Makrand Zalkikardescribes his experiences of a 2-day rafting camp in Nepal.
All forward !!! "Stop !!!" Topsang recited the
drill of instructions we were to follow before we set off white water rafting
in the river Trisuli in Nepal.
In the mountainous regions near Kathmandu, the speed of
the water is high and therefore ideal for rafting. The screaming flow of river
is called a 'rapid' and depending on the speed of the water these rapids are
classified from class I to class VI
We decided to go for a two days rafting camp. There are many
travel agencies in Katmandu that
arrange such camps. For beginners rapids till class III are recommended.
Topsang, our guide for the trip was surprisingly young.
After an hour's journey by bus from Katmanduwe got down on the highway near the river. The raft was ready with all the
necessary equipment and our companions for the rafting expedition were already
there : two Italians, one Japanese and one Nepali.
We kept all our valuables in waterproof drums in the raft
and secured our life jackets and helmets. If you don't know how to swim then
you have to be extremely careful. If you fall off the raft, the life jacket
prevents you from drowning, but you have to be careful of the rocks in the
river. We had planned to cover 22 kms on the first day and 18 kms on the second
day. Ours was a six-seater raft. We took our positions and started paddling.
We had planned to cover 22 kms on the first day and 18 kms
on the second day. In a six-seater raft.
After a little practice, our rafting expedition commenced
and we were on our way. After a mere 10 minutes of paddling we rushed through
our first rapid. Our raft had lifted to an angle of 30 degrees from the right
side and one of the Italians fell out of the raft, while the rest of us were
drenched in a cold shower from the spray of the river. I was so thrilled and
exhillarated. This was real fun. Nothing like what I had ever experienced
before.
And this was just the beginning. It is very important to
know how to use a paddle in the rapids. It took me around an hour to learn. My
excitement started increasing and I wanted to swim in the rapids, which was
quite dangerous. Topsang told me that there was only one spot where I could
swim in the rapids because there were no rocks in it.
Two hours later we took a break for lunch. All of us were
hungry and our hosts quickly prepared salad dressed with mayonnaise. We had
bread with peanut butter. There was also cheese, jam, tuna fish and fruits.
Wow! I still remember the taste of the salad, that assaulted my taste buds.
After lunch we started immediately because we still had a long way to go.
Topsang told me that I could swim in the next rapid. I
jumped into the water and immediately got caught in the rapid. The water speed
was quite high. I was facing the opposite direction from the water current.
The post lunch session was even more exciting. Most of the
rapids are of class III and class IV. Many times our raft was lifted to a 45
degrees angle at the front. Balancing in such high rapids is not easy. The base
of the raft is flat and it is made up of a special type of rubber with huge air
tubes stitched on it. The best way to balance in the raft is to put one of your
legs below the tubes, but it is still at best a tricky affair.
At 4 p.m. the
moment I was awaiting finally arrived. Topsang told me that I could swim in the
next rapid. I jumped into the water and immediately got caught in the rapid.
The water speed was quite high. I was facing the opposite direction from the
water current. I struggled to change my direction as the waves were splashing
onto my face. Somehow I managed to change my direction and then I was simply
carried away by the water. It was amazing. Both exhilarating and thrilling.
At 5.30 p.m. we
reached our camp. Our organizers had already set up two tents for us on the
soft white sand on the bank of the river. We had a mug of strong hot coffee and
some snacks and then we roamed around the riverside.
The water changes its color through the day. You are
mesmerised by the beauty of nature if you allow yourself to be tuned to it's
rhythm.
Apart from rafting, it was worth watching the different
moods of the river Trisuli. The water flows down through deep gorges. You can
see some spectacular views especially in the early mornings and evenings.
The water changes its color through the day. You are
mesmerised by the beauty of nature if you allow yourself to be tuned to it's
rhythm.
Soon after sunset we lit a fire and sat around the campfire,
singing songs, enjoying it all. We had a delicious dinner of rice, dal, fried
potatoes (bhajia) and macaroni with lots of hot coffee. By 9 p.m. it had become chilly. There was not a sound except
that of the roaring river. The sky was clear and full of stars. I spent some 2
hours at the campfire, before retiring to my tent.
The next day I woke early. I crossed the river and walked up
the hill. There are many hanging bridges across the Trisuli. Breakfast was
ready by the time I got back. We had pancakes, toast, cheese and coffee. I
watched fascinated at the way Topsang made the toasts. He kept a slice of bread
near the fire with the support of a spoon and within 20 seconds the toast was
ready.
At 9 a.m. we
started our last phase of rafting. Again, the sound of "All forward
!!!" reverberated till 2 p.m.That marked the end of our two-day rafting tour. It was an unforgettable
experience, only to be recalled again and again.
A pointer
If you wish to go rafting, plan ahead. Jan. and Feb are good
months for beginners. In Oct. and early Nov. the water level is very high. In Nepal,
the Trisuli is an ideal river to raft for 2/3 days. The rafting sites are just
outside Katmandu and you don't
waste much time in travelling to reach them. If you are interested in serious
rafting for 6/7 days the Sun Koshi river is recommended. Such tours generally
cover around 200 kms in 7 days with class III and above rapids. There is even a
waterfall en route. Some waterfalls are classified as being equivalent to class
VI rapids.
W hile rafting make sure that the raft is in good condition.
There should not be patches on any of the rubber tubes. Use plastic paddles
rather than using wooden paddles. Check the life jacket and helmet. You must
have at least one kayak with you. Demand good hygienic food and an English
speaking guide. Choose your agency with care, as not all of them give adequate
consideration to safety norms.
