Kavre, October 29

White water rafting in Nepal in recent times has shown a steady increase in popularity among both locals and tourists; Sunkoshi River in Kavre being the top choice.

The extreme sport had during the decade long insurgency in the country been suspended.

The 15 km trip begins from Dolalghat of Kavre and concludes at Dumsa, the confluence of Ramechhap and Sindhuli. Rafting entrepreneur Suresh Kashyapati said rafting in the Sunkoshi River was one of the greatest asset of Kavre.

The river had been a major means of transport before the construction of the BP Highway along Dhulikhel-Bardibas. Boats were used to supply goods even before, to some parts of Sindhuli and Ramechhap.

Dutch Nawab visiting Nepal a second time, said that rafting could be a lucrative means of income for the locals. Tourism entrepreneur of Kavre, Prem Lama, is confident that tourism can be intensively promoted via rafting in the Sunkoshi River.

“ It was most disappointing that the District Development Committee didn’t permit us for the same despite our numerous attempts,” he lamented.

The DDC had previously listed Sunkoshi as one of the top rafting destinations in 2006 but this had failed due to the uprising then.