Rafting on Kali Gandaki River ends for the season

KATHMANDU: As the cold weather increases, rafting on the Kali Gandaki River has been suspended.

The rafting season, which started in the month of Ashoj after the decrease in water flow during the monsoon, ended on Sunday with the completion of the final team’s three-day journey.

The river exploration company, River Explorer Nepal, operator Hom Pun confirmed the closure of this year’s rafting.

The rafting season traditionally runs from mid-September to the last week of November. However, due to the delayed cold weather this year, rafting continued for two additional weeks compared to previous years.

Pun mentioned that with the water now extremely cold, the next rafting season will begin from March to June.

Domestic and international tourists have shown an increased interest in short family rafting trips on the Kali Gandaki River, especially post-COVID.

Salom Rafting Trek and Expeditions operator Dev Regmi reported a rise in the number of tourists this year. He noted that tourists, particularly foreigners, prefer the Kali Gandaki for its long, smooth, and lower-flow conditions compared to other rivers.

This year, over 3,000 tourists experienced the rafting adventure on the Kali Gandaki, with two to three groups visiting daily.

Regmi explained that after the pandemic, the number of tourists has increased, making Kali Gandaki one of the top choices for rafting.

Many tourists are now combining the river journey with treks around the Annapurna region, making it a popular tourist package.

Rafting begins at Newpul in Kusma Municipality-1 and goes through various regions in Syanja, Parbat, and Gulmi, ending at the reservoir of the Kali Gandaki ‘A’ Hydroelectric Project.

The three-day rafting journey is known for its stunning natural scenery, waterfalls, diverse flora and fauna, and clean, pollution-free air, making it a highly attractive destination for tourists. Israeli, Australian, Russian, European, and American tourists frequently visit the Kali Gandaki for rafting.

Tourists who have tried rafting in other countries describe the Kali Gandaki experience as uniquely thrilling compared to rivers in the USA and Australia. The experience is distinct, attracting more visitors each year.

The rafting route includes a journey through Newpul-Modiweni on the first day, a stay near Purtighat in Bihadi, Parbat on the second day, and concluding on the third day near Mirmi, heading towards Pokhara.

However, some issues have arisen in developing infrastructure at resting sites, with problems occurring due to large stones in the middle of the river near Armadi in Kusma Municipality, as noted by tourist guide Naveen KC.

In addition to these challenges, the Kali Gandaki river has also been facing some obstruction due to debris from the construction of the Kali Gandaki Corridor and the Kali Gandaki Local Road, which has narrowed the river, making navigation less smooth.

Tourism entrepreneurs, including Hom Pun, have raised concerns over these issues, which have impacted the river’s accessibility for rafting.