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The Arniko Highway is one road that has seen a lot of trekkers making use of its smooth asphalt surface to reach starting points for many of trek to areas north of Kathmandu. One trek that also starts on this road is a bit different from most others—it’s the one to Kalinchowk. It’s not due to any special reason except that it’s quite isolated and you have to walk through dense forests to reach there, which means that there are chances of you being robbed on the way. Or, at least that’s what knowledgeable old folks are likely to warn you about if you say you’re going to Kalinchowk. As mentioned already, you first take a five-hour drive down the Arniko Highway to reach the town of Charikot, some 133 km northeast of the capital, at an elevation of 1,733 meters. The trek to Kalinchowk from here is a challenging one as you’ll be climbing up to an elevation of 3, 782 meters. Quite a climb, wouldn’t you say? However, you will surely enjoy it, not only because of the exercise but also because you’ll have the opportunity to see some splendid landscapes. The trail goes through millet and mustard terraced fields and you’ll come across groves of bamboo and pine trees all along the way. Some distance away from Charikot, if you look back towards the south you’ll get a fantastic view of the Tama Koshi River far below, while towards the northeast are the majestic Himalayan peaks, Gauri Shanker (7,134 m) being particularly impressive. Soon, you will arrive at a small settlement called Chothang (or, Hotel Danda as it’s also known as). Around here, you will notice the presence of several stone memorials with inscriptions in the Tibetan language. You’ll also see a number of chortens (stupas) similarly inscribed, only they are in Devanagri (Nepali) script. Ask around, and some local or the other will tell you that these are memorials for long-departed souls and that it’s a common enough practice among the people of the area, mostly Tamangs, Lamas, Magars, and Sherpas.
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