई त्यो माथिको डाँडा पार गर्नु पर्छ ”. We were very exhausted due to 5 hours of journey and still 1 straight peak was standing in the middle of way. We were just following the way where he had gone. After 30 minutes we saw him, he was relaxing and waiting for us. He was commenting on our speed and said “ अझै ४ घण्टा लाग्छ यसरी हिंडे ”. There were no words to reply him, we ignored and kept continuing our journey.

Finally we reached at top on around 2 PM. A giant sized lake in the middle of jungle was waiting for us which and was so silent. Only noise of wild birds and monkeys, nothing else. All exhaustion was vanished when we saw Barah Taal. We smiled and sit under a big Saal tree. We relaxed for 10 minutes and started to take pictures of the Hidden Pearl. As we were lacking time we considered on taking some attractive pictures of lake. There was not any hotel or house to stay, thus we had to return back.

After being sure about photos and their quality we said goodbye to Barah Taal. This time Bhupendra was leading us from a different way. He said that this way is risky but shorter than we used earlier. We did same. We were going from a direct slope way. Hands were wounded due to rocks and wild plants. Many groups of monkeys jumping from one tree to another were increasing our heartbeat. We were walking closely because other strange noises were creating a creepy environment.

Only big rocks, narrow passages and weeds. Now we were feeling exhausted and our speed was decreasing. We relaxed for a while and again we started our journey. We were scared much when we saw a stone which was covered with fresh blood. Rate of heartbeat was high, just walking and thinking positive we kept walking. Now we entered in an area which was covered with wild plants and weeds. Nothing was visible we have to make the way for our self so that we could walk. That way changed into a huge straight up climbing and we were praying for its end.

We felt uneasy due to short of water and food. Because of this tough journey, our glucose and water was burnt. Now every step was full of pain. This journey went sour and horrible when one of team member said “now I can’t walk anymore and sit on the way.” Wrist watch gave an alarm of 4 PM and still we were unable to see the Kumbhikot. Only water was coming in mind. But it was not possible to get water before reaching at Kumbhikot. We were thirsty from 12 Noon. Suddenly we saw a couple and thought they must have some water but, we were wrong. They told us to reach at Kumbhikot if we want to get drinking water.

Still more than 2 hours to go, and our one member’s condition was worsening due to lack of water and glucose. Sun was peeping us between trees and was about to say goodbye. In hills sun sets very early than plain area. Without torch and any security measurement how we will complete this journey, I was thinking, maybe we all were thinking the same. It was the most horrible journey that we ever had. We were having plenty of money, ATM cards and Credit cards but all were useless. We were unable to get a bottle of water. Nature was laughing on our artificial world and was warning not to mess up with it again.

We don’t know whether we were on exact way or wrong, how to reach on the top, was only one question. Suddenly we heard the voice of Bhupendra “ ल आउनुस् पानी खान, कुम्भिकोट अाई पुग्यौ हामी ”. We smiled and doubled our speed. We forgot all pain and tiredness that we got from Barah Taal Journey. Finally we reached on the top where Bhupendra was waiting with 2 jugs of water. 

Journey was not completed, we were just at Kumbhikot, still we were supposed to travel 2 hours on foot and 1.30 hours on bus/jeep. We left for Bardada from Kumbhikot and reached to same shop where we meet the Bhupendra. That shopkeeper was standing outside of his shop and asked “ आउनु भयो हजुरहरु? ” We also replied “ हजुर आयिम ” .

It was about 7 PM and it was a dark night. We were supposed to travel a journey of 2 hours through the jungle. Our feet were wounded and we were also dying of hunger. So we decided to take rest in Kumbhikot. Luckily, a CDMA wireless phone was there and after many tries we were able to contact our houses. Again we requested that shopkeeper to arrange a night stay for us. He started to enquire about our self and we gave our introduction and our objective of visiting Barah Taal.

His son came to shop and asked us to follow him. He was walking with a small torch cum lighter. Again, he led us to very dangerous way which was similar that we have travelled recently. Finally we reached at house and were taken to a room. He cooked the dinner. We ate as much it was possible and slept. Next day, early morning we came to his shop and gave money for accommodation and food. We thanked to him and again our journey started. After 2 hours we reached to Hudke and now our journey was started on Tractor.

Within 30 minutes we reached to Girighat and few Jeeps were ready to travel the Birendra Nagar. We rushed inside jeep and reached the Birendranagar. We purchased 2 bottles of water and washed our face so that we could look like human being. 

Written By: Suman B Singh