Maulakalika Hill: A Popular Hiking Spot

Chitwan. Exactly 4:30 in the morning, the city is fast asleep. But on the 1882 stone steps at the foothills of Gaindakot, the footsteps of hikers have already begun to echo. This climb to Maulakalika, once limited to religious rituals and worship, becomes quite bustling, especially on public holidays. For those seeking mental refreshment from the city's chaos and busy daily life, this hilltop is developing as a 'short hiking' destination.

Many choose to climb the hill of Maulakalika to manage the physical lethargy and mental stress caused by the modern urban lifestyle. Being close to the main cities of Bharatpur and Gaindakot, Maulakalika itself is becoming a 'Saturday hiking spot' for many.

With such an objective, a regular couple who arrives at the foothills in the early morning on Saturdays and other public holidays are Dr. Shailendra Raj Adhikari and Dr. Mamata Tiwari, who work at Chitwan Medical College. For some time now, this couple has made the climb to Maulakalika a part of their lifestyle.

"Initially, it took 1 hour and 10 minutes to climb, now we reach the temple in 50 to 52 minutes," shares Dr. Shailendra about his experience. For them, this journey is not just religious faith, but also a means to keep the body energetic. Be it winter or monsoon, they do not miss this journey, even if it means carrying an umbrella and raincoat.

According to Dr. Shailendra, who is also a psychiatrist, such hiking increases the oxygen level in the brain, which keeps people fit and fresh not only physically but also mentally. For Dr. Mamata, this journey is a campaign to change a 'sedentary' lifestyle of 12-15 years. They started their journey from here for practice, with the goal of going to Mansarovar. Now, if they don't get to go to the temple on Saturday, they feel tired, as it is their experience that it removes the fatigue of the week's work and gives new energy.

Not only the doctor couple, but people from various professions and age groups are found on this climb to Maulakalika. For Sabina Dhakal from Bharatpur-12, who is often found on this climb on Saturdays, this journey is a beautiful alternative to quench her 'thirst' when she cannot go for long and expensive trekking. Similarly, Rojina Gurung Lama from Bharatpur-7 is attracted by the dense greenery here and the cool breeze that blows while climbing uphill.

According to the Temple Management Committee, the crowd of devotees and hikers is even larger on Saturdays than on normal days. According to manager Mukti Bhandari, only about 3 to 5 thousand people come here on Saturdays. For the convenience of the devotees, work is also underway to repair the old steps and make the path easier. He believes that people come here not only for religious faith but also for 'morning walk', proximity to nature, and health awareness. Currently, there is also a cable car facility to reach the temple for those who cannot walk. Nevertheless, most hikers prefer to reach this place by walking, keeping in mind their health and physical energy.

The historical heritage of the Maulakalika temple, the final destination of this trek, is equally proud. According to historians, this area was the 'gadhi' (military outpost) of the Sen dynasty kings about 200 to 300 years ago. Later, the local historical narrative states that its name became 'Maulakalika' after the 'maulo' (a type of flag or emblem) was planted and worship began at that gadhi.

Photo: Nisha Shrestha/Nepal Photo Library