Cable car service to Maula Kalika Temple comes into operation

By Homraj Ranabhat,Gaindakot, Apr. 15: A cable car service to the Maula Kalika Temple, a famous Hindu pilgrimage site in Eastern Nawalaparasi's Gaindakot, has come into operation since the auspicious day of the Nepali New Year Day on Friday.

The boarding station for the cable car has been constructed at Dharapani, an area in Ward No. 1 of Gaindakot Municipality, and the passengers alight from its gondolas at the station constructed close to a helipad near the temple.

"It took a year to complete the construction of the cable car. We have started the service on the occasion of the Nepali New Year 2080," said Bhim Prasad Sharma Paudel, director of Maula Kalika Cable Car.

The cable car was constructed by Maula Kalika Cable Car Construction Pvt. Ltd., a company of Chandra Dhakal, the newly elected president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce (FNCCI).

There are 12 gondolas with each having a capacity to carry eight individuals at a time. The distance between the two stations is 1,200 metres. Six towers have been constructed to support the ropeway.

"Six thousand people can travel to and from the temple via the cable car on a daily basis," said Paudel.

Besides the cable car service, a well-equipped hotel has also been constructed. "Around Rs. 2 billion has been spent for the overall infrastructure construction. The cable car company invested 51 per cent and the locals invested the remaining," said Paudel.

"Locals were also allowed to invest so that they will feel a sense of belonging," said Madan Bhakta Adhikari, Mayor of Gaindakot. The company informed that 1,038 trees were chopped for the construction of the cable car infrastructure. 

The construction was facilitated by an Australian company which had also worked in the construction of cable cars in Manakamana and Chandragiri.

Locals have expected that the cable car service will promote tourism in the area and increase economic activities and job opportunities.

Thousands of people thronged the temple on Friday to offer worship to Goddess Kalika on the occasion of the New Year's Day.