Dancer to Everest-Lhotse Double Summit Kabita Nepali's

In the thin air of the Himalayan death zone, where human bodies begin to deteriorate and every step is a battle for survival, a former dancer found parts of herself she never knew were missing. On May 18, 2025, Kabita Nepali stood on the apex of the world, her mountaineering boots planted on ground that her graceful feet had never been expected to touch. But she wasn't finished. The very next day, she climbed Lhotse, the world's fourth-highest peak, completing a feat that left the international climbing community in awe and cemented her status as one of Nepal's most remarkable modern icons.

This is the story of a woman who traded standing ovations for oxygen masks, proving that the discipline of art and the endurance of alpinism spring from the same well of human spirit.

Roots in Patharkot: The Making of a Performer

Born in the small town of Patharkot in Nepal's Sarlahi District, Kabita's connection to performance was evident from early childhood. Her family recalls a telling incident from her toddler years: she became so captivated by dancers on a television screen that she attempted to join them, breaking the screen in the process. It was an early display of the immersive passion that would define her life—a complete abandonment of self to the art of movement.

That passion found its platform in 2018 when Kabita auditioned for "Boogie Woogie," Nepal's edition of the international franchise dance reality show. Competing against approximately 3,000 participants, she emerged as the champion, securing both the coveted title and a cash prize of Rs 2.5 million. The victory was transformative, catapulting her from relative obscurity into the national spotlight.

In the years that followed, Kabita became a ubiquitous presence in Nepali entertainment. She appeared in more than 50 music videos, including hits like "Aakhaima," "Jhyam Jhyam," and "Phuteko Chura," building a repertoire that showcased her versatility. Her debut feature film, "Eklo," marked her entry into cinema, eventually participating in the Cannes Market at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival—a remarkable achievement for a Nepali production. Simultaneously, she cultivated a parallel identity as a fitness model and vlogger, amassing over 104,000 YouTube subscribers who followed her workout regimens and wellness philosophy.

On the surface, Kabita had built a conventional entertainment career. But beneath the sequins and stage makeup stirred an appetite for something far more demanding.

The Call of the Mountains

The transition from Kathmandu's performance venues to the world's highest peaks didn't happen overnight. Kabita drew inspiration from other Nepali women who had ventured into mountaineering before her, including actresses Nisha Adhikari and Diya Pun. But where her predecessors had summited Everest individually, Kabita envisioned something more audacious: a double-header that would test the limits of human endurance.

Her mountaineering journey began with a logical first step. In January 2025, she climbed Lobuche Peak, standing at 6,119 meters, as part of her acclimatization training. The experience proved transformative. Standing on that initial summit, surrounded by wind, rock, and sky, she later wrote of experiencing "a moment of peace and self-discovery that I hadn't realized was missing from my life".

The Lobuche climb confirmed what Kabita had suspected: the same qualities that had made her a successful performer—discipline, focus, the ability to perform under pressure—were equally applicable to alpinism. She began rigorous training with Elite Exped, the company founded by legendary mountaineer Nirmal "Nimsdai" Purja, balancing film promotions and dance performances with the physical conditioning required for extreme altitude.

The Historic Ascent: Everest and Lhotse in 24 Hours

In May 2025, Kabita arrived at Everest Base Camp as a member of the 8K Nepalese Everest Expedition, later climbing under the guidance of Elite Exped and record-holding climber Mingma David Sherpa. Her team comprised 39 climbers attempting the world's highest peak during the spring window—a brief period when weather conditions become marginally less lethal.

On May 18, 2025, at 9:33 AM, Kabita Nepali stood on the summit of Mount Everest, 8,848 meters above sea level. Most climbers, having achieved the ultimate prize in mountaineering, would have begun their cautious descent, content with a lifetime's ambition fulfilled. Kabita was only halfway done.

The following morning, May 19 at 8:57 AM, she summitted Lhotse, the world's fourth-highest peak at 8,516 meters. This back-to-back ascent—climbing two 8,000-meter peaks within 24 hours without descending to base camp in between—is regarded among the most demanding challenges in high-altitude mountaineering. It requires not only exceptional physical conditioning but also psychological fortitude to remain in the "death zone" above 8,000 meters, where the body's cells begin to deteriorate and cognitive function becomes impaired.

Among the 39 climbers who reached Everest's summit with her team, Kabita was the sole individual to continue on and conquer Lhotse . The achievement made her the first Nepali celebrity to complete the demanding Everest-Lhotse traverse—a milestone that elevated her from entertainment personality to national inspiration .

