ITINERARY FOR Various RIVERs

TRISHULI RIVER

The Trishuli River, named after the 'Trident' or 'Trishul' of Lord Shiva, a powerful God in the Hindu pantheon, is Nepal's most popular river for whitewater rafting for its easy access from Kathmandu as well as Pokhara.

The scenic valleys, astounding gorges, exhilarating rapids including easier and relaxing sections all make Trishuli a perfect rafting river for both first-timers and experienced rafters. Depending on the guest's interest and time available, one can raft for a varied duration normally from a day to four days enjoying Nepal's diversity in demography, landscapes and cultural heritage along with the fascinating flora and fauna of the country.

Monsoon season

A typical two-day Trishuli Experience

Day 01 Charaudi to Kuringhat: After an early breakfast, we leave Kathmandu at 7.30 a.m. for our exciting Trishuli trip. We drive for 2 ½ hours to reach Charaudi, our put-in-point (starting point for rafting) where we are greeted by locals with beaming smiles. They are happy to see foreign faces once again geared up for rafting. After the rafts have been assembled by the crew, we head towards the river for safety briefing when paddling procedures and safety equipment are explained in detail.

During this day, we go through a number of rapids rated 1+ to 3+. Yes, the experience of tackling a rapid would be like accomplishing an absolute mission followed by our paddles raised in the air with everybody cheering "Bingo". All rapids are rated or graded using an international rating scale. The grade of a rapid depends upon its difficulty level with 1 being the easiest and 6 being too difficult for rafting. All rapids have interesting names and our informed guides can relate the story behind each one.

After paddling for about two hours, we head for lunch to a beach unique for its strange sculptured boulders. Paddling through the splashing rapids inevitably tires our muscles and what could be more delightful than having a scrumptious meal al fresco, enjoying the sights and sounds of the river. Shortly after lunch, we enter the Trishuli gorge. As the canyon narrows, the walls become steeper, and the river accelerates giving rise to bigger rapids which arrive in greater frequency. It is time to hang on tight!

Our last rapid Jhoolunge Pul (Pul means bridge in Nepali) is named after an old suspension bridge. Here we also often encounter an enthusiastic group of onlookers who line the bridge, waiting excitedly to see us pass below. The geological formations are extremely interesting along the Trishuli River. When we halt, those interested may help the crew with camp chores. Once the tents have been pitched, a savoury dinner is prepared over gas stoves. Kunringhat is a popular destination among the Nepalese as it is the gateway to the holy Manakamana temple. It is believed that with the Goddess' blessings, devotees will have their wishes fulfilled. It is wonderful camping out on the riverside with the bright stars so clear in the dark night sky while all the while enjoying the rumbling sound of the river. Our night does not end with dinner. Indeed, many adventure stories are told by the camp.

Day 02 Kuringhat - Mugling: Our morning starts early but our second day has a leisurely pace. After breakfast, we continue down from Kuringhat for yet another fun-filled day. This day definitely presents us with thrilling rapids, but it's our last day on the river. We are also rewarded with delightful scenic views along the way. The green and golden paddy fields, surrounding hills, riverside country life and the terraced hillsides attract our attention, which adds to the immense pleasure of our river trip.

We raft for about 1 ½ hours till we reach the confluence of Trishuli and the raging Marsyangdi. The Marsyangdi river comes from west Nepal and is one of the most popular rivers for white water rafting. Marshyangdi is quite technical compared to Trishuli and is popular amongst keen rafting experts. We raft a stretch of approximately 5 Km. However, as mentioned above, no matter how long you are on the river, it never seems enough when you reach the end of the run. We wind up our rafting trip on the Trishuli at T-pot where we are met by the vehicle that will drive us on to Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge in Chitwan OR back to Kathmandu (approximately 4 hours).