Dudh Koshi River
The Dudh Koshi River is in the Khumbu region of eastern Nepal. It originates from the southern slopes of Mount Everest. This frothy, white and extremely cold river rushes down the Khumbu valley. From the southern slopes, it joins the Sun Kosi River in Lekhani, Nepal and then the Ganges River on its southeastern journey through India.
The Dudh Kosi is famous among daring trekkers and thrill-seeking kayakers. Those on the popular Everest Base camp trek will first see it flying into Lukla and again along the trail through Sagarmatha National Park. It is a popular destination for avid kayakers and rafters who love white water rafting and paddling.
Where does Dudh Koshi River get its name
In Nepali, “Dudh Kosi” means “milk river.” Its milky opaqueness comes from dissolved minerals from the mountains and turbulence. Its rapid class ranges from IV to VI.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit the Dudh Kosi is during the spring (March-May) or fall (September-November). In summer the river can experience flash floods. In the winter it is very cold.
Wow to Get to the River
Once you reach Kathmandu International airport, Fly to Lukla. From Lukla, start walking up to Namche Bazaar along on the Everest Base Camp trail. On the way, you will encounter Kayaking spots and plenty of mountain views. The trail follows the river north. On your second day of walking you will cross over the Dudh Kosi river on the Hillary Bridge (Namche Bridge) after the Bhote Khoshi river tribitary.
How long is Dudh Kosi River
Dudh Kosi River is about 90 km (56 mi) long and drains about 60,000 km (37,282 mi) of the area’s basin. About one third of eastern Nepal and parts of Tibet drain into this river system. Dudh Kosi river is about 48 km (30 mi) north of the India-Nepal border. Dudh Kosi River meets with several major tributaries and heads south through the narrow Chatra Gorge’s Siwālik Hills.
Tributaries
Dudh Kosi river is one of the most dynamic rivers found in the world. Its tributaries are also identified as having a dynamic nature. There are many tributaries flowing into Dudh Kosi River. Spaning from Lukla to EBC They are: Chhusema River, Kyashar River, Phakding River, Nagbuwa River, Manja River, Bhote Koshi River, Panchoche River, Kohanar River, Phute River, Phungi River, and Imja River. These are the tributaries along the EBC trek. Many more exist along the length of the river.
Sun Koshi Tributary and Koshi River
The Dudh Koshi feeds into the Sun Koshi River east of Lekhani, Nepal. The Sun Koshi is another excellent river for white water rafting. The Sun Koshi extends from Tibet through Nepal and into India. It is 270 km (167 mi) long. It is also a major tributary of the Koshi River. The Koshi River flows a total distance of about 736 km (457 mi) and meets the Ganges River near Kurusela in India.
The Dudh Koshi, named after the color of its water, is a 56-mile-long river flowing from Northern Nepal to the plains in the south. It features class IV, V, and VI rapids along the Everest Base Camp Trekking trail. It is best visited in the spring and autumn because the summer monsoon can cause flash floods along the river. Winters can be extremely cold and the water level very low. The best views are from the Hillary Bridge below Namche Bazaar on the Everest Base Camp trek.