Namrata Bogati and her husband Milan Khadka, from Bhairahawa, who have been living in Papua New Guinea for work, reached Khaptad in the last week of Asoj. Namrata, who was visiting Khaptad for the first time, thought it would be difficult to walk along the lake. “But it was a peaceful place, listening to the songs of birds on the forest path, and watching the waves of the mountains, and I didn’t realize that I had reached Khaptad,” she said.

Namrata describes the moment when she felt the vastness of the green Patan, the touch of cool air on her body, and the fragrance of flowers all at once, which cannot be expressed in words. ‘When I reached Patan after walking uphill for a few hours, my body and mind felt refreshed at once. How can I describe the experience of sweet peace, as if I had lost myself in the atmosphere there?’ She said, ‘Khaptad is a place that one must visit once a year to refresh the stress of work, crowding, and rushing life.’

Like the Namrata couple who came to visit during the Dashain-Tihar festival, many hikers, tourists, and pilgrims come to Khaptad throughout the year in search of peace, meditation, joy, and silence. Some come to share their excitement with the beauty of the Patan, Jhoti, grasslands, and plants of Khaptad, which is known as the paradise on earth. Some are excited to see the birds and wild animals like deer, kangaroos, and wild boars playing freely. Some come to study the colorful flowers, herbs, and biodiversity here, while others come in search of religious faith and spiritual joy. They do not return without bowing down before the divinity of Khaptad.

From Falgun to Asoj, one can sit on the wide, flower-covered lawns (grasslands) of Khaptad and enjoy the view of the white snow ranges shining before their eyes. When the weather is clear, the mountain ranges of Api, Saipal, and Rakse are visible from here. One can also visit the Badimalika region from Khaptad.

During the rainy season, the unstable weather here, the interplay of sun and fog, and the galloping of hundreds of horses grazing throughout the lawns are worth seeing. A variety of wild animals can be seen from here. According to the National Park, 382 species of plants, 287 species of birds, 23 species of mammals, 17 reptiles and 6 species of amphibians are found here. Animals like musk deer, bears, wild boars, leopards, wolves, and black bears are protected here.

The trek to Khaptad, which is the confluence of Bajhang, Bajura, Doti and Achham, is exciting. The pleasure of climbing Khaptad while being one with the lush green environment is unique. During the flowering season, colorful scenes are seen all along the way. Before entering Khaptad, the village you will encounter has a combination of original architecture, stone-roofed houses, and the sight of farmers and shepherds busy in the fields gives you a feel of rural life.

Khaptad, the main tourist destination of the Far West, is as rich in nature as it is, the myths about it are equally interesting and entertaining. Countless folk tales and myths associated with Khaptad have made this place a center of faith. In the Skanda Purana, Khaptad is called the ‘Khecharadri’ mountain. Various mythological and Vedic texts mention that gods and goddesses used to enjoy themselves in this area in the guise of sky birds. In ancient times, there are many myths and legends associated with Khaptad, including the rescue of shepherds who had lost their way in the forest by goddesses who came in human form, and the sight of a group of nymphs enjoying themselves in the forest.

According to popular legend, after the war in the Kuru region, the Pandavas had reached Khaptad to visit Lord Shiva to atone for the sin of killing the dynasty. They found it difficult to recognize who Shiva was, who was taking refuge in the forest in Khaptad in the guise of a cow and hundreds of buffaloes and a herd of cows. As per the advice of Naradamuni, Bhima stands near the Kedar Dhunga in Khaptad, crossing a path like a ravine where cattle and buffaloes walk under his feet. Even though many cattle and buffaloes from the herd pass under his feet, Shiva, disguised as a cow, turns around and tries to escape, but Bhima grabs his horns. There is a legend that Shiva, realizing that he is recognized, disappears from there and reaches Kedarnath in India, leaving only the horn in Bhima's hand. Based on the popular belief that that horn is the Kedar Dhunga, there is a custom of worshipping a strangely shaped stone located in the middle of a large hill.

Another legend is also unique, according to which in ancient times, shepherds from Gujarat, India, used to bring buffaloes to graze in Khaptad. The shepherds who come from Gujarat every rainy season were called Gujar. Their buffaloes were called Gujar. According to legend, after the locals stole and hid a buffalo from Gujar during one rainy season, the shepherds of Gujarat stopped bringing buffaloes. It is also believed that the large-bodied, milky Gujari buffaloes found in the hilly districts of the far west, including Bajhang, originated from the buffalo hidden there.

Khaptad is revered by the locals as the land of Gods. This area is a sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus. The Triveni Dham here is the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. Every year, a big fair is held here during Ganga Dussehra. Thousands of pilgrims visit Khaptad to bathe, worship, and pray for salvation.

Khaptad Sahasralinga, located at an altitude of about 12,000 feet above sea level, is another center for religious believers. A giant stone with three peaks, which is worshiped as a symbol of Lord Shiva, Parvati, and Ganesh. This place is named Sahasralinga because there are hundreds of stones in the shape of Shivalinga around it. In various religious texts, its importance is mentioned as much as Kashi Vishwanath.

The works of Khaptad Baba, a natural medicine and spiritual seeker who made Khaptad a place of penance for five decades, the activities he did in this area and the secret of his long life have taken the glory of Khaptad to another height. Khaptad Baba, who was an allopathic doctor for a long time, made this place a place of Ayurveda, yoga and meditation. He spent five decades of his life in this process. He passed away at the age of 116 in this supernatural place. Due to Khaptad Baba's longer than average life span, locals even believe in Khaptad as a natural hospital. Bal Rawal of Bajhang Khaptad Channa, who spent a long time in the service of Khaptad Baba, says, 'Khaptad Baba used to say that the human body can be treated not only with herbs, but also with love of nature. Perhaps the secret of Khaptad Baba's long life is his love for nature and the clean environment here?'

