Dal Bhat Power, 24 Hour!

On our third day, we learned the most important lesson of Himalayan trekking: “Dal bhat power, 24 hour!”

Our guide kept saying this phrase every time we sat down for a meal. We’d laugh, not really understanding. But then it clicked.

Dal bhat - lentils and rice - is the staple food in Nepal. Every lodge serves it. Every porter eats it. And they’re not wrong about the power part. After a morning of uphill climbing, a plate (okay, three refills) of dal bhat, and suddenly you’re ready to tackle the afternoon trail.

The porters, carrying loads twice their body weight, eat dal bhat twice a day. That’s it. And they practically run up mountains.

By day three, we’d become believers. Someone would start feeling tired on the trail, and the group would chant: “Dal bhat power, 24 hour!” It became our unofficial trek mantra.

The best part? When we tried to compliment the lodge owner on her particularly delicious dal bhat, she simply smiled and said, “Dal bhat power!” We laughed so hard we nearly fell off our benches.

We returned home with stronger legs, amazing memories, and an undying appreciation for lentils and rice. Dal bhat power, indeed.