Nepal Diaries #2 - Paragliding Over Phewa Lake

As I mentioned in the previous post which you can read here, I was really looking forward to the second day of my visit to Pokhara as I was about to be paragliding over the Phewa Lake, which has been something I have wanted to do for a long time.

After having some light breakfast (because I didn't want to throw up), I quickly made my way to the hotel where the paragliding crew were waiting for us. After discussing some matters with them, me along with my family, quickly got in their car which took us to the top of the Sarangkot hill.

For people who have lived their entire lives in plains, the climb would have been scary or even could have upset their stomachs, but since we have been habituated with the twisty roads in Nepal, it was actually quite fun!

I clicked a few photos as the car was making its way towards the top of the hill. The views of the city are always so amazing from any elevations.

This one gives you a little peak at the Pokhara city which is almost indistinguishable from the surrounding vegetation.

Here is one with the lake in the distance over which I was going to be paragliding. My excitement grew stronger, the higher the car made its way towards the top of the hill. Adventure sports really get me going!

Once we reached the top, we had to walk a little ways on foot as the car couldn't go any further. This was clicked by @aishwarya as I was making my way to the take off point.

As you can see in this one, I have the full gear on for the flight with my pilot in the background waiting for the wind conditions to be favorable enough for the flight. Meanwhile I was busy taking photos of my sister while she was busy taking photos of me! lol

So, finally we take off and as always it was an amazing feeling. This was the third time I was paragliding and so it didn't feel too overwhelming like it did the first time but the feeling of being airborne is always so ecstatic.

Bright red under the blue sky.

After about 10 minutes into the flight, we were finally making our way over the lake where it got really windy. The view was absolutely breathtaking which sent me to my 'philosophical mode' where I forget everything around me and go into deep thinking.

Isn't it so wonderful that we can do this? To fly above the ground like this from where people can't even be seen and even the houses look so tiny. For a few moments, all your troubles are left down on Earth while you glide happily with the wind.

Look at that body of water. So still. So calm. So peaceful. You really have to be there to appreciate the immensity of all that you feel. The fear of falling down is quickly overshadowed by feeling of liberation, which is one of the strongest ones a person can feel!

I needed something to post as an Instagram story, so I quickly clicked this! haha.

As I witnessed this view, these were the thoughts that were going around in my head: "This is it. This is what it means to be alive. Free of all worries. Free of expectations. Absolute joy and thrill. In the arms of mother nature. This is it."

Now comes the fun part, where the pilot suddenly decides to scare me with random (and quick) twists and turns in the air. Joke's on him. I actually enjoyed it!

At this point we were literally parallel to the lake and I felt like I was falling towards it. Oh what a great feeling it was. The wind was strong and the G forces were strong too!

This is another one where we were horizontal with the lake below. As you can tell from the expression on my face, I was having the time of my life.

After about 30 minutes of flight, it was finally time for us to land. All of it only felt like 5 minutes to me. Why do good times have to pass so fast!

A mandatory selfie with one of the most popular lakes in whole of Nepal!

I leave you with this panoramic shot of the Phewa lake. Ain't that beautiful? :)