Chandragiri Cable Car's trial this week

The Chandragiri Cable Car project, which connects between Thankot and Chandragiri hill top measuring 2.5 kilometre, is conducting its trial operation this week.

"We have completed the construction of the cable car project," said Chandra Prasad Dhakal, chairman of the chairman of the IME Group and one of its promoters.

The cable car, which is a part of the Chandragiri Hills project run by Kathmandu Fun Park Pvt. Ltd, is likely to catch the fancy of people with its multiple religious and tourist menu.

File photo of Bhaleshwor Mahadev taken a couple of months ago.
Photo: Modnath Dhakal

It includes Bhaleshwor Mahadev temple, view tower, children centre, amphitheatre, restaurant and souvenir shops on the top of the legendary hill that once enticed Nepal's unifier Prithvi Narayan Shah into becoming the king of Kathmandu Valley. The hill offers the grandiose view of the Valley.

 Dhakal informed that after a few days of trial operation, the cable car would be open for common people.

“The temple, view tower and other infrastructure have been completed and the site is ready to welcome the visitors. It will be one of the biggest recreational centred on the outskirt of the Kathmandu Valley.”

The company was planning to run the cable care and open the view tower and temple for the visitors by 1^st Baisakh, the first day of New Year in Nepali Calendar.

It will be open for the common people within the third week of April, informed the company.

Eleven towers were constructed and gondolas were set for the cable car.

Dhakal informed that the cable care would carry about 1,000 people to the hilltop and down to Thankot every hour.

The project is using cable car technology developed by the Doppelmayr of Austria.

The company is also planning to construct a three star standard hotel near by the view tower which will be targeted for the high-end tourists.

For the adventure lovers, the Chandragiri Hills will construct a zip flyer from the hill top to the other side to Chitlang of Makwanpur.

According to Hindu Mythology, the 2,540 metres high hilltop, was the place where Lord Shiva’s first wife Sati Devi’s forehead had fallen on the floor, when Shiva was carrying the dead body of his wife after she committed suicide by setting herself to fire.

 “Therefore, this place has religious, historical and environmental importance which, we hope, will attract domestic and international tourists as well,” said Ambika Prasad Poudel, another promoter of the project and managing director of Hathway Investment.

The Rs. 3.25 billion project was started one and half years ago.

To ensure the safety of the visitors, there will be security personnel and close circuit cameras in all locations and sensors will be set in the towers, stated the company.

All infrastructures in the base station and hilltop will be disabled-friendly. Even the view tower has a ramp where wheelchair can be wheeled up and down.

Dhakal, Paudel, Min Bahadur Gurung, founder of the Bhatbhateni Supermarket, Uttam Nepal – UK-based Nepalese businessman and Uma GC are the promoters of the Chandragiri Hills.