Jaw dropping scenery, majestic Everest and wonderful warm people, Manish Jung Joshi  recounts his trip to Namche

Being an engineer in a helicopter company, I get to fly to different parts of the country. On one such recent trip, I got a chance to head to Namche, a must-go destination in Nepal. Before landing at Namche, our heli stopped at Lukla for fuel and passengers. Lukla has always amazed me with its warm people and scenic beauty.

Though Lukla airport is quite a safe land for helicopters, the experience is a bit different if you are travelling by plane. My first trip to Lukla was in 2011 and I still remember the moment when I was constantly waiting to see — the world's most dangerous airport. It comes only when you least expect it, between two cliffs and when the aircraft lands, you feel it's going neck to neck with the cliff wall ahead, but a smart move by the pilot makes it just a mere sight.

Lukla this time, seemed more cosy than my earlier visits. Because, people here were like old friends; local airport staff, the hotel crew and the same didi from the tea shop who makes the best tea in Lukla and the best rosti ( Lukla pizza).

There are many things to do in Lukla: wandering the narrow alleys of Lukla Bazaar, enjoying a drink or two at one of the many pubs, visiting museums or a short hike to Chaurikharka, Surke and many more.

Soon after we were done with the heli check, we flew off to Namche. As we neared Namche, the beauty became more mesmerising. The majestic Himalayas, the villages, and the resorts on top of the hills, make you wonder how a village accessible only by flight and yaks, make for such a beautiful creation. It took us just five to seven minutes to reach Namche helipad.

From above, Namche looks like a bowl, a bowl of colourful houses aligned beautifully by the landscape. Walking through the narrow alleys, we reached Namche Bazaar. It looked a bit like Thamel amidst the Himalayas. Yak bells, tourist shops, lodges, the people, all look so vibrantly beautiful. After a short walk in the bazaar, I could feel the altitude getting to me which thankfully went off after a cup of garlic water at Herman Bakery. After our lunch, we walked uphill to Hotel Everest View from where the view of Mount Everest was just breathtaking.

On our way back, we went to the Tenzing Norgay Museum where a life size statue of Tenzing Norgay with his axe touching Mount Everest in the background has been placed. We even managed to visit the Mountain Museum which has beautifully captured the history of mountaineering in Nepal.

At Namche an evening is incomplete without a visit to one of the many fabulous pubs. A friend in Danphe bar showed me all the signed shirts and caps left by visitors in the pub which tell of how people felt during their trip to this place. After a good night's sleep, next morning we started our hike back to Lukla on foot. It took us eight beautiful hours.

It was amazing to see the natural beauty, the forests, the water, the hotels and lodges on the way and the warmth of local people which just adds to the beauty. Being a resident of Kathmandu, I had never imagined to find such lodges all the way up in the highest point on earth. The closer we moved to Lukla, the more we missed the trails and beauty of the place. After a good night's sleep in Lukla, we flew back to Kathmandu next morning with all the memories and yes, a promise to be back.

The author is a Quality Officer at Fishtail Air