Before Paddle Nepal existed — before certifications, safety standards, and professional titles — there was a river.

This photograph was taken on the Trisuli River in 1987. Nim is still a child here, standing beside his father and a group of early river guides. These were the early days of river guiding and rafting in Nepal, when the foundations of the industry were just beginning to take shape.

At that time, a small number of pioneering companies and guides were opening rivers, completing first descents, and introducing rafting and kayaking to Nepal. Their work laid the groundwork for what would become a respected adventure tourism industry. They are widely respected for their courage, curiosity, and commitment, and for helping establish river guiding as a livelihood and profession in Nepal.

In those days, there were few formal systems in place. Learning happened on the river — by watching, listening, and doing. Nim grew up observing how the early river guides read the water and worked together, while learning from his father — a dugout canoe captain — what it meant to carry responsibility on the river. Knowledge was shared through experience, not classrooms.

Those early days shaped more than technical skills. They shaped values.

The river taught patience and humility. It taught that confidence must be balanced with caution, and that leadership carries responsibility. It also taught respect — for the river itself, for the people who came before, and for the risks that wild places demand we take seriously.

As the years passed, river guiding in Nepal evolved. Professional training, international certifications, and modern safety standards became essential — and Paddle Nepal embraced them fully. But they were never the starting point. The starting point was always the river, and the lessons learned in those early years.

As Paddle Nepal steps into its 20th year, we are taking time to reflect on the journey — not just the milestones, but the beginnings. The people, the rivers, and the moments that shaped who we are today.

This is where it began.

This reflection is part of Paddle Nepal’s 20-year journey on Nepal’s rivers.