Rajiv Lama, who lives in Sindhupalchowk, goes out whenever he feels like going for a walk. But Kanchhi and Kali are often not with him. Kanchhi and Kali are not just any dogs that Rajiv takes out for a walk, but are female dogs that he has raised.

Rajiv's journey, which takes his 1-year-old German Shepherd Kali and 8-year-old Golden Retriever mix Kanchi, is not only exciting, but also different. Last October, Rajiv returned after completing a trip to Tilicho with Kali and Kanchi.

The question was, 'How did the dogs reach here by trekking?' Often, nomads share new pictures and videos of the places they have visited on social media. Rajiv does the same. But the pictures and videos of his journey look different from others, because they also include the exciting journey of Kanchi and Kali. Kanchi has traveled with Rajiv through Panchpokhari, Kalinchowk, Sailung, Lumbini, Janakpur, Darjeeling and Sikkim.

Last October, he reached Tilicho Lake at an altitude of 4,919 meters with Kali and Kanchi. Not only Rajiv enjoyed the trip, Kali and Kanchi were also equally happy. He took photos and videos of himself standing with Kali and Kanchhi in front of the blue lake and shared them on social media. Fellow travelers Kali and Kanchhi played in the cool water of the pond, ran up and down the hills, and jumped happily. While out for a walk, Rajiv repeatedly faced a question. He was also getting similar questions on social media. The question was, ‘How did the dogs trek all the way here?’

Rajiv has raised Kanchhi since he was a child. Kali was given to him as a gift. Rajiv, who prefers to call himself an ‘animal lover’, has a long-standing bond with dogs. Rajiv, a construction worker by profession, said that he started loving dogs since he was a child. His journey with dogs began after the Corona period. He said, ‘Initially, I used to post videos of my journeys with dogs on TikTok. Now I also post them on Facebook and YouTube.’

Rajiv said that traveling with dogs has gradually become a part of his lifestyle. He said, ‘I have stopped enjoying myself without them. That's why I take them with me wherever I go. I play with them every day.'

Traveling and trekking with dogs is not an easy task. Uphill and downhill, narrow paths, cold and heat, and fear of other dogs on the road. For Rajiv, dealing with all these difficulties has become a normal thing. He said, 'I am not afraid of people during travel, but I have to be very careful of dogs on the road.'

While staying in hotels during travel, he has to suffer every time, because most hotel owners do not allow dogs in their hotels. Some are reluctant at first, but agree after being explained. Some are adamant about their hatred for dogs. He has even paid a separate fee for keeping dogs in some hotels. In some, he has asked for accommodation on the condition that he will pay compensation if the dog damages anything. Not all hotel owners are like this. Some even provide free food and arrange a good place to stay after seeing a loving dog.

Despite such difficulties, he has never stopped his journey. He has also collected his own interesting experiences of traveling with dogs. During the journey, Kali and Kanchi greet strangers by raising their front paws. The passengers are thrilled with joy. When they reach a new place, the dogs also squirm as if they are experiencing excitement. Seeing all this makes him very happy. Sometimes, people try to take pictures of the affectionate dogs.

Since Kali and Kanchi are trained dogs, it is not that difficult for Rajiv to discipline them. Rajiv himself has also taught both of them some simple rules of travel, such as opening the refrigerator and putting the garbage in the dustbin. He said, ‘I also learned how to train dogs by watching videos.’ According to Rajiv, Kanchi is more understanding than Kali. He said that both dogs easily do simple tasks like jumping and saying namaste and obey commands immediately.

Preparing for a trip is not an easy task. Moreover, for Rajiv, his own preparation alone is not enough. He also prepares his and the dogs' belongings in a planned manner. He said that he has to carry more things for the dog than himself during the journey. He said, "We have to arrange food plates, first aid supplies, water, and dry food, because in hotels, we have to feed the dog on the plate we carry ourselves."

During this journey, Rajiv has come to understand many of Kali and Kanchi's temperaments and their small joys. He said that running in the cold Himalayan region is Kali and Kanchi's choice. He said that both Kali and Kanchi get excited when they see the green hills.

Journeys are not always exciting, but also frustrating. Rajiv said that when returning from Panchpokhari, Kanchi was tired and her eyes were swollen due to the cold and her feet were sore. He said that during the trek, Kanchi and Kali climbed uphill easily but got very tired during the continuous downhill journey. They also said that they enjoy traveling in the hills more than in the heat of the Terai.