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This blog is my humble contribution for people planning to visit Pathibara Mandir at Taplejung

This April in 2019 after the end of Chaite Dasai, I planned a trip to Pathibara at Taplejung. Just sharing my experience and details

Where:- Pathibara Mandir is located at Taplejung, Nepal in the interiors of Eastern Nepal. At present there is only one roadways which starts from Birtamod.

BIRTAMOD = PHIKKAL BAZAAR = BIBLATE = RAKSE = PHIDIM = KAVELLI = TAPLEJUNG ( 240 Km, 8 Hours )

• The distance from Biratnagar to Taplejung is 245 Km and it takes around 8 hours by SUV ( Bolero, Sumo Gold) to reach Taplejung. Buses are also available which takes additional 2 to 3 hours.
• It is advisable to start early around 4 or 5 am in order to cover maximum distance with less traffic. Also this will ensure that you can reach Fedhi which will save you one day of travel.

BIRTAMOD TO PHIKKAL BAZAAR:-

• For people wishing to travel from Kathmandu, Bihar, Siliguri or nearby regions, the best way to enter this region is from Birtamod. So best is to reach Birtamod a day early, check into a hotel and rest for a long journey the next day.
•  For people from Sikkim and Darjeeling and Mirik, the best way is to enter via Pashupati and Fikkal in Ilam which joins the same route as above from Biratnagar.  Try and reach Pashupati fatak ( The Indo-Nepal border) by 7 am and from there hire a Van to Fikkal at Ilam. The SUV and Buses which leave Birtamod early morning reach Fikkal from 6 am onwards.
• Fikkal is also an ideal location to have your breakfast, make visits to ATM and buying tucks for your journey.

PHIKKAL BAZAAR to RAKSE, SAKHEJUNG. ( 60 Km, 2.5 Hours)

• The popular halt station for refreshment and meals. Also an ideal location to buy Churpi and local milk lollipops.

RAKSE to PHIDIM ( 43 Km, 1.5 Hrs)

• If you are travelling in your own vehicle, suggest you refuel your vehicle here and also carry some extra gasoline in case of emergencies.
• Phidim is perhaps the biggest town between Phikkal and Taplejung. Also if the 8 hours journey is too long, an ideal location to halt over to restart the journey the next day

PHIDIM to TAPLEJUNG ( 85 Km, 3 Hours)

• After Phidim, its another 3 hours journey before you reach Taplejung.

TAPLEJUNG = SURKETAR = FEDHI :- Once you reach taplejung, you can rest for a while for an adventurous journey for the next 2 hours. So it is advisable to reach Taplejung by 3 or 4 pm.

• From Taplejung, you need to hire a 4×4 Boleros to reach Sano Fedhi via Surketar.
• If you have reached by SUV till Taplejung, suggest that you wait nearby bus stand so that these Boleros get booked and start their travel to Sano Fedhi.
• The road from Taplejung till Surketar is well maintained and suitable for any vehcicles. After Surketar be prepared for a real 4×4 joyride for the next 7 Km.
• Sano fedhi is the last destination which can be travelled by vehicle.

FEDHI:- There are two fedhi, Sano Fedhi and the Thulo Fedhi. The last motorable road is till Sano Fedhi which we reach in 4×4 SUV from Taplejung. Personally I preferred to stay at Sano Fedhi as you need to hike 1 hour to reach Thulo Fedhi and that means you need to carry all your luggage.

• From Fedhi, the only way to reach Pathibara Mai is hike uphill for an average 3 hours hike.
• We stayed at Sano Fedhi after a long day of 10 hours travel. Had a good meal and a restful night. Woke up early next day at 2 am, had a bath and started trekking at 240 am. We reached the temple at 6 am, the climb and the trek worth the effort.
• We climbed back around 7 am and returned to Sano Fedhi by 9 am. Had our breakfast and rested for an hour and then took the SUV back to Taplejung.
• However we decided against staying at Taplejung and decided to stay at Kaveli which is a nice place alongside the Kaveli river.