Kathmandu. Chandragiri is becoming famous as a tourist destination. Religiously and historically, it has been at the peak of discussion since ancient times. The reason for the cable car that reaches Chandragiri Hill is even more popular now. Every day, thousands of people reach Chandragiri, 2,551 meters above sea level, by riding modern cable cars.
Earlier, during the time of Chandrashamsher in the year 1981, after the Dhorsingh-Chisapani-Chandragiri ropeway was operated by the government, there was a discussion of a new way of Chandragiri. After 92 years, businessman Chandra Dhakal and others have operated a cable car in Chandragiri from the private sector.
Since then, residents of Thankot, Chitlang, and Markhu have been going to Chandragiri to worship Bhaleswar Mahadev according to Hindu religious beliefs. There is another historical context that Prithvi Narayan Shah was motivated to unify Nepal after observing the Kathmandu Valley from Chandragiri.
It is said that he prayed at Bhaleshwar temple before climbing to Kathmandu valley. After the operation of the cable car in the year 2073, Chandragiri Hill has gained more height as a tourist destination.
There is also a rush of tourists after visiting the Bhaleshwar temple for Rs. 700 and returning to Chandragiri. Because of the cable car, 3,000 domestic and foreign tourists have started reaching Chandragiri every day. Chandragiri Hills said that this number doubles on public holidays.
More work is being done to make Chandragiri a tourist destination with international level service facilities. Chandragiri Hills leased 720 ropani land of Chandragiri Hills from the government for 40 years and started the cable car operation.
The company has to pay an annual rent of Rs. 1 lakh 80 thousand to the government. Various structures are being constructed in about 100 plantation areas. The company has reconstructed the Bhaleshwar temple at a height of 2,551.30 meters in Chandragiri in pagoda style. From the temple premises, the Kathmandu Valley and the snow range from Annapurna to Mount Everest can be seen.
There is a view tower at a height of 2,547 meters to the west of the temple, while the children’s garden is to the south-west and the assembly hall is to the west. There are bars, restaurants, fast food centers, and other facilities on the hill.
Chandragiri Hills Ltd. has built a five-star resort on the southern side of the hill. After that, adventure games like paragliding, jeep line, and climbing are also being conducted.
Now the cable car takes you from the base at 1,564 meters above sea level to the top station at 2,520 meters. 38 cabs (gondalos) of the cable car carry 1000 passengers in an hour. A maximum of eight people can sit in a gondola.
Although the distance is 9.6 minutes, it takes up to 14 minutes due to the pressure of passengers and the time it takes to get on and off.
The company charges Rs. 415 for one-way fares and Rs. 700 for two-way fares per passenger. Discounts have been arranged for children, students, the elderly, people with disabilities, and locals. Passengers from non-SAARC countries are charged USD 13 for one-way and USD 22 for two-way.

Cable car in Nepal
Chandragiri cable car is the technology of Austria’s ‘Doppelmeyer’ company. Two decades after Britain built a cable car in 1893 to carry soldiers in its colony of Gibraltar in southern Spain, the ropeway built in Nepal during Prime Minister Chandra Shamsher’s time was 22 km long. In 2021, with American financial support, it was extended to Hetaunda and made 42 km long.
Then, in 2041, the 1,200-meter Andihokola, 1,800-meter Jhimruk, 2,000-meter Khimti Ropeway, and Manakamana Cable Car were built in 2055.
China, Canada, Switzerland, Bolivia, Brazil, France, New Zealand, and other countries have expanded their cable car networks. China has operated the world’s longest (7,455 meters) Taimen Shan cable car on the ‘Heaven’s Gate Mountain’.
Now in Nepal, the cable car construction campaign is going on in places like Muktinath, Lumbini, Maulakalika, Rupandehi, Bandipur, Kalinchok, etc.