She strolls with ease, travelling to unnamed destinations, forging her own path. Discovering new locales, and encountering unfamiliar faces she goes into the wilderness. In the innocent countenance of another, she uncovers life’s essence. Enveloped in the tender embrace of affection, she surrenders. Amidst the enigmatic allure of nature, she loses herself, adrift in its beauty, bewildered yet entranced. She is curious. She is brave. She is Srijana Sizzu.
Srijana Sizzu is a solo traveller from the rural parts of Rukum West. Maybe that is why she is often seen walking around the hills and valleys of Karnali Province to promote one destination at a time.
When I met Srijana Sizzu, she was just back from her travels around Humla and Mugu where she spent around two months.
“To understand Karnali, you have to get to every nook and corner,” she says. “The place is beautiful but I go back for the people.”
A traveller’s life
Srijana Sizzu is addicted to travelling. You barely see her home. She’s travelled most of the hills around Jumla and Phoksundo and has even stood atop Mount Lobuche in the Everest region.
“I don’t like staying in the city for long. It feels suffocating,” she says.
She’s been doing this for the past five years. Wherever she goes, she goes being as curious as possible. Capturing moments through photos and videos, she shares them with her audience.
“Whenever I feel like leaving, I set off. I know where I am going but never the amount of time I plan on spending there,” she says.
Srijana Sizzu’s mother’s life was the same as her grandmother’s. Many wanted her to take the same path but Sizzu wanted something different.
She did not want to get bound by the norms of Nepal’s patriarchal society and walk on the same path as her mother and grandmother walked on. But walk she did, paving her own path as she traversed the hills and mountain with nothing but a backpack on her back and determination on her mind.
“I did not like when people told me what I could and could not do. I knew I could do whatever I wanted to do,” she says. “Yes, travelling alone is not all easy, but it is doable and that is what I am trying to show to Nepali girls.”
From a young age, Srijana Sizzu believed in the importance of understanding society by venturing beyond the confines of one’s home. Through her experiences, she has discovered that the true beauty of a place often surpasses what is depicted on social media, and she has encountered countless remarkable individuals during her travels. She encourages every girl and woman to take the time to explore the world around them.
For her, travel is where she finds her ultimate happiness. Embracing a simple lifestyle and experiencing different cultures bring her a unique sense of joy. As a solitary traveller, she fearlessly wanders through jungles, scaling muddy, dusty, and steep terrain. She conquers mountains and hills with determination, frequently immersing herself in the beauty of nature and all its wonders.
Preparation
Before embarking on a journey, Srijana Sizzu diligently researches the destination. She watches videos and reads books and blogs to gather as much information as possible. Prior to her recent visit to Manung Kot (Danda) in Tanahun, she studied everything about the place and understood what to get there, what to expect and how she could present the place differently.
“There are times when doing this is tricky as many places in Nepal don’t have information apart from how to get there. These places are mostly in the western part of Nepal where I have no choice but to spend as much time as I can,” she says.
When she travels around these unknown destinations, she seeks the help of locals who guide her on how to navigate the trails and the threats she might face along the way.
“It’s not easy when there are so many names of the same place,” she says. “We need to develop ways to identify these places and set up resources if we want to bring in more tourists to our country.”
Unforgettable Dolpo
Every day brings forth new ideas and fresh destinations waiting to be explored. Sometimes, unexpected treasures reveal themselves, beckoning to be discovered. For Srijana Sizzu, such a place is Upper Dolpa.
Her journey to Upper Dolpa unfolded amidst towering mountains and meandering rivers, traversing small wooden suspension bridges and encountering serene blue lakes nestled against snow-capped peaks. The relentless wind whispers tales of the land, while indigenous Dolpali horses and traditional attire adorn the path.
Despite the challenges of the journey—fatigue mounting with each step, small blisters forming—a profound sense of happiness fills Srijana Sizzu’s heart.
“Dolpa has my heart,” says Sizzu.
She says it is raw and rugged as many people from the region have never left it.
“There are places where they don’t even have radios. Life is so different and simple there,” she says.
Travelling to understand herself
Srijana Sizzu has travelled to over a dozen destinations within Karnali Province alone. Had she merely been a tourist, her adventures might have gone unnoticed by many. However, her fondness for capturing moments through photography and videography, coupled with her interactions with locals along the way, has garnered widespread attention to her travels. Through her documentation, she highlights the lifestyle and rich art culture of the places she visits, captivating the interest of many.
One notable discovery from her journeys occurred a year ago in Jumla, where she stumbled upon a new lake. She recounts encountering the lake while en route to Dudhkunda darshan from Guthichour Rural Municipality in Jumla. This discovery showed how committed she was to exploring hidden gems.
“An old man told me there was a big lake nearby. That’s all the push I needed as I set off looking for it,” she says. “It was a lake that did not have a Nepali name and I along with a team from the rural municipality went there and even named it Sky Lake based on its Tibetan name Mahong Namcho.”
So far, Srijana Sizzu, through her YouTube channel, has showcased the mesmerising beauty of Dolpa, capturing its essence in numerous videos. Her dedication to exploration has led her to discover more than a dozen new destinations and routes, enriching the collective knowledge of the region’s hidden treasures.
“I feel at 26-year-old, I am only getting started. There is a lot I still want to do and hopefully leave a mark on Karnali and Nepal’s tourism,” she says.
