In a remarkable feat for Nepal’s adventure tourism, Shankar Koirala, a highliner from Hile, Dhankuta, has completed a highline walk across the Kaligandaki Gorge between Kusma (Parbat) and Balewa (Baglung). The achievement marks Nepal’s highest and longest highline to date.
Now based in Germany, Koirala led the event as part of his “dream project”. He has been practising highlining across Europe for the past 15 years. The highline, stretching 408 metres, connects the harness zipline tower in Kusma to The Cliff in Balewa — a popular adventure hub known for bungee and other extreme sports.
According to Raju Karki, chairperson of The Cliff, this is the first-ever highline of such altitude attempted in Nepal. “It opens new possibilities for adventure tourism in the country,” Karki said, calling the effort an important milestone in promoting Nepal as a destination for extreme sports.
The highline crew includes six members — three Nepalis, one New Zealander, and two Germans — with support from the Nepal Slackline Community.
The event began on October 15 and runs until October 18, jointly organised by the Nepal Slackline Community and The Cliff. Koirala said the project was made possible after two years of planning, communication, and coordination with international trainers and partners.
Slackline involves walking and balancing on a flat webbing tensioned between two points, typically 30 centimetres to 1 metre above the ground. Practised in parks, beaches, and gardens worldwide, it enhances focus, body control, and flexibility.
Highline, on the other hand, takes the sport to the extreme — performed tens or even hundreds of metres above the ground with a safety harness and leash system. It requires deep focus, steady breathing, and a calm gaze to maintain balance. Often set up across cliffs, bridges, or gorges, highlining is considered one of the most thrilling and mentally demanding adventure sports.
Koirala’s dream to showcase adventure sports in the Kaligandaki Gorge goes back many years. To realise it, he brought a foreign crew to Kusma at his own initiative. On the opening day, athlete Bennett Dylan Redd successfully completed the first highline walk.
The project is described as the second longest highline in Southeast Asia, and the highest ever attempted in Nepal. Though visually daunting, organisers stressed that all international safety standards were strictly followed.
“The main aim is to raise awareness about highlining and slacklining, promote adventure tourism, and support athletes involved in this growing field,” Koirala said.
According to the Nepal Slackline Community, activities such as slacklining and highlining not only develop courage, balance, and concentration among young people but also help showcase Nepal’s natural beauty and mountain landscapes to the world. The initiative is expected to draw more domestic and international visitors to Pokhara and nearby regions.
The community also plans to expand such adventure projects to other locations in the future, building on the growing enthusiasm for extreme outdoor sports in Nepal.
Koirala said further research and investment are needed to explore Nepal’s potential for adventure tourism.
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