Kushma

Kushma is a hill town in central Nepal, perched above the deep gorge of the Kali Gandaki river, and home to the country's most extreme gravity sports. The town's long suspension footbridges, strung dizzyingly high across the canyon, set the stage for what has become Nepal's adventure-jumping capital.

The Kushma bungee plunges around 228 metres from a purpose-built bridge over the Kali Gandaki — the highest bungee in Nepal and among the tallest in the world — while a neighbouring canyon swing sends jumpers arcing through the gorge in a huge pendulum. Both run commercially with modern harness and cord systems, so no experience is needed beyond the courage to step off. The sheer depth of the canyon, one of the deepest on earth, gives the jumps an exceptional sense of exposure.

The setting is rural middle-hill Nepal, terraced fields and forested ridges with the white walls of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna massifs on the horizon. Kushma lies on the road between Pokhara and Baglung, and its ordinary bridges — used daily by locals — are attractions in themselves for the views down into the gorge.

The best months are the clear, dry seasons of autumn (October to November) and spring (March to April), when skies are settled and mountain views sharp; the summer monsoon brings rain, cloud and slippery approaches. Jumps depend on weather and river conditions, so allow a little flexibility. Kushma is an easy half-day trip from Pokhara, and pairs well with paragliding or trekking there.