Sizing up the trunk last year

It has been more than a year – on May 15, 2007 to be precise – that we first went to the dense forest in Jamacho hill (or Raniban or Nagarjun) on the northwestern rim of Kathmandu valley to sur the wood required for renovation of Janabahaa Dyo temple. We first went to the Narayanhivey the trees which we could cut forti palace, picked up a couple of officials from the gate, and went straight to Jamacho. Our task was to measure out the fallen Gwey Chha Sin (or Chilaune) that were pointed out to us by the officials so that we would have a rough estimate for the number of trees that needed to be cut in order to meet the requirement of the renovations.

I personally went down a 50-meter ravine and measured this fallen tree to the right, which was much more difficult than it looks. I had a hard time balancing myself on the slippery moss-covered tree trunk, and when I finally got to the far end of the tree, I was barely able to get the measuring tape all around it. Hey, how come no one took a picture of me struggling with the task I had taken on myself?

Tirtha Dhar Tuladhar (far right), Padma Dhar Tuladhar (far left) and the two officials with the reliable Pajero that took us up winding road on the hill.

Looking north (or is it west? east?) from Jamacho on the way up to the top.

Can anyone spot Janabahaa in this bird’s eye view of Kathmandu as seen from the top of Jamacho hill?

I have only myself to blame for not posting these pictures earlier. Better late than never! Coming up next: action packed pictures of the gang from Janabahaa felling the trees and hauling them up a truck… manually. Photos by Alok Tuladhar.