Living in a city can be tiring, frustrating, monotonous, and fast-paced. And every now and then, you wish the routine would slow down a bit. Why does everything have to be choreographed within a cubicle when we can explore the world we live in and discover ourselves and the purpose of our existence? Ever so often, I used to question myself with such thoughts. One day, I gave myself a choice—continue on my quest for surviving or start living. And so it began—a journey of finding myself in a crowd of anonymity.

A Promising Start

Starting off with somewhere not so far away, I found a perfect location for my peaceful escape. Amidst the crowd and chaotic rush of the capital city lies a hideout in the outskirts of Kathmandu, Taudaha Lake. Located south of the valley about 12.2 km from Kathmandu in Kirtipur, Taudaha Lake turned out to be not just a perfect getaway but something that holds a greater cultural significance to the local people.

Myth behind Taudaha Lake

It is believed that Kathmandu valley was once covered in water, forming a huge lake. Manjushree, a Buddhist mythical character, cut the valley’s south part, which drained the water and cleared the land that currently is a residence of hundreds of thousands of people. Taudaha Lake is believed to be the remnant pool of that huge lake. As the myth suggests, it is filled with snakes and embodies a huge palace underwater of the serpent king; you are not allowed to swim or fish in the lake as it might disrupt its tranquility. 

First Tryst with Taudaha

The lake lies just besides the main roadway, making it easily accessible to travellers. As you park your vehicle and move towards the entrance, you have to pay an entry fee, which varies according to your nationality or purpose of your entry, ie, you will be charged an extra amount if you intend to shoot a video or do a commercial photo shoot. The moment you enter the gate, you’ll see a well-bordered lake with lots of fish and people feeding them. According to the locals, this lake has five corners, but you won’t be able to see all of them at once no matter which direction you view it from due to its size. I walked by the sidewalk of the lake absorbing all I could of the refreshing beauty of nature. A small island with a single tree situated in the northern part of the lake caught my attention. People feeding fishes, ducks moving around in groups, and birds trolling with the aquatic life looked surreal.

Surrounding Beauty

It’s not just the place itself but what’s around it that adds up to the beauty and importance of it, and Taudaha Lake is no exception. It has a beautiful range of hills and mountains surrounding the lake that enhances its glory. Towards the north, when the weather is clear, you can see a part of the Himalayan ranges—Ganesh Himal being the most easily noticeable one. The western side gives a view of the Champadevi Hill, which is a great trekking route for trek enthusiasts. Similarly, to the south is a road that leads to the famous Dakshinkali Temple, which translates literally to “Kali Goddess of the South,” and furthermore, the road leads to Hetauda, the business city of Nepal. The east holds beautiful mountain ranges as well.

Food and Lodging

The place not only welcomes you with its warm environmental beauty but gets to your heart with some tasty and mouthwatering local cuisines. Since the area is predominantly Newar culture, you get to taste some of the famous dishes such as chhoila, bara, kachila, the local ale, and momos, a popular food that is considered the national food of Nepal by its people. Just the thought of these delicacies stimulate my salivary glands. The local restaurants and hotels nearby offer lodging facilities as well with some of the friendliest and cheerful people running them.