Zipline to begin operation in Chhatrakot

KATHMANDU: A zipline is set to operate in Chhatrakot Rural Municipality of the district. The zipline has been constructed from the Devalaya Temple in Ward-3 of the municipality to the Devi Bhagwati Temple.

With the slogan “Ruru Resunga’s religious hope, let’s settle in Chhatrakot,” the municipality aims to make Chhatrakot a tourist destination by constructing the zipline, said Ramprasad Pandey, the chairperson of the municipality.

“We have set a goal of promoting religious and tourist sites within the municipality and generating income through tourism,” he stated. “We built the zipline to create employment opportunities.”

According to Chairperson Pandey, the zipline, the first of its kind in the district, will officially start operation on Friday.

He emphasized that the zipline should be operated collectively and urged other municipalities to contribute to building infrastructure for tourism promotion.

“If other local levels build tourist infrastructure, it will be possible to attract more tourists to the district through the zipline here,” Chairperson Pandey added.

The zipline, which has a distance of 960 meters between two towers, spans a total length of 1,080 meters and stands 67 meters high. Tourists will travel at a speed of 15 to 20 meters per second.

The chief administrative officer of the municipality, Rudrahari Puri, mentioned that the journey from the starting station will take 55 to 77 seconds, depending on the weight of the tourist.

The zipline was built by Sanu Setidevi Construction Pvt. Ltd. at a cost of Rs 8,673,144, according to Chief Administrative Officer Puri.

The ticket prices have been set at Rs 400 for local residents, Rs 300 for students, Rs 500 for outsiders, and Rs 1,500 for foreign nationals, as per the municipality office.

Each tourist riding the zipline is insured for Rs 10 million, Puri informed.

The municipality is also preparing to hand over the operation of the zipline to the private sector, with a tender process expected in the coming days to ensure sustainable operation.

With the construction of the zipline, locals are excited about the promotion of tourism and the creation of job opportunities.

They hope for increased marketing of local products, promotion of tourism, and the creation of employment opportunities.

“The zipline will generate significant employment opportunities in the area,” said local resident Bhuwan Bhusal.

The Ridi-Tamghas road lies close to the zipline, and Bhusal mentioned that many domestic tourists are expected to visit for picnics, as well as an increase in religious tourism to the Choygha Temple, based on the area’s religious significance.