PANCHTHAR: A team led by Everest summiteer and former Nepal Army commando Kishor Jabegu has successfully conducted the first-ever canyoning trial at Muwa Waterfall in Falelong Rural Municipality of Panchthar district, opening what organisers believe could become one of the world's premier adventure tourism destinations.

The trial, conducted on Wednesday at the confluence of wards 5 and 6 of Falelong Rural Municipality, assessed the waterfall's suitability for canyoning — an adventure sport that combines abseiling down natural gorges and waterfalls, swimming, rock climbing and leaping across canyon features using ropes and specialised safety equipment. The team examined the waterfall's height, rock formation, water intensity and safety conditions before declaring the site highly promising.

Jabegu was joined by team members Sujan Tamang, Manoj Limbu and Jivan Silwal for the trial. Ward chairpersons Bharat Kumar Khapangi Magar of Ward 5 and Amar Rai of Ward 6, along with local residents, extended their support to make the trial a success.

A site with world-class potential

Organisers say Muwa Waterfall's geography, natural rock structure and scenic beauty give it the potential to compete with internationally recognised canyoning destinations. The long-term plan is to develop the site for participants ranging from beginners to advanced level, establishing Panchthar as a safe, well-managed and premier adventure tourism hub in Nepal.

"This location has the potential to develop not just as Nepal's finest canyoning destination but as one of the best in the world," said a team member, adding that the site's natural conditions are ideally suited to the sport.

The initiative is being driven with the explicit goal of promoting tourism in Panchthar — a district rich in natural beauty but yet to be widely placed on Nepal's adventure tourism map. Organisers believe the sport will attract both domestic and international visitors, generate local employment and strengthen the regional economy.

The man behind the mission

At the heart of the initiative is Kishor Jabegu, a 28-year-old retired Army Lance Corporal from the elite Shree Singh Nath Battalion (Commando), whose adventure credentials are as formidable as the terrain he navigates.

In 2023, Jabegu summited Mount Everest as part of the Nepal Army Cleaning and Climbing Expedition — making history as the first Aikido dojo and Gurkha Khukuri Martial Arts practitioner to reach the world's highest peak. 

He was honoured with the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Badge for the feat. His service also took him to the Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan as part of a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission, for which he received a United Nations Medal in 2025.

Beyond mountaineering, Jabegu has pursued an extraordinary breadth of adventure disciplines — canyoning, paragliding, rafting and bungee jumping, most recently completing a jump at the 180-metre platform in Kusma, Parbat, the second highest in the world. He is also a certified martial artist and holder of the Sainik Sewa Padak and Paradesh Sewa Padak medals.

"After successful mountaineering, canyoning, para jumping and rafting, I returned from Kusma and came here to introduce canyoning in my birthplace," Jabegu said. "Nepal Army has given me ample opportunity to reach this height of success, and now I want to use that to give something back to my community."

With the successful trial complete, the focus now turns to developing Muwa Waterfall into a fully operational canyoning destination — one that its pioneers believe could one day carry Panchthar's name onto the world adventure tourism stage.