Chandragiri Cable Car: Tickets, Hours, Clouds and the Last Descent

Photo: Nabin K. Sapkota, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. A Chandragiri cable car cabin above the forest, with the Kathmandu Valley below.

Short answer: on the operator's website (checked 13 November 2026), a two-way Chandragiri cable car ticket costs US$23 for foreign visitors, INR 950 for SAARC visitors and NPR 850 for Nepalis. The cable car page lists the schedule as 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Sunday to Friday, with a 12:00 to 1:00 pm break, and 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on Saturday. The ride takes about 10 minutes. Himalayan Social Journey's Chandragiri Hill by Cable Car Ride starts from USD 35 per person, and the ticket is not included. The Chandragiri Cable Car and Monkey Temple tour starts from USD 55 and does include the cable car round trip.

How much is a Chandragiri cable car ticket?

These are the rates on the Chandragiri Hills cable car page as of 13 November 2026. The operator says they include all taxes.

The same page has a discount policy: free rides for people aged 80 and over and for children up to 3 feet tall, and percentage discounts for children between 3 and 4 feet, older people, people with disabilities, students and expatriates. It says a valid ID is required and that the discounts are "for Nepalese Nationality only". If you are visiting from abroad, don't count on a discount, and ask at the counter. Fares change, so check the operator's page before you go.

Ticket on your own vs an HSJ tour: what does it cost?

All three options use the same cable car. The difference is what's bundled around the ticket. All prices were checked on 13 November 2026.

Meals, drinks and personal expenses are extra on both HSJ tours. Your exact price for your group size is confirmed when you book.

What are the opening hours, and when is the last descent?

The operator publishes two different schedules, so it's worth knowing both:

• Cable car page (checked 13 November 2026): Sunday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, with a break from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Saturday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. No break on Saturdays and public holidays.

• FAQ page (checked the same day): 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Thursday, 8:00 am to 9:00 pm Friday and Saturday, and a lunch break from 12:30 to 1:30 pm.

Neither page gives a separate time for the last cabin down. The safe plan is to treat the published closing time as the end of the day, not as the time to start heading back. When you reach the top station, ask the staff for that day's last descent and plan everything around it. If the two schedules matter for your day, especially the midday break, call Chandragiri Hills on +977 1 5970796 (the number on their website) or ask HSJ to check for you.

How long does the day take from Kathmandu?

The operator gives the road distance to the bottom station as about 13.3 km from Thamel, 17.2 km from the airport and 7.7 km from Kalanki. That sounds short, but traffic through Kalanki decides the time. Here is how HSJ's half-day tour is planned:

One thing to plan for: the midday break (12:00–1:00 pm on the cable car page, 12:30–1:30 pm on the FAQ page) falls close to when the tour comes back down. If you are still at the top when the break starts, you'll wait until it ends. Talk to your guide about joining the queue for the down cabin early. The operator suggests at least two to three hours on the hill if you want to explore and have lunch. If that's your plan, tell HSJ when you book so the timing can be adjusted.

What is there at the top?

The top station sits at 2,551 m. From there, concrete paths lead up the hill to Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, a Shiva temple and pilgrimage site, and to the viewpoints. On clear days the view takes in the Kathmandu Valley and the Himalayan range, and HSJ's trip notes say Mount Everest can be seen from the summit in good conditions. There are restaurants and activities such as zip-lining, but these are at your own cost and not part of the HSJ tour.

Accessibility checks before you go

• Wheelchairs: the operator says the cable car is wheelchair friendly and that operators help passengers board and get off. Paths at the top are concrete, but they go uphill from the top station to the temple. If you use a wheelchair, ask about the route and the gradient before you go.

• Walking: the operator recommends comfortable flat-soled shoes for the walk up from the top station.

• Children: anyone aged 11 or under must ride with a passenger aged 15 or over. Each cabin holds up to 8 people, and children under 3 count as one person.

• Power cuts: the operator says there are backup generators and batteries, and rescue arrangements if a cabin stops.

• Cold: at 2,551 m, the hill is colder than Kathmandu. Bring a warm layer even on a sunny day.

Is it worth going on a cloudy day?

Short answer: yes, if you go for the ride, the temple and the forest rather than a guaranteed mountain view. In the operator's own words, the climate up there is "unpredictable". The rainy season brings a lot of cloud and rain, and the dry months are usually clear but cold. For what a low-visibility visit can still be like, read our story When Chandragiri Is in the Clouds.