Day 3 :

Drive to Nepal :

The earlier night we had informed the Hotel caretaker to get someone who can fix the puncture. We insisted that the puncture needs to be fixed by 7:30 am (I would say the sleep was just OK for me to get the steam for another day long drive) so that we stick to the plan of reaching Kathmandu on the same day. I was ready by 7:30 am and reached out to the reception and the caretaker sent a boy to look for the puncture shop. After 15 mins, he told me that it will be 9 am by when the puncture shop will be open.

As Amit also reached the reception, it was 8:15 am and we were still waiting for the clock to tick 9 am. Although we had carried a puncture kit, we did not have the air pump hence the puncture kit was of no use. We did not get the puncture fixed but the Hotel caretaker got us good breakfast. We just got served with hot Aloo Parathas and Tea. That gave us some energy to start the day.

Meanwhile, we were informed that the puncturewaala, who was just 100 metres away from our stay, was not ready to come down to get the puncture fixed. As we did not have any progress till 9 am, we decided to get this done ourselves. So, we visited this puncture shop and requested him for some help but he was sure that without the getting the tyre to him, he cannot help get the puncture fixed.

On the way, we enquired 2 other puncture shops. It was surprising that within a span of 100 metres, there were 3 shops which meant that this was a good business venture and just can elaborate the state of the affairs on the Gorakhpur roads. Me and Amit started pushing the vehicle up with the mechanical jack and with the humid we had started sweating. We towed the tyre to the shop at the junction and I should say Amit was good at towing the tyres. We just got reminded of our childhood play with Rubber tyres.

There were 2 nails which had to be removed and the puncturewaala did a good job to secure the rest of the journey.

Change of Plans:

Thanks to the amount of trade that happens between India and Nepal. Most of the essentials are carried by Trucks from India into Nepal and hence there are many border entry points to Nepal. We had planned to enter the Nepal border through Sonauli (Uttar Pradesh) and reach Hetauda (Hetauda is the common point for three different routes to Kathmandu).  Let me explain you about these roads first,

Road 1 : Mugling road

Road 2 : Palung / Daman Road (9 hrs 30 mins, 310 Kms)

Road 3 : Pharping Road

Road 1 is a long winding route which is mostly used by the Trucks since this road does not demand the sharp turns making it easier for the heavily loaded trucks.

Road 2 runs through the highest point at Daman and this is the highest road of all the 3 roads. It is usually ventured by private vehicles (cars, Vans and Small trucks).

Road 3 is the shortest of all the routes to Kathmandu from Hetauda but also has the sharpest of the curves and most frequently impacted by Landslides. Mostly ventured by 4 wheel drive Utility vehicles.

Roads to Kathmandu from any of the border entry points are mountainous hence the conditions of these roads change often, thanks to the land slides, rain and other factors of traffic. Amit started enquiring about the situation of the roads to plan the further trip to reach Kathmandu. Our actual plan was to enter Nepal at Sonauli, UP, which is, close to Gorakhpur and take the Road 1 or Road 2. As per this plan, we had to start early morning from Gorakhpur and reach Kathmandu by evening.

After the enquiry about the road condition, we realized that the plan had to be changed. Road 1 was closed because of a massive landslide and all the Trucks had been diverted through the Road 2. This means we will be stuck between trucks and the journey will be slow. Now that we don’t have any option of taking Road 1, we decided to get into Nepal first and reach Hetauda. That way we will get more time in Road 2 and allow the traffic situation to ease in Road 2. Given the good condition of roads in India compared to Nepal, we decided to drive parallel to the Indo-Nepal border and enter Nepal at Raxaul, Bihar.