The Journey vs. The Destination: My Objection to the Mukkumlung Cable Car

Reaching the summit of Mount Everest by helicopter; Skimming through pages without reading the words just to finish a book; Injecting steroids for bodybuilding instead of going to the gym; Undergoing plastic surgery to attain beauty; And taking a cable car to reach Pathibhara—they are all the same.

The significance of a destination lies in the journey and the experiences gained along the way, not in the time saved. The true essence of a pilgrimage is found in the struggle and the exhaustion, not in luxury.

Pathibhara (Mukkumlung) is regarded as the most sacred site in Eastern Nepal—a place of immense historical, cultural, mythical, spiritual, religious, biological, and touristic importance. I strongly object to the attempts by the Nepal government and national or international corporate middlemen to turn this sacred site into a mere 'begging bowl' by installing a cable car.

From afar, I voice my absolute solidarity with those rising up to protect the sanctity of Mukkumlung.

13/5/2025, Hong Kong.