Originating from snowy peaks, cutting the gorge of higher
mountains, rivers of Nepal to the plain land of Tarai forming the fascinating
views in the Himalayan country of Nepal, River rafting in Nepal is a venture
but interesting. Tourists, expediters along with local people take a great
enjoy in River rafting in Nepal sitting on the rubber boats on the perennial
running water. A river
trip is often an adventure but not always. In a country like
Nepal, a river trip also provides opportunity for geological surveys, swimming,
fishing and exploring new species of living and non-living things. Of course,
without the guidance of local boaters or the representatives from the river
rafting agencies is supposed to be dangerous.
The
following three-river system for commercial rafting, are often used in Nepal.
- Saptakoshi River System (East
Nepal)
- Narayani or Saptagandaki River
System (Central Nepal)
- Karnali River System (West
Nepal)
Eight rivers in the three river systems are open for
tourists for
river rafting. These are:
-Arun
-Bheri
-Kaligandaki
-Karnali
-Seti
-Sunkoshi
-Tamakoshi
-Trisuli
Rafting in any other than these requires a special permit.
Arun
Starting from Kartikegath, six days’ river trip ends at
Chatara. Arun is one of the biggest rivers in Nepal. Kartikegath is reached
from Tumlingtar after taking a mini trek. To reach Tumglingtar, it requires
either one hour’s flight from Kathmandu or a day long bus drive. The trip then
starts at Kartikegath and goes on rafting along different places hitting many
big and small exiting rapids. On the sixth day, the trip ends at Chatara. The
crew members then can return Kathmandu by a day long drive from Chatara via
Biratnagar or fly out from Biratnagar to Kathmandu.
Bheri
Starting from Samjahighat to Chisapani, rafting on Bheri
takes four days long trip. To reach Samjahighat, one should either take a
flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and then four hour drive from Nepalgunj to
Samjahighat or should travel a distance of 627 km. long journey by bus. Next
day morning, the trip starts from Samjahighat through many villages, big
vertical cliffs, big rapids via Kamekot Kuine, etc.
On the fourth day the trip ends by mid day at Chisapani, the
confluence of the Bheri and the Karnali rivers. The trip can be continued with
jungle tour in the Bardia Wildlife Reserves.
Kaligandaki
It is a long, eight days’ trip starting at Modibeni and
ending at Narayangath. The trip requires either a 30 minute flight or
six hour drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Before trekking
towards Modibeni, a drive of approximately one and a half hour is required to
reach Naudanda from Pokhara. A one and half day long trekking from Naudanda
takes you to the Modibeni via Karkineta. The river trip then starts at
Modibein. The trip goes a long way through Ridi Bazzar, Ranigath Palace,
Ramdighat, Batulitar, Khalte, etc. with many large and small rapids and the
trip ends at Devgath near Narayangath on 8th day. The conflunce of the Trisuli
and Kaligandaki rivers, rafting continues for about half an hour till
Narayanghat, the take out point. Now one can get back to Kathmandu in six hours
by bus or go to Chitwan National Park. Kaligandaki is one of the deepest rivers
in Nepal.
Karnali
It is a six day river trip that starts at Bhankhet and ends
at Chisipani. To reach Bhankhet, it requires either a direct flight or a long
drive from Kathmandu to Birendranagar( Surketh) and two days long trek. The
river trip then starts at Bhanketh and after six days, ends at Chisapani. Then
one can return Kathmandu by a day long bus journey or the trip continues with
jungle tour in the Bardiya Wildlife Reserve.
Seti
It takes two days river trip that starts at Damauli, about
160 km. West of Kathmandu and ends at Narayanghat. In Damauli, the trip starts
in Setikhola, a tributary of Saptagandaki River. The trip goes through the
forested area and the villages inhabited by Magars. The trip is exciting with
so many encounters of the big and small rapids. On the second day afternoon,
the trip ends at Devghat where the Kaligandaki joins the Trishuli becomes
Narayani River.
Sunkoshi
It is the longest river adventure of nine days’ trip. The
most common point of this trip is Dolalghat; three hours drive east of
Kathmandu. The trip is through the rich color and varied rock formations,
different villages of different tribesmen with many exciting small and large
rapids. One can have opportunities to look various species of orchids and birds
en route. The trip goes on rafting for nine days camping on different places
and on the ninth day, the trip ends at Chartara is Dharan that takes about 45
minutes while driving. One can return Kathmandu by 45 minutes’ flight from
Biratnagar. A Sunkoshi river trip can be started at Lamosangu.
Tamakoshi
This is the longest river trip, ten days’ rivers rafting in
Nepal, starting from Basti near Jiri and ends at Chatara, the ending point of
Sunkoshi river trip. One can reach Basti by a day long bus from Kathmandu to
Jiri and a short distance trek.
The trip reaches Dolalghat after two days and after eight
days the trip reaches Cahatara same Sunkoshi river trip.
This trip is the most adventurous and dangerous river trip.
Trishuli
This is most popular river trip in Nepal, because of its
accessibility by road along its major parts. The trip goes below the Prithivi
Highway with many excited rapids via Gajuri, Charaundi and ends at Kauringhat
is a three days. Kauringhat is a small picturesque village about four-hour
drive from Kathmandu. However, the trip continues up to Chitwan National Park,
depending upon time and choice but ventures.
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