Water Activities of Nepal

Nepal, a small landlocked country is known for its 5,358 lakes and 6000 rivers (including rivulets and tributaries that create a cumulative length of 45,000km.)

A group of mountaineers in 2019 found Kajin Sara Lake at an altitude of 5200 meters making it one of highest altitude lake in the world. 

In 1976, an American Mountaineer Mike Yager established the first commercial river rafting company in Nepal. Yager an experienced river guide from the US trained the first batch of Nepali enthusiasts allowing a new era of professional rafting in Nepal. 

In 1989, the umbrella organization for rafting companies- the Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies was established. The organization estimates that 10% of the 6,000 rivers are suitable for rafting. 

The top five rivers for rafting are i) Trishuli, ii) Sunkoshi, iii) Seti, iv) Kaligandaki & v) Bhote Koshi.  

Kayaking can be traced back to Eskimos who made kayaks with animal skulls and skin used for hunting and fishing in the Arctic region. Canoeing/Kayaking became an Olympic sport in 1936.

Kayaking started in Nepal alongside rafting in 1975. There can be single-day trips as well as 2-3 days trip camping on river beaches along the route of Kayaking. Kayakers in Nepal get to explore the most remote landscapes and villages of Nepal. 

Another popular sport in Nepal is Canyoning. It is an adventure sport that progresses along a riverbed with or without water. Canyoning (Canyoneering in the US) uses ropes, conceptual jumps, swims, and down climbing.

Most canyons ideal for canyoning are bedrock stones, forming narrow gorges with numerous drops. 

The down climber uses static ropes, helmets wetsuits, shoes, packs, and rope bags as for safety. People enjoy caves, canyons, waterfalls, rivers, lush forests, and beautiful hills. 

Major sites for Canyoning are Jalbire, Chitwan, Kakani, Sundarijal, Panglang Khola, Khalang Khola, Bhukunthe Khola 

A simpler enjoyable water sport is Paddle Boarding. Standup paddle boarding has its roots in Hawaii and surfing, and in 2017 it was introduced to Nepal in Phewa Lake and gained a lot of interest in the tourist hub of Pokhara.

Finally, one of the major water activities in Nepal is the Boat Safari. Indigenous ethnic groups such as Bote and Majhi communities are known to sustain their lives by using boats and fishing. 

In 1968, Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to climb Everest returned to Nepal with two specially-designed boats (Kiwi and the Sherpa) each 15ft long and driven by 140 horse-power V6 engines. 

The objective of the expedition was to use Sun Koshi, Tamur, and Arun as the means of communication in an area where there were no roads. 

Nepal a country rich in rivers and lakes with beautiful landscapes and rich vegetation also acts as an opportunity for amazing boat safaris in various locations. 

Chitwan Boat Safari provides the opportunity for bird watching and viewing endangered species such as crocodiles, rhinos, and sometimes even Bengali tigers.