While his classmates studied in class, Birkharam Nepali of Chandanath Municipality-1 would be found swimming in the nearest Tila River. The memories of his classmates playing on the school grounds while he played with fish, earthworms, grass, and stones in the river still move him.

Nepali's parents’ efforts to change his habits were unsuccessful, as his love for swimming remained unchanged. His daily routine involved going to the river, looking at the fish, and swimming. His neighbours would tease him about his short lifespan due to constant swimming. Now, seeing Nepali as a river guide, operating rafting trips on the Tila River, his family and neighbours are delighted. He takes tourists on two trips to the river every day.

Nepali takes pride in being the first river guide from Karnali. Initially, everyone was surprised when they heard he had become a river guide. Now, his friends are riding the same rafts he guides. Seeing himself contribute to adventure tourism fills him with joy.

Mired in poverty since childhood, Nepali received formal education up to grade 5. As he grew older, the responsibilities of his family began to increase. In 2001, he went to India for work. He worked as a waiter at a rafting camp on the Ganga River in Uttarakhand, India. Having never seen rafting while in Jumla, he was amazed to see rafts full of passengers navigating the river. However, his desire to become a river guide had been growing since he used to play in the river. After consulting with other river guides, he trained for three years.

In 2012, he conducted a 45-kilometre kayaking reconnaissance from Gajryangkot in Guthichaur to Nagma, where he used to play as a child. Concluding that the Tila River had good potential for rafting, he returned to India. There, he worked as a guide, operating rafting trips on rivers like the Ganga, Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Mandakini, Indus and more. He spent nearly 15 years in India.

Nepali has guided rafting trips on Nepali rivers for the past six years, including Trishuli, Bhote Koshi, Marshyangdi, Sun Koshi, Balephi, Kali Gandaki, Seti, Karnali, and Tila. He says, “Every river has a potential, but we are not seeing it.” He still receives calls asking him to work as a river guide, but he invites them to visit the Tila River as domestic tourists. He says, “We are not poor; we are made to be. The time has come to showcase the importance of tourist destinations like rivers, lakes, and temples to attract tourists.”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Jumla's tourism businessman Lalit Mahat bought two rafting boards, and Nepali started working as a river guide. Having worked for four seasons as a river guide, he has been able to entertain more than a thousand tourists on the Tila River. From ministers and parliamentarians to businessmen and ordinary citizens, everyone has experienced rafting under his guidance. He has also completed trips from Karnali's Durgeshwor to Chisapaani eight times.

Nepali says, “The Tila River is suitable for seasonal rafting. Therefore, it is important to attract people.” He charges Rs3,000 per trip, and rafting participants pay Rs2,000 to 2,500. The rafting season in the Tila River spans three months during the monsoon season, from Asar to Bhadra.

Nepali supports his family of six—his parents, two brothers, two sisters, and his own two children—by working as a river guide. His son and daughter are studying in a boarding school. He says, "Poverty prevented me from studying, but now I have a strong desire to give my children a good education and make them successful.” He emphasises the need for a river festival to attract domestic and international tourists. He believes Karnali tourism can only be boosted by producing more river guides, increasing the number of rafts, and creating competition.

In 2008, Nepali participated in the Asian Kayak Competition on the Kali River in Kumaon Garhwal, India, where he secured first place. In 2014, he placed third in an international kayak competition in Kerala, India. In 2015, he also achieved third place in a rafting competition on the Ganga River. He said, “Those competitions further strengthened my resolve to stay in the role of a river guide.”

Despite studying only until fifth grade, he impresses everyone by giving the ‘safety brief’ in English before rafting. He added, “We ensure safety and happiness for our rafters. We must work to establish the Tila River as a rafting tourism destination in Karnali.”