Cycling: river routes diary during lockdown

Since 23rd March, Government of Nepal have started national wise lockdown, extended until 14th June and the situation is unknown. During the March and mid-April, with due respect to lockdown decision, we stayed at home following mild activities such as cleaning home, occasional travel for groceries, music, painting, writing and research works. Due to negligible physical activities, even in short course of time, my desire to start mild exercise couldn’t restricted up to tiny walls and cubicles. After mid-April, I started cycling around home Gully, just repeating same 40 meter track for around 15 minutes. The reason to restrict in small track was simply trying to set an example of discipline & responsible citizen.

It was just from the month of May, I started occasional cycling in Dhobi Khola river bank, starting from Kalopul to Gopi Krishna bridge, Bhatkyapul and Ratopul. It was good to see clean areas, and peaceful balmy evening. Yet the smell of river was little disturbing in early riding phase. No one used to ride at that time, excluding some migrant workers. I was afraid, if locals will follow getting influences, a common human behavior which will ultimately crowd the roads. Not just due to influences, everyone wants to come outside and take fresh breath. Until mid-May, I continued the same track and sometimes around Gyneshwor and Bhatbhateni for groceries. Those are moderate rides per day tentatively 8–10 km per day. But slowly, the changes was visible, people started jogging, evening walks and even in proper sports uniforms. The increased crowd must be due to less COVID incidence in Kathmandu. Only some cases such as Pepsicola, Bhaktapur and Dhulikhel created automatic fear that checked crowd somehow for few days. I too use to ride occasionally, keeping in mind not to break protocols and to give others a chance in hidden rotational mode.

Until the end of May, my routes extended starting from Gopi Krishna to Setopul & reached up to Babarmahal, and Bagmati Dhobi Khola Prayag (Dovan) at Rudreshwar Temple. The crowd was increasing, common familiar faces to see in the ridings. Those ridings were tentatively 14 Km per day. In course of time, number of joggers, family badminton, walkers, cyclists had slowly increased. It was only yesterday (1, June) the longest route I covered starting from Kalopul to Bagmati Dhobi Khola Prayag & extended to new routes of ‘Bagmati river corridors’ — Minbhawan, Sinamangal, Pashupati, and Kalopul. Compared to entire routes, the crowd and casual behaviour was visible near Minbhawan and in the slum areas of Sinamangal. I was surprised to see Sukumbasi basti, and poverty in the bank of Bagmati river between Minbhawan to Sinamangal. I personally felt, Government need to think of Slum management inside the valley before it extends further. Government should respect the dignity and needs of every citizens. When I chat about the slum management during a meal with my father, I came to know Baburam Bhattrai once initiated the issues to resolve, however opposition parties highly politicized and remain as it is.

Anyway, the Bagmati river bank – Thapathali to Min Bhawan; & Dhobi Khola bank – Gopi Krishna to Thapathali seems clean and progressive. Dustless pitched roads, stoned foundation in the rivers & railings at both sides, cemented big pots and bio-diversities — bougainvillea, assare phool, etc. All the roads are connected, excluding Sinamangal bridge. Overall roads are progressed, but drainage system in the river need to be the next milestones to clean scientifically in well engineering approach. Pashupatinath was serene than ever before, a neat and peaceful ambiance in between entry point of Tilganga, beautiful park, ghat, temples, until the exit point of Bageshwari Temple. When I reached home, it could be lump-sum 30 km ride. May be due to proper adjustment of saddle height of my bike from diverse youtube videos, I felt little comfort than before, and obviously the serene evening of Kathmandu valley attracted me to be more outdoor, be it occasionally.

The entire free riding style was relax; sweaty efforts was avoided. Really thankful to have some leisure time due to lockdown, though mostly busy in my research. But please keep in mind, not to follow unsafe practices and influenced by the myths that COVID is harmless and a hoax. Precaution counts — wear mask, carry sanitizers; avoid unhealthy routes, avoid crowd & meetings; kindly deal with traffic in-charge, if they don’t allow, just move back. After completing the outdoors activities, when you reach home, clean and bath properly before you enter the room or at least wash your hands in the entry point. Clean your clothes as well; select light outfit, which is more easy to clean & saves water. Maintain re-hydration, proper diets and light exercise to stimulates your nerves and enhance immune system. Have some herbal teas, honey, lemon, turmeric drinks; diverse seeds; morning sun bask; piper longum, sarpagandha, if accessible. Stay home and enjoy until you get this wonderful privilege. Wonderful in a sense, at least the situation is good for the Nature to heal, families to heals — no matter how much difficulties financially, emotionally, mentally the people, families, communities, nation and the world is facing. Role of nature is unknown, it could heal or progress further. Until the migrants safe landed, the situation keep shifting, or it might go away naturally. Don’t judge instantly that everything is fine, hope everything will be fine soon. Everything will be fine soon if we maintain the health discipline & respect natural way of life. Stay safe, stay home, follow the Government instructions. These are for the regional safety, cooperation and massive well-being.

Sanjeev Adhikari

2 June 2020