The Rampur Municipality has given priority to the issue of connecting locals with income generation by developing water tourism on the Kaligandaki River.
The municipality has made efforts to highlight the possibility of earning a living by raising the glory and dignity of Kaligandaki, which is being overshadowed despite having ample potential like the nearby shrine Hela.
Mayor Raman Bahadur Thapa said that the 'River Guide Technical Training' has been started to motivate the locals of the lower coastal areas to earn income and protect the importance of the river by conducting commercial voyages by linking the river with tourism.
"We have organized training on a voyage for the youth to conduct commercial voyage while protecting the river," he said.
Suitable for family cruises, the river has been used for commercial development and tourism development as well as income generation. The training has been conducted by Rampur Municipality under the Sustainable Tourism Project for the revival of livelihood.
He said, "Feasibility study of the voyage on the Kaligandaki River has already been done with the help of Nepal Tourism Board. A successful voyage festival has been organized from Ramdi to Puttarghat in Rampur Nagar.
As the Rampur area is a potential place for tourism, the municipality will provide necessary assistance to the youths who get licenses after the training to run a shipping business, said Mayor Thapa.
Thirty-two youths are participating in the training, which was initiated by the Nepal Tourism Board in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Nepal Association of Yachting Agencies (NARA). The Government of Nepal has carried out a feasibility study for the voyage from Ramdi to Devghat in the lower reaches of the Kaligandaki River.
Gyaneshwor Mahato, project manager of the Sustainable Tourism Project, said that the infrastructure for sustainable development and identity should be set up by the organization itself and the organization would support the development of skills for the revival of livelihood. He said that the training was being conducted in Koshi River and Trishuli River of Nepal along with Kaligandaki under the project and it would be facilitated to issue a River Guide license within a year after the training.
Manager of the Nepal Tourism Board, Santosh Ghimire, said that foreign tourists would enter the river if regular cruising was conducted as the river has ample potential for tourism development.
Megh Ale, who is also the vice-president of the Nepal Association of Yachting Agencies and the president of the river conservation organization, said that the 4th National River Conference would be held in Kaligandaki.
"We are preparing to hold the 4th National River Festival with the objective of uplifting and identifying the various castes and communities connected with this river and inspiring them to engage in livelihood activities.
The Kaligandaki Corridor, located between Pokhara and Butwal city, is connected to this river, so it will become a tourist destination of an excellent voyage by conducting regular water voyages. Tourists from Pokhara and Lumbini are said to enter the area after regular cruises. The training is said to last for 15 days.
Testing is also being carried out by various agencies at different times for the operation of cruises in Kaligandaki to take income from the flowing water and develop the tourist area. A team of experts from Karnali Yachting and Adventure has already successfully tested Kaligandaki in three sections three years ago to run regular voyages from Ramdi to Devghat in the lower part of Kaligandaki. Following the test, a team of experts concluded that the area was considered to be the best for family cruises.
The Greater Kaligandaki Voyage Festival was also organized by the Rampur Municipality to give the experience of a family voyage and to conduct regular voyages commercially. After the massive water voyage festival promoted by the Nepal Tourism Board on April 22 and 23, 2076 BS, many have even suggested going for a voyage here in a commercial manner. This river has the potential to attract both internal and external tourists through regular cruises.
Expressing solidarity, Rambha Municipality of Palpa, Chapakot Municipality of Syangja and Ghiring Municipality of Tanahu have expressed solidarity and will take initiative at the local level to introduce the water of this river to the world through family voyage by linking it with tourism. About 300 participants had fun on a cruise from Malungadham in Ramdi to Puttarghat. From this, many people have suggested sailing commercially.
It has been expressed that the operation of water transport in Kaligandaki will raise the living standard of the people. Rich in religious, historical, natural, tourist and biological diversity, Shaligram is known as the river known to the world.
This area, which is connected to the road network from all sides, is considered to be very good in terms of religious and tourist areas. The locals will get a golden opportunity to earn ample income by developing Kaligandaki Valley as a new tourist destination, increasing the income from employment through regular voyages, introducing this Kaligandaki to the world, adding the importance of river and life.
By navigating this river, which is known for its religious significance, Kaligandaki will be able to provide a livelihood to many. As the Kaligandaki Corridor, a project of national pride is connected to this river, it is possible to earn a quick source of income from cruising.
Work on the Kaligandaki corridor connecting Muktinath to Devghat is in full swing. It is said that if an environment is created for tourists to enjoy the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers for a couple of days, Kaligandaki could be the choice of many for cruising.
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