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Rivers of Nepal

River Map of Nepal
Rafting in Nepal
Rivers of Nepal descend further and faster than any other rivers in the world, offering thrilling rapids for rafting in Nepal. Many rivers have cut sheer-sided valleys thousands of meters deep, creating enormously unstable hillsides. Any external cause such as earthquake, severe rainfall, the construction of a road, etc can trigger catastrophic earth and rock slides which sometimes create natural dams impounding large lakes, only to burst open and flood the valleys downstream.

Most of the big rivers are drained from the higher Himalayas. Rivers of Nepal can be broadly divided into three categories in accordance with their origins. The first category comprises the three main river systems of the country-the Koshi river, Gandaki river and Karnali river systems, all of them originating from glaciers and snow-fed lakes. All of the rivers are greatly popular for rafting adventure in Nepal.

The Koshi river system consists of Tamor river, Arun river, Dudh Koshi river, Likhu river, Tama Koshi river, Sun Koshi river and Indravati rivers. Of these, the Arun and Sun Koshi originate in Tibet. The confluence of these rivers is at Tribeni (near Dharan) in Sagarmatha Zone. Flowing for almost 10kms through a narrow gorge before entering the plains, the "Sapta Koshi" or the "Koshi", swollen with the waters of the seven rivers, finally merges into the Ganges.

The Gandaki river system in central Nepal consists of the Kali Gandaki, Budhi Gandaki, Marsyanghi, Trishuli, Seti, Madi and Daraundi rivers. Kali Gandaki is the longest river and the Trishuli, the main tributary of this system. The Kali Gandaki river originates in Mustang and converges with the Trishuli at Deoghat in Chitwan. The river is then called Narayani and goes on to meet the Ganges.

The Karnali river system in western Nepal consists of the Humla Karnali, Mugu Karnali, Seti and Bheri rivers and is the longest river system in the country. The Humla Karnali, which rises in Tibet, is the main tributary. After entering India, this river assumes the name Gogra.

Rivers like the Mechi, Mahakali, Bagmati, Kamala, Rapti, etc., most of which have their origin in the Mahabharat range, constitute the rivers of the second category. The Bagmati, which rises at Bagdwar and drains out through the Chobhar gorge, is the principal river of the Kathmandu Valley.

Streams and rivulets originating mostly from the Chure hills make up the third category; these rivers rely on monsoon rains and are otherwise dry. The rivers flowing down the high mountains have become increasingly popular for rafting in Nepal. White water rafting in Nepal has become almost as much popular as trekking in Nepal.