8-14 September 2017 #875

Falling with water

Lwang Ghalel waterfall in Kaski is becoming the most popular for canyoning among Nepali youngsters seeking adventure
Yuvaraj Shrestha in POKHARA

Pics: YUVARAJ SHRESTHA

People say there is too much water to trek in the monsoon. But there is never too much water for Nepal’s other adventure sport: canyoning.

The country’s topography offers many waterfalls, and endless opportunities to abseil down them. And the most exciting time to do waterfalls is during the monsoon.

Besides the Bhote Kosi Valley and Jalbire on the Prtihvi Highway, the 108m Lwang Ghalel waterfall in Kaski is becoming the most popular for canyoning among Nepali youngsters seeking adventure.

Canyoning from the Ghalel Fall is being promoted by Ram Gurung. He is training 16 local, unemployed youth to abseil respecting all the safety norms so they can be guides. He set up Pokhara Canyoning and now has a mostly Nepali clientele.

College student Puja Thapa, 23, says she is addicted to the adventure of falling with a waterfall. “At first I felt like what Spider Man must feel. The edge from which I jumped off was so slippery, and towards the middle the roar of the water and the mist was so scary I screamed with excitement,” she said, dripping wet at the foot of the falls.

Binod Rai travelled from Ilam just for the canyoning because he found it so thrilling the first time.

Actress Srijana Subba (pictured above) was in Pokhara recently on location to shoot her next movie ‘Panche Baja’ and decided to go canyoning. “It is an adventure like nothing else, but you have to muster the confidence to jump off,” said Subba after taking the plunge.

Gearing up for the adventure requires a wet suit, helmet, life vest and shoes made specially for canyoning. Newcomers to the sport need professional guides.

Read also:

Jomsom In the Off Season, Sean Shoemaker

Mist-ical Monsoon, Lisa Schwoerer