Rafting Through Bhutan's Largest River System: Exploring Panbang and Royal Manas
Explore Panbang, Bhutan's emerging ecotourism destination, through rafting adventures on the Drangme Chhu and Mangde Chhu, visits to Royal Manas National Park, and the inspiring story behind Khenda Adventure.
The first private company of its kind in Panbang, Khenda Adventure is a leading eco-tourism and rafting operator near Royal Manas National Park. It is run by 42-year-old Ugyen Tshering, who is popularly known as "Khenda".
Before establishing the company, he worked with the community-run River Guides of Panbang. In October 2024, he became the first member of the group to launch a private venture, Khenda Adventure.
For founder Ugyen Tshering, every voyage is a promise fulfilled. The venture was born not from a business plan, but from a final conversation at his father's bedside. His father's dying wish was for him to return to the land of his ancestors, not to witness its quiet decline, but to help unlock its potential. In the laughter of a tourist navigating a rapid, or the quiet satisfaction of an angler releasing a catch, Ugyen hears an echo of his father's faith reflected in the waters of the Manas.
Adventure here takes many forms, from rafting and kayaking on the river to camping beneath clear night skies and staying in bamboo cottages spread across three acres of riverside land. The company also plans to develop a new lodge in Panbang town.
The experience extends beyond the river. Visitors can try their luck with fly fishing catching the legendary golden mahseer under the guidance of a local expert who understands the river's pools, currents, and seasonal fish movements. Guests can also explore traditional villages, experience local festivals, and take part in cultural practices that have been preserved in this region for generations.
From the roadside, a rough track through forested terrain leads to the bamboo cottages situated along the banks of the Mangde Chhu.
A journey through Panbang's rivers and forests
The 11-kilometre rafting route on the Drangmechhu begins below Dasho Nishioka Bridge and continues to the Bhutan-India border. It ends at a point that connects Panbang with Royal Manas National Park, the only crossing point along this stretch of the river.
Rafting in Panbang stands out for its untouched natural setting and the rich biodiversity found along the river corridor.
At the confluence of the Mangde Chhu and Drangme Chhu, the waters merge to form the Manas River basin, one of Bhutan's largest and most significant river systems. From this point, the river widens and flows through dense forest that stretches uninterrupted for long distances.
What makes this stretch particularly distinctive is its remoteness. There are no farms, roads, or settlements along much of the route, only dense forest lining both sides of the river. This creates a rare wilderness experience where rafting takes place in a landscape shaped almost entirely by nature, with minimal human disturbance.
The combination of powerful river sections, intact forest ecosystems, and proximity to Royal Manas National Park gives rafting here significant ecological value and a strong sense of adventure.
Rafting on the Drangme Chhu is generally considered more moderate than rafting on the Mangde Chhu.
The Drangme Chhu offers a steadier flow and fewer intense rapids, making it suitable for visitors seeking a balance of adventure and comfort. It allows rafters to enjoy the surrounding scenery and biodiversity at a more relaxed pace. In contrast, the Mangde Chhu features stronger currents and more demanding rapids, requiring greater skill and experience.
Together, the two rivers offer contrasting rafting experiences within the same landscape, one relatively gentle and scenic, the other more challenging and adrenaline-filled.
Khenda Adventure operates a multi-day expedition on the Drangme Chhu and Mangde Chhu, offering an eco-friendly rafting journey through Bhutan's largest river system. The trip combines wilderness camping on sandy riverbanks, opportunities to observe wildlife, and rafting through remote rapids accessible only by water. The experience is supported by certified guides and includes all necessary equipment and meals.
The company also offers the Panbang Day Float, a half-day rafting experience designed for families and first-time rafters. It is a gentle white-water adventure focused on a relaxed journey through clear river waters. Visitors can also spend a day exploring Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan's oldest protected area.
Royal Manas National Park
At the end of the rafting route, access to Royal Manas National Park is completed by a short river crossing. A small wooden boat powered by an outboard motor ferries visitors across the river in less than five minutes. From the landing point, a brief uphill walk leads to the park entrance, where visitors enter one of Bhutan's most biodiverse protected areas.
Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan's oldest protected area, was initially managed as a game sanctuary before being formally designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1966. It was later upgraded to a national park in 1993. The expansion incorporated the Namgyal Wangchuck Wildlife Sanctuary, creating a continuous protected landscape connected to Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park and strengthening ecological connectivity across the region.
The park is one of Bhutan's oldest and most biologically rich protected areas. Located in south-central Bhutan, it spans parts of Zhemgang, Pemagatshel, and Sarpang districts.
What makes the park unique is its ability to protect a continuous range of habitats, from tropical lowlands to temperate forests, within a single reserve. This ecological diversity supports an exceptional variety of wildlife, including globally significant and endangered species such as the Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian Rhinoceros, Pygmy Hog, Asian Elephant, and Asiatic Water Buffalo.
The Outstanding Universal Value of Royal Manas National Park lies in its remarkable biodiversity. The park is home to eight species of wild cats, a rarity globally, and supports one of the highest recorded tiger densities in the world, estimated at around one tiger per 25 square kilometres. It combines rich wildlife with spectacular river and valley landscapes, as well as cultural heritage, making it globally significant for both conservation and natural beauty.
Panbang, Bhutan's adventure and ecotourism gateway
Panbang Dungkhag, established in 1986, is an emerging ecotourism hub and an important southern gateway in Zhemgang District. Royal Manas National Park, established in 1966 as Bhutan's first protected area, borders Panbang, a close-knit community of around 10,000 residents.
Located approximately 114 kilometres from the district headquarters, Panbang shares its southern boundary with the Baksa and Barpeta districts of Assam, India. Situated just 13 kilometres from the Indian border, it lies at the confluence of the Mangde Chhu and Drangme Chhu rivers, which form the Manas River basin before flowing into Assam.
The area serves as an important access point to Royal Manas National Park. The Dungkhag administration comprises four gewogs: Bjoka, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Ngangla.
The Mangde Chhu and Drangme Chhu are among Bhutan's major river systems. Originating in glacial and high-altitude regions, they flow southward before joining to form the Manas River. These rivers play an important role in shaping Bhutan's central and eastern landscapes. They support hydropower generation, sustain local livelihoods, and provide some of the country's most exciting white-water rafting opportunities.
The Manas River is Bhutan's largest transboundary river system. It flows approximately 400 kilometres from the Himalayas through Bhutan and India before joining the Brahmaputra River. The basin drains much of central and eastern Bhutan and plays a significant role in the region's ecology and hydrology.
A drive from Gelephu to Panbang takes approximately six to seven hours, depending on road conditions, weather, and traffic. While the journey can be challenging, it passes through diverse landscapes ranging from southern foothills to deep river valleys. As the road approaches Panbang, the scenery becomes increasingly remote and pristine, offering glimpses of Bhutan's rich biodiversity and forested wilderness.
Despite the distance, many visitors consider the journey worthwhile. Panbang opens into one of Bhutan's most pristine river landscapes, where adventure, wildlife, and culture come together at the gateway to Royal Manas National Park.
