PANCHTHAR, FEBRUARY 26
Two years after standing atop Mount Everest, Kishor Jabegu found himself at the edge of a very different drop, a waterfall in his home district of Panchthar.
In 2023, Jabegu summited Mount Everest as part of the Nepal Army Cleaning and Climbing Expedition. Last week, he led the first-ever canyoning trial at Muwa Waterfall in Falelong Rural Municipality, marking a new chapter not only in his personal journey but also in the district's tourism ambitions.
The technical assessment, conducted at the confluence of Wards 5 and 6, is the first formal attempt to test canyoning in Panchthar. Organisers say the site shows promising characteristics but will require further feasibility studies and safety standardisation before any commercial launch.
Canyoning is an adventure sport that involves descending waterfalls and navigating narrow gorges using ropes, harnesses and specialised equipment. Nepal's steep terrain and fast-flowing rivers make it well suited to the sport.
The activity was introduced in Nepal in the late 1990s by Megh Ale, a leading figure in outdoor sports, after his training in Austria. Since then, canyoning has developed gradually, particularly in the Bhotekoshi valley, which hosts several established sites, as well as along sections of the Marsyangdi corridor and in parts of central Nepal. However, much of the country's potential remains untapped.
During the trial, Jabegu and his team assessed the waterfall's height, rock stability, water volume and landing zones. According to organisers, Muwa Waterfall offers varied gradients and relatively stable rock formations, making it potentially suitable for structured canyoning routes catering to both beginners and experienced participants.
The team included Sujan Tamang, Manoj Limbu and Jivan Silwal. Ward Chairpersons Bharat Kumar Khapangi Magar (Ward 5) and Amar Rai (Ward 6), along with local residents, supported the initiative.
Local representatives said regulated canyoning operations could create employment opportunities, promote homestays and strengthen small businesses in the area.
"This could open a new tourism avenue for our rural municipality if it is managed safely and professionally," a local official said.
Jabegu, 28, serves in the Nepal Army's Shree Singh Nath Battalion (Commando). His Everest summit in 2023 earned him the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Badge. He has also served in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan, where he received a UN Medal.
His exposure to mountaineering and other high-risk adventure disciplines, he says, encouraged him to explore new possibilities in his own district.
"After gaining experience in mountaineering and other adventure activities, I wanted to introduce something new in my birthplace," Jabegu said. "If adventure sports are developed responsibly, they can benefit local communities."
Panchthar, located in Nepal's eastern hills, is known for its natural beauty but remains outside the country's mainstream tourism circuits. Stakeholders argue that structured adventure activities could diversify local income sources and reduce reliance on seasonal agriculture and labour migration.
At the same time, experts caution that unplanned river exploitation and infrastructure development could threaten natural sites if environmental safeguards are not prioritised.
For now, the Muwa canyoning trial represents an initial exploration rather than a commercial rollout. Detailed technical studies and coordination with local authorities will determine the next phase.
Having reached the world's highest peak, Jabegu is now focused on elevating his own district, not through altitude, but through opportunity.
