Wanderlust; a strong impulse or longing to travel, however when strikes to my ears, I automatically happen to think myself of wondering in nature and getting lost amidst the forest wilderness. For my thought on the important part of ones? hobbies, there foremost lies the travel, trek and hike. That is why people utter, ?And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul? because we aren?t born to just pay bills and die. At the end of the day it?s not only money that what matters and accounts into your happiness. The ultimate happiness in life is creating moments like memories that you would ever cherish and love go back to.

It was already 6:30 am after a minute of buzz on my cell; I tried ignoring during asleep and longing for same sound sleep. Next a minute later I picked up my cell, ?How long are we waiting for?? yelling at me, Priya questioned. I was in such a rush for 6:31 in the morning, finally met the hikers at Chabahill waiting me desperetaely. The hike finally began at 7:00 am from the base of the Chisapani after some instructions and accommodations made to reach the final destination, Dhaap- a wetland in Chisapani, Shivapuri Nagarjung National Park.

It was indeed a green hike to mark the 3rd Day of the Tenth Nepal National Water and Weather Week 2018 (17-23 March) dated March 19. A group of enthusiastic people attended a one day hike to Dhaap. The group comprised of staff members, interns, volunteers and the environmental enthusiast who believe on raising awareness on water conservation and sustainable life. In the modern world of many scientists, propagating the doctrine of the origin of life, the Environmentalist often given prior to environmental concerns, we formulate theories and principles from the base to assist people cope with problems. This is just with regards to the concern of first World Water DAY commemorated in 1993 by United Nations.

Walk for a change-walk for water, was highlighting theme of the green hike. Walking along the magical whispers of cold trees and observing the sources of water at Chisapani, we were sidewise making the best of best awareness to the local people and hikers about the sanitation and cleanliness, waste management during a hike. This can pretty be correlated with a day carbon footprint during hike, collecting of all the personal waste on your own and making an analysis once back from hike. With such thrilling sorts of analysis and individual kind of research at ease, everyone was overwhelmed to somehow go eco-friendly with nature. We had great stories about the landscapes; serene beauty amidst the forest wilderness, rich floral diversity and bird species, the fresh and pure meanderings of streams and rich bio-diversity in the region. With many flux of confusion on way findings, up and down the wrong turns and slides over grass and dry leaves to the ecstasy in finding good way with quench of thirst from the cold fresh water sources, finally we conquered our destination to Dhaap at around 2:00 pm after series of long adventurous walk. No matter, how significantly, the wetland had been degraded to the past upon the demolition of landscape and vegetation for dam construction, with the memories encrypted in the serene beauty and rich bio-diversity, we already thrived on the adventurous way making. Upon arrival at destination, a brief discussion was carried out in relevance to the theme ?Nature for Water? facilitated by Mr. Kabiraj Khatiwada and Mr.Nammy Hang Kirat.                                                                                                                                     

Opposed to J.R.R Tolkien, ?Not all those who wander are lost?, we were so enigmatically lost in the forest wilderness. This simultaneously turns out to be the most adventurous part of entire hike, despite fact of pitty situation of wetland; one could easily notice in contrast to the past scenario. Located in the headwater of Nagmati River near Chisapani at an altitude of 2,089 m above main sea level, Dhaap once used to be a fascination sight with huge water volume and various floral and bird species. But then, the wetland now is all left with shallow level of muddy water and less floral species with rarely some bird chirming to the distant. A grand project of dam construction in the area is letting this all happening with the clearance of large mass of trees and rapid constructions of dam with excesive minerals and soil extractions. The image possibly to the best of serene beauty now, most probably would have been faded away in comparison to one few years back. We could do nothing in the alarming symphony of destruction, besides hoping for the best once the project is done. We hope very optimistically that the wetland would be restored back with intense volume of water and aquatic species within along the various floral species in the area after the construction is accomplished. May the large bird species find their way back to the place, which with green vegetation, large water volume and floral bloom obviously attracts many people in making their way to this wetland once again? Hereby, we would like to drag everyone?s attention over with regards to the water conservation and sustainability.

One planet,

Hundreds of nations,

And billions of people within.

Together let?s make a change.

Stand for sustainability.

Stand for the best use of resources.

Explore nature-based solutions to water.

Nature for Water.

World Water Day- 018.

-              Kshitiz Kandel (kexploreland)