Professional rafting begins in Mahakali River

BY PUSHKAR BHANDARI,Dadeldhura, Jan.1: The first-ever professional rafting has been launched on the Mahakali River along the Nepal-India border. This was initiated during the Sudurpashchim Mayor Forum 2024, organised by Parshuram Municipality at Parshuramdham in coordination between Bheemdatt Municipality in Kanchanpur, Parshuram Municipality in Dadeldhura, Dashrathchand Municipality in Baitadi and Mahakali Municipality in Darchula.  

The Nepal government has granted permission for rafting on 16 rivers. Of these, rafting has been carried out on 15, but the Mahakali River was not included until now. 

Parshuram Municipality Mayor Bharat Badayar Joshi said that rafting was introduced professionally to ensure that the Mahakali River not only poses risks but also creates opportunities. 

With the support of the Rural Women's Development and Unity Centre (RUWDUC), Parshuram Municipality now owns two rafts. Mayor Joshi informed that rafting was initially tested in 2015, and since then, it has been conducted twice on World Water Day from Parshuramdham in Parshuram Municipality to Khallamsetti in Bheemdatt Municipality of Kanchanpur. 

Mayor Joshi informed that two skilled raft guides with rafting permits from Dhading district have been brought in to train local people for four months. Recently, the municipality called for applications for rafting training as part of efforts to reduce growing unemployment by grabbing opportunities from the river. 

Although there is a rule that requires two years of rafting experience to obtain a permit, the mayor has worked to change this rule, allowing the issuance of rafting licenses in this case.

During the forum, speakers emphasised the significant potential of rafting and how the Parshuramdham area could be developed as a tourist destination by maximising the use of local resources to attract visitors.