I left for Mardi Base Camp around the end of October last year, mainly to get away from all the hassles of life in Kathmandu. I had a friend with me and we started our trip from Pokhara that sadly didn’t feel as beautiful as it used to before. I thought Pokhara would refresh me ahead of my trip to Mardi but that wasn’t to be. However, the Mardi trek trail gave me just what I needed – the mountains, clouds and the endless sky made me forget all my worries. It was that blissful.
Construction of bridge over Mardi River in full swing
The trip was great fun. Everyone I met on the trail greeted me warmly and made me feel happy and at ease. It was especially nice to see so many Nepali people interested in seeing what Nepal has to offer and out to see the Machhapuchhre and the Mardi himal (mountain). The sky was clear most of the time and we were able to view all the mountains and hills in all their glory. The best part of the trip was being able to see a lenticular cloud formation above the mountains. The beauty of it took my breath away and it’s not something I will ever be able to describe in words. The trek helped me get closer to nature and I felt more connected to Nepal. It also made me want to explore other areas of the country.
But, most importantly, it reminded me of the need for conservation of places like Mardi. There was a lot of litter along the trails. It was disheartening to see noodle wrappers, plastic bottles, and chewing gum tossed around carelessly. The trash not only ruined the natural aesthetics of the place but was also a stark reminder of how we take things for granted and show little concern for others. For me, personally, it was disheartening to see that people actually had little to no concern about cleanliness and conservation. Mardi is magical but it might soon no longer be unless we all do our bit in keeping it that way.
