The 4 Best Cable Cars in Nepal (Routes & Locations)
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ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE BEST CABLE CARS IN NEPAL?
You’ve come to the right place. I have been living in Nepal and loved my trips on the cable cars in Nepal.
When I first think of Nepal, I do not think of cable cars. Surprisingly, there are a good number of cable cars in Nepal that take you through scenic views of mountains, valleys and rivers.
Four of the most popular cable cars in Nepal are the Chandragiri Cable Car, Annapurna Cable Car, Manakamana Cable Car and the Kalinchowk Cable Car.
4 Best Cable Cars in Nepal: A Quick Guide
Are you short on time? No worries, here is a quick list of the top 4 cable cars in Nepal:
⭐ Chandragiri Cable Car: Best for views of Himalayas and Kathmandu Valley
⭐ Annapurna Cable Car: Best for sunrise views of Himalayas (Pokhara)
⭐ Manakamana Cable Car: Best for visiting the Manakamana Temple
⭐ Kalinchowk Cable Car: Best for visiting the Bhagawati Temple
Best Cable Cars in Nepal
1. Chandragiri Cable Car
- Location: 1 hour from Kathmandu (check on google maps here)
- Opening times: 9 am – 7 pm (break times between 12-13 pm)
- Price: USD 23 for foreigners (two-way), Rs. 825 for Nepalese (two-way), Rs. 1,320 (two-way) for SAARC
- Best time to visit: between October – April
The Chandragiri Cable Car is close to Kathmandu and can be reached in about 1 hour by car or bus.
It is a popular destination to see the Himalayas and the views of the Kathmandu Valley. The cable car covers 2.5 kms and the ride is about 10 minutes long. Some parts of the cable car is prety steep, so if you are scared of heights, it’s better not to look down!
➡️ Don’t miss your chance and book a private half-day tour to the Chandragiri Hills and Cable Car! (Voted 5/5 ⭐ on 103 reviews)
The Chandragiri Cable Car is very popular on Saturdays (which is the day off in Nepal) and on public holidays, so it is best to visit Chandragiri on other days.
Once you get to the top, you can walk around and also check out the Baleshwara Mahadev Temple.
🚡 Check out my travel guide to Chandragiri here!
2. Annapurna Cable Car
- Location: 20 minutes from Pokhara (check on google maps here)
- Opening times: 5 am – 5:30 pm
- Price: USD 12 for foreigners (two-way)
- Best time to visit: sunrise between October – April
The Annapurna Cable Car connects Pokhara to Sarangkot. Sarangkot is a small hillside village and is a popular place to see the sunrise over the Himalayas near Pokhara.
If you have only a short time in Pokhara, Sarangkot is a great place to visit for sunrise views.
The Annapurna Cable Car starts at 5 am in the morning so that visitors are able to catch the sunrise from Sarangkot.
The cable car ride is pretty scenic as you get to see Pokhara, Fewa Lake and the surrounding hills.
3. Manakamana Cable Car
- Location: 5 hours from Kathmandu (check on google maps here)
- Opening times: 8 am – 5 pm (with a break at 12-13:30 pm)
- Price: Rs. 2,700 for foreigners (two-way), Rs. 770 for Nepalese (two-way), Rs. 1,000 for Indian citizens (two-way)
- Best time to visit: weekdays (avoid weekends and public holidays as it gets super busy)
The Manakamana Cable Car was built to transport people to the Manakamana Temple. The bottom station of the cable car is by the Prithvi Highway in-between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
The cable car takes about 10 minutes to reach the top and you get scenic views of the Trishuli River and the surrounding hills.
➡️ Visit the famous Manakamana Temple and book a day trip from Kathmandu to the Manakamana Temple and Cable Car here!
As the Manakamana Temple is very popular for devotees and the cable car is the most common way to get there, the queues to the cable car can get very long. If you come here during a public holiday, expect to queue as long as 2 hours.
4. Kalinchowk Cable Car
- Location: 8 hours from Kathmandu (check on google maps here)
- Opening times: 5 am – 4 pm
- Price: Rs. 1,300 for foreigners (two-way), Rs. 600 for Nepalese (two-way)
- Best time to visit: October – April (for snow: January – February)
The Kalinchowk Cable Car is in Kuri Village, Dolakha District. It takes about 7-8 hours to reack Kuri Village from Kathmandu.
Kuri Village is popular in the winter months in Nepal as a when it starts to snow (around January and February), people come here to play in the snow.
The cable car goes up to the Bhagawati Temple which is a famous Hindu temple. From the top cable car station, there is a really breathtaking views of the Himalayas.
The Kalinchowk Cable Car is a smaller one, with only 4 cable cars to transport visitors. If you visit on a weekend or public holiday, the queues might be very long. There is also a hiking trail up to the Bhagawati Temple, so if you do not want to wait for the cable car, you can also hike up.
