With the beginning of warmer weather, activity has picked up in Sukute, a popular tourist destination in Sindhupalchok.

Hotels and resorts along the Sunkoshi and Bhotekoshi rivers are witnessing a growing influx of both domestic and foreign tourists. Local entrepreneurs said the crowds drawn by white-water rafting signal a revival of the area’s tourism industry.

At the start of the season, more than 200 tourists arrive daily for rafting. Mahendra Singh Thapa, president of the Sindhu Sukute Tourism Association, said most resorts are operating at near full capacity. “With winter over and the rafting season underway, tourist numbers have doubled. Hotels here are struggling to keep up,” he said, adding that each resort is hosting more than 50 guests a day.

Operators said a typical resort receives at least 50 domestic and 20 foreign tourists daily. Hotels are often fully booked on Fridays and Saturdays, making advance reservations almost essential.

Visitors from Kathmandu, as well as from Europe and the US, are travelling to the Sunkoshi for rafting. Riverside stays, campfires, group activities and proximity to the capital have made Sukute a preferred destination. Ramchandra Thapa, a visitor from Chitwan, said he chose Sukute to reunite with friends and seek adventure. “It’s a good place to relive old memories and enjoy time together,” he said.

Tourism in the area, which declined sharply after the 2015 earthquake, is gradually recovering. Before the disaster, riverside resorts attracted up to 700,000 tourists annually. Anjan Khadka, a tourism entrepreneur, said improvements in infrastructure have helped restore momentum.

According to Khadka, water-based tourism provides employment to around 10,000 people in the district. “Rafting remains the main attraction, but activities such as canyoning, bungee jumping and mountain biking are also drawing visitors,” he said.