Milarepa

Text: Just over a 2 hours hike will get you to Milarepa cave. You start off by crossing the bridge to the east of Bhraka village and walk towards the hill in the south. At the beginning of the climb, you will be walking past the sparse vegetation of pine and fir trees. As the altitude increases the vegetation decreases and you will start seeing blue sheep as well. At the end of the 2-hour mark, you will see a couple of houses and a sign board about Milarepa cave, which is more of an overhang. Here, you will also see a statue of Milarepa along with a dog and a hunter to his right and a deer to his left. But this is not your final destination. The main Milarepa cave is a bit further up. There is a bow hanging outside the cave, that's how you recognize the cave. More on the story behind the bow later. And there are blue and white markers present on the trail to Milarepa cave. So, if you are confused about the trail look for these blue and white markers. This side trip is very well one of the most exciting places , not only because of the scenery visible from the cave but also the story behind it. An eccentric Tibetan poet named Milarepa is said to have meditated in this cave somewhere during the 11th century whilst his journey in the Himalayas. Milarepa meditated and lived solely on stinging nettle that is said to have transformed his whole body green. One will be surprised to see stinging nettles still growing outside the cave. If you see Milarepa's illustration in any book or papers then that depiction most probably will be in the color green. The story goes that a hunter named Kera Gumpa Dorje was hunting deer with his dog. After seeing a deer, both the hunter and the dog started chasing the deer which after a while sought refuge behind the meditating Milarepa. The poet refused to hand over the deer and the hunter refused to leave without killing it. After a long discussion, Milarepa's magical influence caught on and the hunter gave up hunting and became Milarepa's disciple. You can still see the bow of the hunter hanging on the cliff above the cave. The locals believe that the bow still has got magical powers. One of the common reasons they give is that the bow has never fallen from the cliff above the cave even if the bow is not attached in any way. Take along some light snacks as this side trip will take around 4.5 hours for a roundtrip. Among the many sidetrips in this region, Milarepa cave is one of the most famous. Happy walking! Here is a translation of a poem by Milarepa and some food for thought as you make your way to the cave: Youth is like a summer flower- Suddenly it fades away, Old age is like a fire spreading Through the fields- suddenly 'tis at your heels. The Buddha once said, "Birth and death Are like sunrise and sunset- Now come, now go." Sickness is like a little bird Wounded by a sling, Know you not, health and strength Will in time desert you? Death is like an oil dry lamp After its last flicker. Nothing, I assure you, In this world is permanent. **Altitude:** 4200 m/ 13780 ft **Lunch pack:** light snacks