Chandragiri Hill: Historical and religious significance

"Chandragiri Hill", which has the historical and religious significance of Nepal, has recently become the main choice of local and foreign tourists.

Chandragiri hill, a beautiful place located in the south-west region of the country's federal capital, Kathmandu, offers a panoramic view of the Kathmandu Valley as well as places like Dhading, Nuwakot, Makwanpur, and can enjoy the integrated tourism structure developed here.

Domestic and foreign tourists go there to enjoy the panoramic view of the mountains and the Kathmandu valley seen from Chandragiri hill, to take a break from their daily life and to relax, to organize meetings and ceremonies, and to visit guests from abroad and outside the valley. Besides, people who have religious and historical interests also reach Chandragiri for darshan and study.

It is a historical fact that Prithvi Narayan Shah, king of the Shah dynasty, during the campaign of unification of Nepal, observed from this Chandragiri hill and thought of unification of Kathmandu Valley (then Nepal Khaldo) is found in the history of Nepal state formation. That is why Prithvi Narayan Shah's statue has also been built on this hill. The statue associated with the said history becomes the main attraction of anyone who comes there and they take pictures with this statue.

Similarly, there is a temple of Bhaleshwar Mahadev at that place. Because there is a legend that Mahadev actually originated here, many Nepalese and Indian citizens have come here due to its religious importance. Thus, in addition to internal and external tourists, this hill has become an attractive destination for those who study history and religion.

Since Chandragiri Hills Limited started the commercial operation of the cable car in 2016, there has been an increase in the number of passengers climbing Chandragiri hill through the cable car. However, tourists also travel there by footpath. This is a long-standing 'trekking route' and its importance has not diminished even now.

Vinayak Pokharel, head of finance of Chandragiri Hills Limited, says that 71 thousand one hundred and 45 people visited Chandragiri through the cable car in the month of January alone, which operates from 8 am to 8 pm. To go to Chandragiri hill via cable car, there is a fee of 799 rupees for Nepali citizens, 600 rupees for Nepalese students, and 22 US dollars for foreign citizens.

Currently, 2000 people go to Chandragiri hill by cable car every day. On holidays, 4,500 to 5,000 people reach Chandragiri hill. Chandragiri Hill has many places to see and visit including Bhaleshwar Temple, Prithvi Narayan Shah's statue, Zipline, Children's Garden, Horse Riding, and Chandragiri Hills Resort.

Pokharel, head of finance of Hills, says that five lakh seven thousand four hundred and eleven Nepalese and 63 thousand three hundred and forty-four tourists from foreign countries visited Chandragiri Hills in the financial year 2078/79. Pokharel, head of finance of Hills, says that five lakh seven thousand four hundred and eleven Nepalese and 63 thousand three hundred and forty-four tourists from foreign countries visited Chandragiri Hills in the financial year 2078/79.

With the launch of the zipline on Chandragiri hill, which started last year, domestic and foreign tourists have started to increase as well. The length of the zipline constructed with an investment of Rs 70 lakh is 100 meters and another 200 meters long zipline has also been put into operation. Chandragiri Hills Pvt. Ltd. General Manager Sanjeev Thapa says that the Zipline has been launched to develop Chandragiri as a destination for local and foreign tourists.

It will cost Rs 400 to enjoy the 100-meter-long zipline from near Bhaleshwar temple to the Children's Playground, while it will cost Rs 800 to enjoy the 200-meter-long zipline. "According to the policy of promoting internal and external tourism, we have constructed various physical infrastructures in Chandragiri", says General Manager Thapa.

The total length of the Chandragiri cable car, built by the Austrian "Doppelmyr" company, is two kilometers and four hundred and sixty meters. There are 11 towers on its route and a total of 41 gondolas including 38 for passengers and three for goods. It takes nine to 14 minutes from Thankot station to reach Chandragiri hill.

Eight people can travel in one compartment of the cable car. According to Chandragiri Hills, there has been an increase in tourist traffic this year, despite the decrease in domestic and foreign tourists due to Coronavirus in the past years.

Chandragiri Hills Pvt Ltd has also launched a resort in Chandragiri. Nowadays, domestic and foreign tourists reach the resort on Friday or Saturday to take some time off from the busy daily life of Kathmandu and to get rid of the tiredness of the week. A hall is also available for organizing meetings, conferences, or seminars at any national and international level. The government of Nepal and non-governmental organizations and companies conduct programs here.

This tourist destination, which is the closest to the capital Kathmandu, has become an attraction for various foreign special guests who come to Nepal at the invitation of the Nepal government and themselves. Pvt. Ltd. has built an integrated tourist structure and developed a tourist destination here, so people from the tourism sector have come to study it.

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