Chandragiri, Nepal

• Chandragiri is a half day activity from Kathmandu. The ropeway is the key attraction although the view from the top is equally stunning.
• Cab will take USD 30-40 depending upon how long you make them stay at the base of the ropeway. There are resorts as well near the peak.

A trip to Chandragiri peak was surprise. We were aware of this attraction but given there was so much of heritage to cover in the Kathmandu valley, we were not such this will make the cut in our itinerary. We did make it to the peak and while we found the place covered with clouds, it was still a most unique experience.

Chandragiri Cable Car

We took a cab for half day and reached the base of Chandragiri ropeway in no time. We were told it’s a long ropeway but only when you see it and then ride it do you realise just how long it. It feels like eternity while the view of the peak below changes gradually as the valley opens up in front of you.

Nearing the top, Chandragiri Cable Car

The ticket to peak is expensive at around USD 20. There is a discount for Chinese probably because they installed / subsidised this whole thing. It was a weekday and unlike most other ropeways I have been to, Chandragiri ropeway has seriously an incredible throughput capacity. We we in our cabin, built for 8, exclusively thanks to the low crowd.

Temple at the top of Chandragiri peak

We took numerous pictures of the valley, of the cabins passing us going down and of us of course. The only thing not clearly visible was the peak. It took us around 15 minutes to reach the top. The top of Chandragiri is elaborately constructed with a zip line, a temple and a large restaurant at the very top. All this is a spread over more than half mile of curving cemented road.

Valley view from near top

It was disappointing to be asked for another ticket to watch the view from the top of the restaurant but we anyway declined as the clouds made sure nothing far was visible anyway. We came back to take our cable car down when i saw a closed restaurant perched at the very edge of the walkway. It would have been some experience to dine here. We went down on another cable car exclusive to us and reached back Kathmandu before lunch time.