October 27: The motorboat service along the Narayani River is back in operation following a four-month closure due to the monsoon season. Rising water levels brought about by the monsoon rains had temporarily suspended the motorboat service.

 Typically, the monsoon forced a three-month closure from mid-June to mid-September (Asar to Bhadau). However, this year, the closure was extended due to a delayed monsoon, said  Ashesh Malla, the chair of the Narayani Motorboat Entrepreneurs Association.

In recent times, the availability of motorboat services on the river has attracted a growing number of domestic tourists.

Approximately 2,000 people visit the riverbanks daily to enjoy a motorboat ride, with a higher number of visitors during the Dashain and Tihar festivals.

The motorboat service on the river was initiated in the year 2076 BS (2019-20) with only one motorboat. At present, there are 32 registered motorboat companies, both large and small, with 19 of them already serving visitors.

The service offers various packages and covers routes from the Narayani Bridge to Majuwa Tapu Pokhara Bus Park, Majuwa Tapu Pokhara Bus Park to Radha Krishna Temple in Gaidakot, Majuwa Tapu to Parijat Park, and from the Narayani Bridge to Devghat.

Large motorboats can accommodate 18 to 25 passengers at once, while small motorboats can carry up to 12 passengers for shorter distances. The service charges are Rs 250 per person for the short route and Rs 1,500 for the long route.

The Bharatpur Metropolitan City imposes a 15% tax on the revenue generated from this service. (RSS)