By Modnath Dhakal
Kathmandu, Nov. 18: It seems the Trishuli River offers rafting opportunity throughout the year.
While many people in the hills have begun to feel the chill in the morning and evening as the mercury is going down, a group of enthusiasts spent a day in the Trishuli River rafting down the whiter water. The blue water splashed on their faces and bodies. Some fell in the water and many splashed waters each other. And, it all happened as if it was a summer season.
In the morning, Pawan Bayalkoti, Executive Member of Gandaki Rural Municipality, was complaining to Ram Prasad Regmi, Ward chair of Gandaki-8 that the time was not suitable, instead the programme should have been organised around the Dashain.
However, after flowing down a couple of kilometres and having a couple of splashes of Trishuli water on his face, he said, "Wow, it is wonderful. The water is not that much cold."
A girl jumped in the water and enjoyed swimming for a couple of minutes. Rafter Nakkale said that it was not very cold in the river and the people come for rafting even during the winter, occasionally. The 14-km long rafting from Benighat to Jawang Khola enthralled all. Dil Bahadur Gurung, Proprietor of River Life Camp in Wheeling – the ending point of the trip, welcomed them with fresh launch prepared from locally available products.
While people were savouring the food, Gurung said that he created the entire camp on his own and it had long been benefitting the villagers as well. The Big-Fig Resort at Benighat had served the breakfast. Rajan Shrestha, Manager of the resort, said that while the Trishuli River was an option for adventure and entertainment for tourists, it had been a lifeline for many locals. Chairmen of Gandaki Rural Municipality Ward Nos. 6, 7 and 8 - the organisers of the event - Tulasi Regmi, Jeevan Gurung and
Ram Prasad Regmi said that the programme was organised on the
eve of the Visit Nepal Year 2020 to promote tourism in the village.
Ward chair Regmi said that the local people and government should be benefitted by the Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign. "Our aim is to promote historic Mallapuri at the confluence of the Trishuli and the Budhigandaki, Chitradevi and Munthala Mai temples, Bhairabhi Hill and local homestays in the village," he said.
Mallapuri is a palace built by the Malla kings about 250 years ago. The area has both historic and religious importance. Dhading district was known as the Salyankot kingdom which was ruled by Malla king and later was annexed to Gorkha empire by king Prithvi Narayan Shah, before he conquered the Kathmandu Valley. Minister for Land Management and Cooperatives of Gandaki State Lekha Bahadur Thapa Magar, Member of the House of Representatives Hari Raj Adhikari, District Police Chief Om Adhikari and Chief of Budhigandaki Hydroelectricity Project Krishna Bahadur Karki also couldn't hide their excitement as they continued their journey down the river with the local people, government officials and businesspersons.
Excited Minister Thapa Magar said that the Trishuli was just the face of the tourism promotion, there were many attractions in the district. "Manaslu peak, Rubi Nala Valley, tourism track, Manakamana Temple, Gorkha Durbar and surroundings, Siranchok and Ligligkot are just a few of them, the0re are many natural, historical and religious attractions," he said. He said that the state government would support the local bodies in creating tourism infrastructure, including view towers in Bhairavi Hill in Bhumlichowk, Firfire and Upallokot. He suggested all the local bodies to identify locations that have high tourism potential.
Devendra Lamichhane, Chief District Officer of Gorkha, said that it was necessary to promote domestic tourism to mobilise local economy and create employment. He suggested that the local bodies should organise such programmes to attract more people to the new locations so that both the hosts and visitors could benefit.
"Most of the tourist activities are city-centric so we have to invite domestic and foreign tourists to new locations. There are many things to display such as demographic and natural diversity, historical and religious heritages and unique cultures," he said.
Lawmaker from Gorkha Hari Raj Adhikari urged the concerned government and private sector institutions to prepare tourism development plan.