Himalayan Whitewater pushes adventure

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 12: The 24th Himalayan Whitewater Challenge 2026, and the 50th International Himalayan Rafting and Kayaking Festival kicked off on the Trishuli River on Tuesday.

The international festivals of rafting and kayaking are expected to promote Nepal’s rivers as a major destination for adventure tourism.

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA) are orgnising the three-day festival to further promote adventure tourism based on Nepal’s Himalayan rivers in the global market. 

Rafters and kayakers from Nepal and several other countries are demonstrating their skills and courage while navigating the fast currents and lively rapids of the Trishuli River, informed NARA in a statement. 

On the first day of this year’s festival, a total of 51 paddlers participated in the Kayak Sprint (300 metres) event, while 10 teams competed in the Raft Sprint (300 metres).

According to Shukra Lama, Vice-President of NARA and the festival coordinator, the Kayak Cross (300 metres) and the Raft Mandatory Race (10 kilometres) will be held on Wednesday. 

Lama informed that 32 athletes, selected from the preliminary rounds, will take part in these events. On the final day, Thursday, a 10-kilometre raft race will be organised, in which 13 teams will compete, with four athletes in each team.

Organisers said that foreign competitors are also taking part in the festival, including two teams from India and two from Israel, competing in the rapids of the Trishuli River. 

To ensure greater fairness and transparency in the competition, a time-chip system has been introduced to measure the athletes’ performance times.

Stating that this year's festival is being celebrated as a silver jubilee, NARA President Kamal Bahadur Thakuri said, “This is not merely a sporting competition, it is a proud celebration connected with Nepal’s river tourism, adventure culture and the identity of its participants. 

It will help establish Nepal even more strongly on the global map of adventure tourism.”

Uday Bhattarai, Senior Manager at the NTB, expressed confidence that the festival—representing the confluence of rivers, adventure and tourism—would further highlight Nepal’s rivers in the global adventure tourism market. 

According to him, river-based adventure tourism in Nepal has grown rapidly in recent decades. In particular, the Trishuli, Bhotekoshi, Karnali and Seti rivers have become major attractions for adventure tourists from around the world for rafting and kayaking. 

Winners of the competition will receive cash prizes ranging from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 100,000, along with trophies and certificates in various categories. 

During the closing ceremony of the three-day international festival, prizes will be awarded to the winning athletes, and Himalayan River Exploration, which introduced rafting culture in Nepal, will also be honoured.