Himalayan Whitewater Challenge 2026 is being held on Trishuli river
A three-day international rafting and kayaking festival has begun on the Trishuli River on Tuesday with the aim of promoting Nepal’s river-based adventure tourism in the global market.
The event is being held under the 24th Himalayan Whitewater Challenge 2026 and the 50th International Himalayan Rafting and Kayaking Festival, with the expectation that Nepal’s rivers will be further established as major destinations for adventure tourism.
The competition has been jointly organized by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA). The festival will continue until Thursday, with rafting and kayaking athletes from Nepal and several other countries taking part in the competition.
Participants have been seen demonstrating their skills and courage while navigating the fast-flowing currents and waves of the Trishuli River.
According to the organizers, a total of 51 paddlers took part in the 300-meter Kayak Sprint on the first day, while 10 teams competed in the 300-meter Raft Sprint event.
Shukra Lamsa, vice president of NARA and coordinator of the festival, said that the 300-meter Kayak Cross and the 10-kilometer Raft Mandatory Race are scheduled to be held on Wednesday. He stated that 32 athletes selected from the preliminary round will participate in the next stage of the competition.
On the final day, a 10-kilometer raft race is set to be organized, with 13 teams expected to compete. Each team will consist of four players.
The event has also attracted international participation, including two teams from India and two teams from Israel. To make the competition more fair and transparent, a time-chip system has been used for measuring the athletes’ timing.
Kamal Bahadur Thakuri, President of NARA, said that this year’s festival has been taken as a special historic occasion and is being observed as a Silver Jubilee celebration.
He said the festival is not only a sporting event but also a celebration linked to Nepal’s river tourism, adventure culture, and the identity of the participants. He expressed confidence that it would help strengthen Nepal’s position on the global adventure tourism map.
Similarly, Uday Bhattarai, Senior Manager of the Nepal Tourism Board, said the festival would play an important role in bringing greater international attention to Nepal’s rivers and river-based adventure tourism.
He noted that adventure tourism based on rivers has grown rapidly in Nepal over the past few decades, and rivers such as the Trishuli, Bhotekoshi, Karnali, and Seti have become major attractions for rafting and kayaking enthusiasts from around the world.
According to the organizers, winners in different categories will be awarded cash prizes ranging from NPR 15,000 to NPR 100,000, along with trophies and certificates.
The closing ceremony of the festival will also include an award distribution program for the winning athletes. In addition, Himalayan River Exploration, credited with introducing rafting culture in Nepal, is also scheduled to be honored during the event.
