Ropeways in Nepal, which mainly refers to the aerial ropeways, are used for human and cargo transport. In the ‘Nepal Country Report’ of 1976 by the world bank concluded that construction and maintenance of roads in mountainous are costly due to hilly terrain, and thus other means of transport should be studied mainly indicating to the ropeways. However, ropeways have not gained significant popularity over roadways. In the Ninth Five-year Plan ropeway was encouraged with and involvement of the private sector. But no provision in the national budget was made for ropeway development. Nonetheless, private sector has initiated the construction and operation of ropeways mainly in lucrative places such as religious temple.[1][2]

History

The first ropeway to carry cargo was Halchowk-Lainchour ropeway which was used to transport stones from the quarry to build palaces.[1] The famous, Dhorsing-chisapnai-Chandragiri ropeway passing into Kathmandu was built by Chandra Shamser Rana in 1922. It was upgraded in 1964 to reach to Hetauda with a total length of 42 km with technical and financial assistance from USAID.[2]

Types of ropeways in Nepal

Following are the types of ropeways based on the operation mechanism and types of transport.

Tar pul or Ghirling

Also known as twin, this kind of ropeways are rudimentary ropeways that are used as a bridge to cross the river. These are generally made by the local community based on necessity. As of May 2004, there are 25 Tar Pul in Kavre, Gorkha, Myagdi, Udaypur, Chitwan and Lamjung [2]

Tar pul or Ghirling or Tuin

Gravity Ropeways

Gravity ropeway operates by using potential energy without electricity. A certain weight is dropped from higher elevation which pulls the smaller cargo from lower elevation to higher elevation.[3] This kind of ropeways was first used in Mustang to transportation apple. Since then it has made its way to four other locations, Gorkha, Tanahun, Kalikot and Achham.[1] Most of the construction ropeways fall in this category.

Cargo Ropeways

Cargo ropeways are used in Nepal to transport goods from one place to another. The first ropeway, Halchowk-Lainchour, was in fact a cargo ropeway. The most famous cargo ropeway was the Kathmandu-Hetauda Ropeway which is now out of operation.

Kathmandu-Hetauda Cargo Ropeway

Passenger ropeways

Mostly electrically operated, these kinds of ropeways, also called Cable Car is used to transport passengers. The first of this kind of ropeways was Manakamana Cable Car established in 1998.

Manakamana Passenger Ropeway

List of ropeways in Nepal

This list does not include the smaller ghirlings which are more numerous.

Name Location (From - To) Type (Cargo or Passenger) Length (m) Capacity Description Operation date (Start-End) Current Status Construction cost Photo
Adhi khola ropeway [2]SyangjaCargo1200300 kgUsed to transport construction material for Adhikhola Hydropower Project1985Non-functionalNPR 2.3 MillionNo photo
Jimhruk khola ropeway[2]Syangja, Madi-to construction sitesCargo1200800 kgUsed to transport construction material for Jhimruk Khola Hydropower Project1990Non-functionalNPR 3.5 MillionNo photo
Khimti Ropeway [2]Kirene- construction sitesCargo2100Used to transport construction material for Khimti I Hydropower ProjectNon-functionalNPR 35 MillionNo photo
Hetauda Cement Factory RopewayHetauda Quarry site-factoryCargo11,000150 tonn/hrUsed to transport stonesNon-functionalNo photo
Bhattedanda Milkway [4]Lalitpur, Bhattedada-JhakridadaCargo3022450 kgUsed to transport milk and khuwa (खुवा)1995–2001, 2002-UnknownNo photo
Bharpak Ropeway [5]GorkhaCargoUsed to transport general merchandise. Stopped working after the accident.1998-1999Non-functional
Manakamana Cable CarChitwanPassenger2772600 person/hourTransport to the Manakamana Temple from Prithvi Highway1998In operation
Manakamana Cable Car
Chandragiri Cable CarKathmandu, Thankot to ChandragiriPassenger24001000 person/hourTransport to Bhaleshwor Mahadev temple2016In operation
Chadragiri
Tri Chandra Nepal Tara Ropeway (Kathmandu-Hetauda Ropeway) [1]Kathmandu-HetaudaCargo42,30022 tonn/day [6]Used to transport cargo1964-1994Non-functionalNo photo
Dorsing-Chisapani-Kathmandu [1]KathmanduCargo22,000It was upgraded to Kathmandu-Hetauda Ropeway in 1964. Engineer was Dilli Jung Thapa.1922Non-functionalNo photo
Halchowk-Lainchour [1]KathmanduCargo4,000Used to transport stones.1924Non-functionalNo photo
Janagaun Gravity Ropeway [7]CargoUsed to transport food and medicines. Installed by Practical Action Nepal2005In OperationNo photo
Bishaltar Gravity Ropeway [8]KathmanduCargoUsed to transport food and medicines. Installed by Practical Action Nepal.2007In OperationNo photo
Kalinchowk Cable Car [9]Dolkha, (Kuri to Kalinchok Bhagawati TemplePassenger1,000Passenger to the temple.2018In operation
Sangakot Cable Car [10]Pokhara, Phewatal to SarankotPassenger2,500Passenger to the temple.2020Under constructionNPR 1 Arab and 10 Crores.No photo
Kharidunga mine ropewayDolakha, Sindhupalchowk (Kharidhunga to Lamosanghu)Cargo10,300Transport talc and magnesium mine at Kharidhunga.2020Non-functional
Kharidunga mine ropeway
Udayapur cement mine ropewayUdayapur, (Sindhali-hill to factory)Cargo13,800Transport limestone.1987In OperationNo photo

Projects under consideration

Accidents and safety

  • In cargo type ropeways, accidents are not fatal but include falling off of the bucket as in Adhi Khola ropeway and Jimruk Khola ropeways [2]
  • Four people riding in the ropeway car died when the hauling cable snapped on 7 May 1999 at Bhapak Ropeway.[5]
  • Chandragiri cable car stopped mid air for 10 minutes twice and 40 minutes in separate occasions in 2020 causing panic by passengers.[12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Flying in a ropeway over Nepal - Nepali Times". Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gywanwali, Deepak; Dixit, Ajaya; Upadhya, Madhukar (2004). Ropeways in Nepal. pp. 88–94.
  3. Aerial Ropeways of Nepal (PDF). Practical Action.
  4. Gywanwali, Deepak; Dixit, Ajaya; Upadhya, Madhukar (2004). Ropeways in Nepal. pp. 107–142.
  5. 1 2 Gywanwali, Deepak; Dixit, Ajaya; Upadhya, Madhukar (2004). Ropeways in Nepal. pp. 143–155.
  6. "Ropeway in Nepal - Cable Car in Nepal- Roam Around Nepal". My Blog. 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  7. "Gravity goods ropeway an alternative sustainable solution for rural transportation with out hampering to the natural environment and climate: A case study from Janagaun village". IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 6. 2009-02-01. doi:10.1088/1755-1307/6/20/202019.
  8. Parikh, Priti; Lamb, Andrew. Trade and Mobilityon the Rooftop of the World: GravityRopeways in Nepal (PDF). GDEE.
  9. "Kalinchok starts Nepal's third cable car service". Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  10. "Phewatal-Sarangkot cable car almost completed". Highlights Tourism. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  11. Shrestha, A. (2018), Cable Car from Birethanti of Kaski to Muktinath, retrieved 17 May 2023
  12. "Chandragiri cable car stops midair, panicked customers demand refund". Retrieved 1 July 2020.

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