Cable Cars & Ropeways of Nepal

The best-known cable car in Nepal is the Manakamana cable car in Gorkha, the country's first, but it is no longer the only one. A handful of ropeways now lift pilgrims and sightseers to hilltop temples and Himalaya viewpoints in minutes. This guide rounds up the cable cars in Nepal you can ride today, what each one connects, and what to expect from fares, timings and the views.

The short answer

Three cable cars carry most visitors. Manakamana rises from the Prithvi Highway to its hilltop temple in Gorkha; Chandragiri Hills climbs to a 2,550 m ridge with a Himalaya panorama on the edge of the Kathmandu Valley; and the Kalinchowk cable car lifts you from Kuri village toward the snowy 3,842 m Kalinchowk summit. Newer and proposed ropeways, such as Maulakalika above Gaindakot, are widening the choice. Fares differ by nationality and change often, so check current rates before you go.

Manakamana: Nepal's first cable car

Opened in 1998, the Manakamana cable car was the first passenger ropeway in the country and remains the most iconic. It runs from a base station near Kurintar on the Kathmandu–Pokhara highway up to the Manakamana temple, one of Nepal's most visited Hindu shrines, crossing high over the Trishuli river gorge. The ascent takes roughly ten minutes and replaces what was once a long uphill walk, which is why pilgrims, families and goats bound for offerings all share the cabins. Expect queues on Saturdays and festival days.

Chandragiri: Himalaya views above Kathmandu

On the western rim of the Kathmandu Valley, the Chandragiri Hills cable car climbs from a base at Thankot to a hilltop of about 2,550 m in a few scenic minutes. The summit has the Bhaleshwor Mahadev temple, viewing decks, gardens and cafes, and on a clear morning the reward is a long sweep of the Himalaya from the Annapurnas to the Everest region. It is one of the easiest half-day trips from the capital and a favourite with families, making it a natural pairing with the valley's other hill stations near Kathmandu.

Kalinchowk: a ride into the snow

In Dolakha, east of Kathmandu, the Kalinchowk cable car lifts visitors from Kuri village toward the 3,842 m Kalinchowk summit and its Bhagwati temple in a matter of minutes. It is busiest in the winter snow season, when the short ride saves a steep, slippery climb and delivers travellers straight into the high, frosted scenery that draws Kathmandu weekenders. Clear days bring views across ridgelines toward the Gaurishankar and Langtang peaks.

More ropeways: Maulakalika and beyond

Beyond the big three, the Maulakalika cable car near Gaindakot in the central Terai climbs to the Maula Kalika temple on a hill above the Narayani river, a quick lift for pilgrims and a viewpoint over Chitwan's plains. Several more projects have been proposed, including ambitious ideas around the Annapurna region, though these are at planning or early-development stages rather than open to riders. If you are routing between any of these by road, our notes on getting around Nepal cover the highway connections.

Planning a cable-car trip

Go early to beat queues and catch the clearest mountain light, and treat weather as the deciding factor — high wind or thick cloud can pause a ride and erase the view. Fares are tiered by nationality and sold one-way or round-trip, and they change regularly, so confirm current prices and operating hours at the counter rather than trusting older numbers. Most cable cars top out at temples, so dress respectfully if you plan to enter a shrine.

For more high-vista ideas pair these rides with Nepal's best viewpoints and famous temples, or lean into the thrill side with the country's wider adventure activities. Tap any cable car above for stations, timings, fares and how to visit.