Reflections from the Summit

After her descent, Kabita shared reflections that revealed the philosophical depth beneath her athletic achievement. "This journey wasn't just about summits," she wrote. "This is for the dreamers, the doers and those daring to rise above limits. And the most important I didn't conquer it, I became more because of it. I grew as a person, I learned and I found pieces of myself I never knew were missing".

Her words captured something essential about the relationship between challenge and self-discovery. The mountains had not been obstacles to overcome but catalysts for personal evolution—a perspective that distinguished her approach from more conventional narratives of conquest.

Beyond the Peaks: Documenting the Journey

Kabita understood that her achievement carried meaning beyond personal fulfillment. To share the experience with a broader audience, she released a documentary film titled "Everest & Lhotse Double Summit" on YouTube. Shot and edited by adventure filmmaker Bidhwan Shrestha, the documentary chronicles her full expedition—from the emotional farewell in Kathmandu through the grueling ascent to the breathtaking summits and her reflections upon returning safely.

The film distinguishes itself through its sincerity. Rather than merely glorifying success, it illuminates the preparation, teamwork, fear, and faith that underpin any major mountaineering achievement. For viewers unable to experience the Himalayas firsthand, the documentary offers an intimate window into both the beauty and brutality of high-altitude climbing.

Breaking Barriers: Redefining Possibility for Nepali Women

Kabita's accomplishment carries particular weight in the context of Nepali society, where women in performing arts continue to face scrutiny and where mountaineering has traditionally been dominated by men and specific ethnic communities. As a woman from the non-Sherpa Madhesi community achieving what few climbers of any background have managed, she has fundamentally challenged assumptions about who can participate in high-altitude alpinism.

Her success demonstrates that the same discipline that shapes an artist can also sculpt a mountaineer. It bridges two of Nepal's strongest cultural identities—the performing arts and the Himalayas—proving that excellence in one domain does not preclude achievement in another. For young Nepalis, especially women from non-mountaineering backgrounds, Kabita's trajectory offers powerful evidence that boundaries are often illusions.

Recognition and New Horizons

The mountaineering community has responded to Kabita's achievement with recognition that extends beyond ceremonial appreciation. In February 2026, the Everest Summiteers Summit formally appointed her as Public Relations Representative for its 2026 gathering, scheduled for May 27 in Kathmandu, coinciding with International Everest Day.

The appointment reflects understanding that Kabita embodies the values the Summit seeks to promote: resilience, discipline, and commitment to sustainable mountaineering practices. Under the agreement, she will represent Everest Alliance Nepal and the Summit at national and international platforms, advocate for mountain conservation, and promote responsible tourism in the Himalayan region.

Her role extends beyond ambassadorial duties to substantive advocacy for environmental responsibility—a cause increasingly urgent as climate change transforms mountain ecosystems and waste management challenges intensify at high altitudes.

The Discipline of Duality

What connects Kabita's seemingly disparate careers—dancer and mountaineer—is the nature of the disciplines themselves. Both demand extraordinary physical control. Both require performing under pressure where mistakes carry consequences. Both isolate the individual in moments of intense concentration, whether spotlit on stage or solitary in the death zone.

The dancer who once broke a television trying to join performers inside has found a larger stage. From the venues of Kathmandu to the roof of the world, she has demonstrated that human potential resists categorization. The same woman who mesmerizes audiences with choreographed movement can navigate the Khumbu Icefall's shifting seracs. The actress who walks red carpets can endure the isolation of high camp.

Conclusion: Standing on Top of the World

Kabita Nepali's double summit of Everest and Lhotse represents more than athletic achievement. It symbolizes the dissolution of artificial boundaries between art and adventure, between feminine and masculine pursuits, between what entertainers do and what heroes accomplish.

Her journey from Patharkot to 8,848 meters traces an arc of determination that transcends mountaineering. It speaks to anyone who has ever been told that their dreams exceed their station, that their background precludes their aspirations, that their present identity limits their future possibilities.

For Nepalis watching a countrywoman stand atop the world's highest peaks, for women seeing someone like themselves achieve what few humans of any background have managed, for artists discovering that creative discipline translates to physical endurance—Kabita's story offers both inspiration and instruction.

She did not conquer the mountains. She became more because of them. And in sharing that becoming, she invites us all to discover what pieces of ourselves might be waiting at altitudes we never thought we'd reach.