An Adventurous Journey to the Kaligandaki Hydroproject

 

Kaligandaki Hydropower- Powerhouse located at Beltari Syangja

An Adventurous Journey to the Kaligandaki Hydroproject

2^nd  Chaitra, 2081

Today was an adventurous and memorable day as I, Ganesh Dhami from Bajura, embarked on a thrilling trip to the Kaligandaki Hydroproject Powerhouse along with my colleagues and friends. The group consisted of Puskar Paudel from Kailali, Prakash Khanal from Bardiya, Ganesh Nath Yogi from Dailekh, Bhuwan Bhattarai, a veterinary worker from Baitadi, and Narayan Kumal, a bank manager at Shangrila Development Bank, Ridi Branch, from Syangja.

We started our journey from Argali Palpa at 11 am, riding in pairs on three bikes. The ride along the Kaligandaki Corridor was scenic, passing through Ridi and Rudrabeni. Crossing the bridge, we continued on a gravelled road through Birgha, Syangja, before encountering a rough, dusty off-road track. Despite the challenges, we reached Mirmi at 12:45 pm. From there, we drove uphill towards Zero Km, where we took a short break to have some snacks before continuing downhill towards Beltari, the location of the powerhouse.

Kaligandaki Hydroproject- Dam located at Mirmi

Upon reaching the powerhouse, we were warmly welcomed by a security guard who guided us through the site. He showed us a sand model of the hydro project, giving us insights into its structure and function. Taking the lift from the 7th floor, we descended to the first floor, where we saw the three massive dynamos, each generating 48 megawatts of electricity. We took several photos to capture the moment.

Ganesh Nath Yogi, Prakash Khanal, Narayan Kumar, Puskar Paudel and Bhuwan Bhatta from the left respectively

On our way back, we decided to take a new route, crossing the Kaligandaki River via a suspension bridge. We rejoined the Kaligandaki Corridor nearly 13 km south of Ranimahal. However, nature had different plans as sudden rain forced us to take shelter in a newly constructed house. The road was muddy due to ongoing construction work, making the ride more challenging.

Me and Prakash sir

Once the rain subsided, we resumed our journey towards Ranimahal, only to find that the road was blocked due to construction work. With no other option, we had to turn back. We returned to a nearby village adjacent to the powerhouse and had some snacks at around 4 pm before setting off towards Tansen Palpa. The route was scenic but demanding, with forested areas and off-road trails. Our return journey took us through Gorkhe Danda, Shreenagar, Narayan Danda, and Ranimahal before we finally reached Argali Palpa at 6:30 pm.

Bewildered after rain

Exhausted from the long ride, our clothes covered in dust and mud, we called it a day and went to bed early. Despite the challenges, the journey was truly worth remembering. A heartfelt thanks to our drivers for ensuring a safe and enjoyable trip!