By Rup Narayan Dhakal
I had done many rafting trips in Seti River of Pokhara but it was my first experience with Kali Gandaki River, one of the divisions of Nepal Sapta Gandaki River system. Before arriving to Ramdi Ghat of Syngja district in 2008, the rafting starting point, I had imagined that the river would have so many huge rapids but what I got here was totally opposite.
Of course I love adventure that I had found in Seti rafting but that I didn’t get in Kali Gandaki. We were some two and the half a dozens of people in two raft boats and enjoying the crystal water of gentle Kali Gandaki River. I needed more energy to row the boat here since the water is following calmly. But if the river follows with so many rapids, there is needed less rowing tasks.
Whatever the situations I found here anyway made me feel wonderful. I would like to recommend this river rafting especially to those who like normal kind of adventure. Kali Gandaki Rafting could be done by students, housewives and the common people who just like to experience what rafting is?
The rafting in Kali Gandaki starts from Ramdi Ghat and it is ended in Jyagdi Ghat, 28 kilometers south from the starting point that I experienced whole the course. As I am also a swim lover, I liked to dive into the Kali Gandaki from the raft boat while it was following in its own speed. I left the boat and enjoy swimming when I got the green signal from our professional rafting guide Som Rana.
The water could be felt as cool as ice and to be into water for long was tough task. So after few minutes, I was pulled up by my colleagues onto the raft boat. Then turn by turn, my other colleagues also dived into the river and enjoyed swimming. The area where we swam was like a lake with high water level.
I was invited here to promote the Kali Gandaki River Rafting Festival 2008 that is going to be held from Nov 9 to 11. I was warmly welcomed here by the villagers living around the river. The loads of marigold garlands around my neck made me feel like I was victorious political leader of an election.
District Development Committee Syangja, District Tourism Development Committee Syangja, Kali Gandaki Village Tourism Development Committee and the Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA) are jointly organizing this festival in this river. Earlier when there was not built the Kali Gandaki ‘A’ Hydropower project in Mirmi, the rafting used to be offered in a longer section from Maldhunga to Devghat.
Rafting in Kali Gandaki river. Pictures: Recentfusion.com
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