Adventure tourism in Nepal reached a new milestone as the first highline practice was conducted in the Kali Gandaki Gorge, located between Kusma in Parbat and Balewa in Baglung. The highline practice was led by Shankar Koirala, a native of Hile, Dhankuta, who has over 15 years of experience performing highlines across Europe.
Highline Practice at ‘The Cliff’ Adventure Hub
The practice took place at ‘The Cliff’, an adventure hub known for bungee jumping and other extreme sports. This marks the first time a highline activity has been attempted at this site, aimed at promoting adventure tourism in Nepal. Raju Karki, chairman of The Cliff, expressed enthusiasm, saying that organizing the highline practice in Nepal is a “welcome step toward expanding adventure tourism opportunities.”
International Crew and Collaborative Efforts
The highline crew included three Nepali participants, one New Zealander, and two Germans, working alongside Shankar Koirala. Nepal Slackline Community members, including Sulabh Chalise, Sahan Maharjan, Dylan, Kasia, Matase, and Mithias, also assisted in the project.
The practice began on Ashwin 29 (October 15) and will continue until Kartik 1 (October 18). According to Karki, this is the first highline in Nepal conducted at such a significant height, opening doors for a new era of high-altitude adventure tourism in the country.
Highline Details and Safety Measures
The highline rope, stretching 408 meters, connects The Cliff in Balewa to a harness zipline on the Kusma side, forming what is considered the longest and tallest highline in Nepal. The project is reported to be the second-longest highline in Southeast Asia, making it a landmark in the region’s adventure sports scene.
Due to the height, complexity, and risks involved, highlining is regarded as an extremely challenging sport requiring both physical skill and mental focus. On the first day, the practice was conducted by Bennett Dylan Red, demonstrating the technical precision needed to maintain balance and safety.
Understanding Slackline and Highline
Slackline is a sport where a strip of webbing is stretched 30 centimeters to 1 meter above the ground, and participants walk across it while maintaining balance with arms outstretched. It is popular worldwide in parks, gardens, and seaside areas for improving focus, flexibility, and body control.
Highline, in contrast, is practiced at heights ranging from 20 meters to hundreds of meters, using a safety harness and leash system. The sport demands deep concentration, controlled breathing, and steady vision. Typically performed across mountains, bridges, and gorges, highlining tests both mental resilience and physical strength, making it one of the most thrilling adventure sports.
Boosting Nepal’s Adventure Tourism
The successful highline practice in the Kali Gandaki Gorge is seen as a pivotal moment for Nepal’s adventure tourism sector, demonstrating the country’s potential to host high-altitude extreme sports that can attract both domestic and international enthusiasts. The collaboration between experienced international athletes and Nepali professionals highlights Nepal’s growing capabilities in organizing world-class adventure events. With this initiative, Nepal moves a step closer to being recognized not only for its trekking and mountaineering but also as a hub for extreme sports in South Asia.
