Hindu legend says the Trisuli River originated by Lord Shiva driving his trident (in Nepali 'Trisul') in the hill just above the Gosainkunda to create three springs when he needed a cool rest in the Lake Gosainkunda. Trisuli River starts from Betrawati (625m) and flows to Narayanghat (170m) covering distance of 141 kilo meters. The river is approachable from Kathmandu by vehicle in 3 to 4 hours' drive and the river days would be from 1 to 3. The difficulty in class is III to IV. This river is most popular rafting river with impressive gorges, exciting rapids, some easier sections, and easily accessible from Kathmandu and Pokhara. This river is also recomended for intermediate kayakers. Not far from Betrawati, Trisuli joins the Bhote Kosi that flows from Tibet; the two rivers joining in some pretty fearsome looking gorges that are visible on the way up to the Langtang Trek. By Betrawati the gradient has eased and after this it becomes a more mature and powerful river which later adds many other major rivers to its flow - the Buri Gandaki, the Marshyangdi, and the Seti.
A rafting trip in Trisuli needs no recomendation: thousand of thrilled rafters have written home and recomended the trip to their friends. For many people it represents the ideal compromise trip: just the right length of time, exhilarating rapids, but not too difficult, easily accessible from Kathmandu and at reasonable price. The rapids on the Trisuli are mainly big, bouncy and relatively safe: 'flips' (where the raft capsized) or other accidents are rare in normal water conditions, and also it is possible to walk around the few difficult rapids. There is a wide choice of different length trips on offer, from a one week relaxed trip all the way from Trisuli Bazar to Chitwan to half day 'testers' specials. Trisuli Bazar is normally only a starting point in higher water conditions only in Sept/Oct or April/May.
For many people the optimum length trip is 3 days, starting at or near Malekhu and taking out near Gaighat. This gives you a full and satisfying experience - you run all the major rapids, watch the river grow as its tribtaries join, marvel as it cuts its way through impressive gorges, then leave it just before when it spreads out over the great plain of the Ganges.
In case of time constraints, then a one or two day trips can be done - these can also save travel time if scheduled as a breakof the journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara or Kathmandu to Chitwan. These short trips can vary from fairly relaxed float trips, avoiding the more difficult rapids, to one day 'roller coaster' specials.
