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| White Water
Rafting
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A
fast flowing adventure it is...
"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 Kathmandu that arrange such
camps. For beginners, rapids till class III are
recommended. Topsang, our guide for the trip was
surprisingly young.
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After an hour's journey by bus from
Kathmandu, we 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 on
the raft and secured our life jackets and helmets. If you don't know how to swim hen
you have to be extremely then you have to be extremely careful. If you fall off the raft,
the life jacketprevents 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. |
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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 exhilarated. This was real fun.
Nothing like what I had ever experienced before.
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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 Iwanted 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.
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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.
The post lunch session was
even more exciting. Most of the rapids were 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 speed of the water was quite
high. I was facing in the opposite to 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.
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
along the riverside.
Apart from rafting, it was
worth watching the different moods of the river Trisuli. The water flows down through deep
gorges. You get treated to some spectacular views, especially in the early mornings and
evenings.
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.
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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. |
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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 Kathmandu 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.
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While 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. |
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Taken from Makrand
Zalkikar's Home Page
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