Khaptad Baba wrote philosophical books like Thought Science, Health Science, Religious Science, Me and My Duty, Women's Religion and Men's Religion while living here. Locals believe that Baba discovered 'Sanjeevani Buti'. There are many myths and stories about him performing miracles in this area. The locals say that a tiger, who was injured by a reed stalk falling on his leg, came to the place where Baba was doing penance, Baba pulled it out and applied medicine to the tiger's leg, and a few months later, the tiger came and licked Baba's leg while Baba was sleeping in the sun.

Khaptad is also a cultural place with unique landscape and rare environment. Here are Khaptad Baba's hut, Kedar Dhunga, Maikathan, Nagdhunga and Khapar Daha. All these are tourist and cultural heritages here. Religion, culture, myths and popular beliefs are mixed in this place.

Another attraction of Khaptad is the Khaptad Daha, whose origin and outlet have not been discovered till date. The water here, which changes color in every season, is also mysterious. Half of the Daha is white and transparent, while the other half is cloudy and gray. On the north side of this Daha is the Jagannath Temple built in the thirteenth century. The priests of this temple are from the Sarki caste. Even today, there is a practice of touching based on caste, but the presence of priests from the Sarki caste in this temple shows that Khaptad has become a place of religious tolerance.

In the valleys of Khaptad, which have now become a center of tourism, only shepherds and cattle used to live in the rainy season until four decades ago, while hunters were found scattered at other times. Now the situation has changed. People from all over the country and abroad come here to visit Khaptad during the monsoon season. 82-year-old Jai Rawal, who lives in Lokhad, at the foot of Khaptad, says, "Earlier, it was our buffalo pasture. Now, people from all over the world come here. They take photos." Khaptad has introduced us too.'

Rawal said that Khaptad Swami had a great contribution in introducing Khaptad to the world. Khaptad National Park was established in 2042 BS on the initiative of Khaptad Swami. He said that people who come to Khaptad from different parts of the country to meet the Swami have brought publicity to this area.

Now, Khaptad is not only a must-visit destination for those who believe in the religious and spiritual fields, but also for students, writers, artists, journalists, and those involved in various professions from home and abroad. Locals say that children from four to five years old to 95 years old also come to visit Khaptad.

The influx of tourists to Khaptad has helped to boost the local economy. The products here have also found a market. Homestays in the villages around Khaptad welcome tourists with a taste of local dishes. Some have become self-employed to some extent by becoming guides and providing horse riding.

According to Khaptad National Park, tourists come to visit Khaptad from Falgun to Kartik. Most of those who come are domestic tourists. The park's statistics show that 2,810 tourists visited Khaptad in the fiscal year 2081/082. Of these, 40 are from countries including India, Japan, Europe and America. Hundreds of tourists visit on the occasion of festivals like Ganga Dussehra and Janai Purnima. The park does not have a record of this.

Tourism experts say that the number of people visiting Khaptad is low compared to the nature, culture, beauty of the landscape and the original life of the people here. Amrit Bhadgaun, a journalist active in promoting Nepal's tourist destinations, says that few tourists visit Khaptad due to lack of adequate infrastructure and lack of publicity. 'The main challenge at present in Khaptad is the lack of infrastructure and publicity. But it is so attractive in terms of nature, culture and religion that anyone who has come to Khaptad for the first time prefers to come here again,' he says.

How to reach Khaptad?

Khaptad trekking is exciting in itself. Every traveler who reaches Khaptad understands that the journey is not just about walking, but also an opportunity to feel. Travelers have the experience that every breath of air, smell and every scene there gives a different experience.

Khaptad can be reached by bus, air and foot. It takes about 20 hours to cover the 680 km distance from Kathmandu to Dhangadhi by bus. After reaching Dhangadhi in an hour's air journey, you can travel by car for a few hours and reach Khaptad via Bajhang, Bajura, Doti or Achham. Air service is also available from Dhangadhi to Bajhang, Achham and Bajura. Since it is not regular, the only reliable way to travel by car from Dhangadhi.

The route via Bajhang is the shortest. It is a one-hour road journey from Chainpur to Meltadi (Khaptadchanna Rural Municipality), followed by a four-hour walk. Khaptad can also be entered via Thalara Rural Municipality in Bajhang. Those going from Doti have to take a one and a half hour jeep journey via Siliguri-Jhigrana and then walk for about eight hours. There are two routes to Khaptad, via Laske (7 hours) and Kanda (5 hours) in Khaptad Chhededaha Rural Municipality in Bajura. There is also a convenient road to Khaptad from Naini in Achham. From there, Khaptad can be reached in about eight hours on foot.

Where to stay and when to visit?

Guest houses have been built near the Nepali Army barracks in Khaptad. For those coming from Doti, a guest house is also in operation in Bichpani, a place between Jhigrana and Khaptad barracks. There are comfortable homestays in Meltadi and Lokhada in Khaptadchanna in Bajhang, Jhigrana in Doti, Naini in Achham, and Laske and Kanda in Bajura, which are the entry points to Khaptad, where you can experience local delicacies and original life.

The best season to visit Khaptad is from Falgun to Kartik. In spring, the fields are colored by flowers blooming on trees and bushes, including Gurans. In Asar-Shawan, the fields here are like a bed of flowers. In winter, the appearance of Khaptad covered with snow-white blanket looks dreamy. Those who reach here in winter should be able to bear the cold.

How much does it cost?