LAMJUNG: The Marsyangdi Express Extreme Kayak Championship has kicked off in Marsyangdi River of Lamjung on Friday.

The Marsyangdi River is considered as one of the top ten destinations for rafting and kayaking in the world.

Nepal Kayak Club is organising the festival with the motto of exposing Marsyangdi River as the favoured destination for kayaking and rafting across the world.

According to Anup Gurung, Chairman of the Nepal Kayak Club, enthusiasts from more than a dozen countries are taking part in the event.

At least 25 participants including four women from countries including Russia, United Kingdom, Japan, Spain and Nepal are taking part in the two-day event.

The 12-km kayaking race starts from the dam site of Upper Marsyangdi-A Hydro Project and ends at another dam of Mid-Marsyangdi Hydro Project.

The winner and the runner-up of the competition will be awarded with Rs 50,000 and 25,000 respectively.

According to the Nepal Association for Rafting (NARA), there is no data with the government about how many tourists kayak in Nepal. The government, however, has a rule that rafters and kayak travellers need to get permission from the authorities.