Himalayan Enigma – Trail of the Gods, an international mountain bike competition, successfully concluded in the last week of November in Dolakha district.

The practice run and seeding run of the event took place on November 27 and 28, respectively, while the main race was held on November 29. There were various categories in the event, which, according to the organisers, is the first Mass Start Enduro Race in Asia, like elite, open, junior and fun. The major highlight was the Himalayan Enigma – Trail of the Gods - covering a distance of 28 kilometres with a breathtaking vertical elevation drop of over 9,000 feet. The race began at an elevation of 12,361 feet below the sky-high Kalinchowk Bhagawati Temple and ended at 2,821 feet by the banks of the tranquil Tamakoshi River.

The bike race was a captivating event set against the majestic backdrop of the Himalayas. The event was an exciting journey, featuring challenging terrain that required participants to skillfully navigate through steep descents, rugged trails, and breathtaking vistas.

In the rugged terrain, competitors faced not only physical hurdles but also mental challenges, requiring a combination of strength, resilience, and strategic thinking to conquer the demanding course. The race, therefore, became a test of both the physical prowess of the riders and their ability to overcome the psychological obstacles presented by the difficult Himalayan landscape.

Organised by Yeti Originals Pvt Ltd, the event saw the participation of a total of 108 players and event officials from 16 different countries. Of them, 90 were athletes, and 18 were race officials. The participants came from various countries such as Australia, Bermuda Islands, Bhutan, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As many as 30 athletes took part in the Elite category, 37 in Open, 6 in Junior, and 17 in Fun categories.

Kilian Bron from France won the Elite category completing the race in 51 minutes and 6 seconds. He received a cash prize of $1,500. Similarly, Rajesh Magar from Nepal finished second with the timing of 53 minutes 41 seconds, while Chris Keeling of the United Kingdom took the third position finishing the race in 54 minutes and 21 seconds. Magar and Keeling received cash prizes of $1,000 and $800, respectively.

Arun Karki from Nepal won the Open category finishing the race in 62 minutes and 46 seconds. Nicholas Syrti from India and Dinesh Maharjan of Nepal finished the Open category in second and third position with the timing of 68 minutes and 51 seconds, and 70 minutes and 56 seconds, respectively. They pocketed cash prizes of $600 and $350, respectively. 

Under the Female Category, Laxmi Magar finished the distance in 77 minutes 35 seconds, and she was awarded a cash prize of $300.