Zipline tested in Kailash Rural Municipality

By Anil Parajuli,Hetauda, Mar. 3: A trial run of the adventurous sport ‘zipline’ has been conducted in the tourist area of Kailash Rural Municipality, Makwanpur.

Rural Municipality Chairperson Lok Bahadur Moktan stated that the zipline was constructed to promote tourism and attract visitors to the area.

The first phase of testing was carried out on the Kailash-Baikuntha Zipline, built in Ward-2, Baikuntha. A technical team, including Chairperson Moktan, Ward-2 Chairperson Rajendra Ghising, Planning Division Chief Narendra Datta Bhatta, Engineer Anil Joshi and other officials, participated in the trial.

The zipline, which is in its final phase of full operation, has been built using the municipality’s budget. It is Nepal’s first zipline constructed entirely with local investment.

As such initiatives do not fall within the exclusive authority of local governments under the Local Government Operation Act, Chairperson Moktan, who is also a member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Rural Municipalities, proposed that tourism and environmental promotion projects should be under the exclusive rights of local levels. 

Following a positive response from the federal government, construction of the zipline commenced. Chairperson Moktan informed that the zipline spans 1,200 metres, connecting two hills of Kailash and Baikuntha. 

He stated that Kailash Rural Municipality is committed to tourism and environmental development. He expressed confidence that after its operation, the zipline will become a popular destination for adventure enthusiasts from Rorang, Benighat and Gajuri Rural Municipalities in Dhading, as well as Thaha Municipality, Raksirang and Manahari Rural Municipalities in Makwanpur.

As the zipline site borders Dhading, it is accessible via a 33-kilometre road network from Benighat, Thaha Municipality and Manahari Bazaar. 

Alongside the zipline, several tourist parks have already been constructed in Baikuntha.

Planning Division Chief Bhatta mentioned that the zipline survey was conducted by the Four-G Company in the fiscal year 2022/23, estimating a cost of Rs. 19 million. 

The municipality developed a multi-year plan, constructing two stations, a braking system (harness) and cables.

Following the publication of the contract in January 2024, a contract agreement was signed with Sandhya Construction Service for Rs. 8.8 million to complete the project by the end of February 2025.

According to Bhatta, 48 per cent of the work was completed in the previous fiscal year, and the remaining work is now in the final phase as per the agreement. In the first phase, the braking system was tested, and the second phase will be conducted before the final trial. The zipline was tested by the technical expert and trainer Badri Ghimire.