Very famous in Europe and America, canyoning is becoming an increasing choice for many tourists visiting Nepal because of ample creeks, streams and canyons in the hilly and mountainous regions in the country.
Accessories such as helmet, harness, wet suit, rope, shoes and bag are a must for canyoning, which involves traveling down streams within a canyon safely applying various techniques as hiking, scrambling, wading, boulder hopping, rock climbing, abseiling and rappelling. It is regarded as a risky but adventurous sport.
Canyoning is the latest attraction for tourists visiting Nepal for mountain climbing, trekking, river rafting and sightseeing among others.
As risky and life-threatening as paragliding, ultra light, ballooning and bungee jumping, canyoning is one of the major attractions for tourists in Europe, America and Africa. However, Nepal is also gradually becoming famous for this adventure sport.
In Nepal, the Marsyangdi valley, Bhotekoshi, Sunkoshi and Kakani having streams with canyon are the places for canyoning.
A stream of Lunga River at the height of 5,215 at Phu VDC of Manang district, has been identified as the highest place of canyoning in the world. After a technical trainers’ team of Nepal found this place practically suitable place for canyoning, Nepal has become a world famous destination for new and adventurous canyoning.
Member of Nepal Canyoning Association, Rajesh Lama said, “The stream of Lunga River is the highest place and thus a destination for professional canyoners around the world.”
Similarly, Association Chairman Tilak Lama said preparations to announce Phu stream as the stream at the highest altitude was underway. It is said America has the canyoning spot at a height of 3,600-m while in Spain it is at 3,200 m and France at 2600 meters.
The stream of the Lung River was successfully canyoned by a seven-member team of Rajesh Lama, Kavindra Lama, Domi Sherpa, Jangbu Sherpa, Sumek Adhikari, Janak Lama and Ratna Man Tamang on May 2010. The total length of the stream is 525 meter.
The stream at the beginning is at the altitude of 5,236-m while its ends at the altitude of 4,690-m. “There are 15 steps-small and big-in the stream. There are only two canyons where the rescue is possible. However, as it is in the highest place of the world, it will undoubtedly become a centre of attraction.” Technically, it is not difficult if weather favours, he added.
The team had studied on practicality of setting up a base camp at 4,620 of Phu village, and the temperature, risk of snow, rescue spots, quality of rocks and fixing anchors to fasten the ropes.
Even in favourable season, the stream gets frozen in the morning and melted during the day. The water current in the stream is 80 litres per second at morning while 120 litrs during the day. The temperature of water is minus two while outer environment is 5-18 centigrade.
The Association conducted the canyoning with the support of Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Mountaineering Association and Trekking Agents Association of Nepal.
Trained in canyoning from France, Rajesh and Kavinda are well-known canyoners and technical trainers. There are very few canyoning technicians and guides in Nepal. There are only seven persons with advanced training on the adventure sport while 12 others have basic knowledge about this in Nepal.
Due to various reasons, sixty per cent canyoning is done in Bhotekoshi in Nepal. An average package of canyoning here is of four days. Three guides can teach 16 persons at a time.
Other canyoning spots in Nepal are Bulbule, Kavindra, Chipla, Tato Pani, Syange, Rendu, Sanchup and Chyamche of Lamjung district, Bolde Kalleri, Bandiwa and Tangtung river of Kavrepalanchowk district.
Ramche stream is the longest in the world for canyoning. A package here is of seven days. However, very few canyoners turn up here, according to the canyoning experts.
A weeklong International Canyoning Festival is being organized at Synage Gharmu area of Lamjung in April 2011, first of its kind in South Asia. It will be a great opportunity for those participating in the Festival to exchange technical, theoretical and practical knowhow and experience on canyoning. Altogether 250 canyoners from 14 countries are expected to take part in the Festival.
According to Managing Director of Friends Adventure Team, Rajendra Bahadur Lama, tourists from France, Italy, Spain, Brazil, America, Mexico, Australia, Thailand, Portugal and Greece come to Nepal to enjoy canyoning. Some 1,200 enjoy canyoning in Nepal every year, he added. However, the number of Nepalis in this sport is negligible.
A foreign tourist needs 80 US dollars a day to rent canyoning accessories including guide fee.
The suitable time for this sport is from September to April in Nepal.
The tourism entrepreneurs say the companies-Border Lands and Last Resort- first introduced commercial canyoning from Bhoteskoshi in 1996. Gradually the number of companies multiplied for this sport. RSS (Feature Service/Translated by Narayan Prasad Ghimire)
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