Himalayan Whitewater Rafting Challenge competition 2009

The Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA) is organizing the whitewater running festival namely, 9th Mountain Dew Himalayan Whitewater Rafting Challenge 2009 with an aim of promoting general tourism along with promoting rivers of Nepal as the world’s premier river running tourism destinations.

The three day event is taking place in the Trishuli River from November 27 to 29 and the event will feature kayak slalom, kayak freestyle and kayak down river race respectively for three days, according to the organizer.

This event will take place on Trishuli River next to the villages of Charaundi and Fishling of Dhading and Chitwan district. The organizer aims to create opportunity of employment to the local villagers as construction workers, security guards, porters, helpers, transport specialist during the event in order to facilitate local economic development. Trishuli River which is about 85 km west of Kathmandu is popular as best destination for short white water river rafting in Nepal.

The organizer informed in a press conference that over 500 internal and international professional and non-professional participants including a delegate from the International Canoe Federation will take part in the event. The winners of the events will be awarded with cash and certificates, NARA informed.

NARA general secretary Ganga Prasad Nepal said that Nepal’s Karnali and Sunkoshi rivers had been included in the world’s top 10 rivers for adventure rafting. Besides these rivers, Nepal boasts fantastic white water rafting destination rivers like Bhotekoshi, Kali Gandaki, Sunkoshi, Tamur, Karnali, Bheri, Seti, etc.

“Rafting is one of the popular products in adventure tourism worldwide, and organizing such programs will help boost Nepal’s rafting industry as a commercial enterprise at both domestic and international levels,” he added. “Similarly, the aim of continuing such activities is to produce more Nepali rafting athletes who will participate in Rafting and Kayaking, usually known as an international rafting sport,” he added.

Mr. Nepal remembering the harsh days of rafting industry during the Maoist insurgency period said that rafting industry was pushed towards insecurity and numerous of rafting agencies were closed during that but now with contentment in his voice he added, “Adventure tourism has started to revive in recent days, and it is in dire need of promotion.