FAQs: Best Cable Cars in Nepal
How many cable cars are in Nepal?
Currently there are 6 operational cable cars in Nepal. These are the Manakamana Cable Car, Chandragiri Cable Car, Annapurna Cable Car, Kalinchowk Cable Car, Lumbini Cable Car and the Maula Kali Cable Car.
The cable cars in Nepal offer a scenic ride to hill stations with views of the Himlayas, as well as a way to reach sacred Hindu temples.
There are some other cable car projects that are currently being developed in Nepal. Most notably the Bandipur-Dumre Cable Car and the Pokhara-Muktinath Cable Car.
Which is the longest cable car in Nepal?
The longest cable car in Nepal is the Manakamana Cable Car. It covers a distance of 2.7 km and takes about 10 minutes.
What is the cost of the ticket for the Manakamana Cable Car in Nepal?
The cost of the ticket for the Manakamana Cable Car varies based on nationalities. The price of the tickets are:
- Rs. 770 for Nepalese (two-way)
- Rs. 1,000 for Indian citizens (two-way)
- Rs. 2,700 for foreigners (two-way)
Which is the first cable car in nepal?
The first cable car in Nepal is the Manakamana Cable Car. It was built in 1998 as a way to transport people to the Manakamana Temple.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Nepal has many cable cars that offer not only scenic views of the Himalayas but also as a gateway to sacred Hindu temples.
Cables cars in Nepal have gained significance as in mountainous places where it would be difficult to build a railway, the cable car is a good alternative. Thus, cable cars in Nepal will likely be continued to be built as a way of transport as well as for touristic purposes.
Nepal Trip Planning
Book your flight to Nepal: Check out Skyscanner or Kiwi.com to find the best flights deals!
Book Your Accommodation for Nepal: Are you looking for accommodation? Booking.com has everything from budget to luxury accommodation. For the cheapest places, check out Hostelworld.com.
Book Tours and Activities for Nepal: GetYourGuide and Viator have a vast number of tours and day trip activities all around the world. Check out their website and book your activity!
Get Travel Insurance for Nepal: It is always good to be on the safe side when travelling. SafetyWing is one of the most affordable international travel insurance and you can book it even after you have already started your trip.
Get Your Travel Cards: Whenever I am abroad, I always use travel cards Wise and Revolut. They have multiple currencies available, you can use it in shops and restaurants. The great thing is that they have the best exchange rates!
Looking for other tips to make travel easier? Check out my complete list of travel resources that have been my go-to companies when abroad or planning a trip.
Nepal Quick Guide
Can I get a Visa on Arrival for Nepal?
Yes! Almost all nationalities can get a ‘Visa on Arrival’ once landing at the Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu (check eligibility here). Getting a Visa-on-Arrival for Nepal is quick and easy. Read here my full guide on getting a Visa on Arrival for Nepal.
Should I get a Nepali SIM card?
Yes! Once you arrive in Nepal, it is recommended to get a Nepali SIM card.
SIM cards in Nepal are cheap and easy to get. There are daily, weekly or monthly data plans – all at an affordable cost. For more information, check how to get a SIM card in Nepal here.
Are there any useful mobile apps I can use in Nepal?
Yes! There are a couple of mobile apps that come handy when travelling in Nepal, including taxi apps, offline maps for trekking, booking accommodation and travel cards.
Check out my list of the most useful mobile apps to have in Nepal.
Can I exchange money in Nepal? What about ATMs?
Yes! Thamel (where most tourists stay) has many money exchange shops as well as ATMs.
There is also a currency exchange shop at the airport but the rates are better in Thamel. Read here all about currency exchange and ATMs in Nepal.
Is it safe to travel by bus in Nepal?
The roads are dangerous but generally yes (best to travel by a tourist bus)!
I would say road travel in Nepal is generally dangerous due to the road conditions. The roads are narrow and go through mountainous areas. The tourist buses in Nepal have the best safety, so if possible, make sure to book tourist buses when travelling in Nepal.
Overall, the roads might look dangerous but the drivers are used to the road conditions in Nepal so the tourist buses are a safe choice. Here is everything you need to know about bus travel in Nepal.
Can I book bus tickets online in Nepal?
Yes! It is possible to book bus tickets online in Nepal however, I recommend it for those staying in Nepal for 3+ months.
It is not possible to book bus tickets online using an international bank card but only through registering on a Nepali digital payment app eSewa. If you are staying long-term in Nepal, read here my step-by-step guide on how to book bus tickets online using eSewa.
Do they speak English in Nepal?
You might wonder “Do they speak English in Nepal?” It depends on where in Nepal you are. In big cities (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Sauraha/Chitwan) or trekking routes (Annapurna, Everest) that have many tourists, you will easily get by speaking English.
If you are in remote Nepal where not many tourists go, people usually will have little or no English. Here is a quick list of useful Nepali phrases to know while travelling in Nepal.
