By Murari Adhikari
Dhading, Oct. 13: Rafting in Trishuli, which had been closed after the lockdown was imposed on March 24, has resumed. The resorts that had shut their doors because of COVID-19 have started opening again. Companies and resorts are unveiling various packages to promote rafting in the river.
The rapids of Trishuli are renowned all over the world and attract many domestic and foreign rafters, contributing immensely to the overall tourism of the country. Close to the capital Kathmandu and easily accessible from Prithvi Highway, Trishuli River is an ideal destination for white water adventure and is easily reachable and safe.
According to ward chairman Suresh Malla, who also runs a rafting business in Majhimtar, 100,000 people come every year to experience the thrill of rafting in Trishuli and 85 per cent of them are Nepalis.
Bhisma Raj Thapaliya, manager of the Charaundi branch of Core Adventure Nepal, said that rafting in Trishuli was resuming after six months by adopting all the health protocol set by the government. “We brought some domestic tourists and started rafting from last week,” he said.
Thapaliya further informed that a fee of Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 4,000 per person had been fixed which would include transportation from Kathmandu, rafting, rock climbing and barbeque. There are a dozen rafting companies on the banks of Trishuli in the area around Prithvi Highway alone, namely, Royal Beach Camp, River Fun Beach Camp, Gorkha Beach Camp, Trishuli Riverside Beach Camp, Trishuli Beach Camp, Himalayan Encounter and White Water Nepal, among others. There are many other companies too which directly bring tourists from Kathmandu.
Rafting in Trishuli River began from 1985. “The government of Nepal approved rafting in the river only after the US Army conducted a feasibility study in 1971,” said Bishnu Silwal of the Royal Beach Camp. Silwal was one of the pioneers of the business and played a leading role in the early years of rafting in the river.
There are 53 companies authorised to provide rafting services in Nepal but more than 50 unregistered companies are also active in this sector. All the entrepreneurs feel that it will take quite some time for business to pick up again after the upheaval caused by the pandemic.