Chandragiri is a municipality in Kathmandu District. The city’s main attractions include Chandragiri Hill, Nepal with its Cable Car. Chandragiri Hill is 16 kilometers from Central Kathmandu, lies on the South-West of Kathmandu Valley and is 2551 meters from sea level. It is one of the four hills that surround Kathmandu valley including Shivapuri (2732m), Phulchowki (2695m) and Nagarjun (2095m).

Chandragiri can be reached via cable car, driving or hiking. The second cable car in Nepal after Manakamana was commenced through this route. The cable car route is around 2.5 km and it takes about 9 to 14 minutes depending on the wind speed on the cable car. It is a thrilling and fun-filled experience to see Kathmandu valley, the landscape and the mountains from the cable car. The hill provides panoramic views of Kathmandu valley and the Himalayan ranges from Annapurna to Everest. It is an easy one-day trip from Central Kathmandu Valley. Chandragiri Cable Car runs from Thankot to Chandragiri hills. The cable car system consists of 38 gondolas that can carry 1000 people per hour.

Chandragiri Hills is one of the Nepal’s most loved day-trip destinations. It is also a famous hiking destination in Nepal. Walking around the hills provides a breath of fresh air, and you get to see the natural beauty of the country side and breath taking scenes. The main destination of Chandragiri Hill is the mountain top from where the spectacular views of the great Himalayan mountain ranges can be seen. The green valley of Kathmandu lies at the bottom where you can see the growing urbanization.

Chandragiri hilltop is a major tourist attraction, with an excellent combination of natural beauty and cultural significance. The best time to explore and visit Chandragiri is during spring and fall season. In winter season one can sometimes experience snowfall as well. To fulfil the cultural diversity of the place, the Bhaleshwar Mahadev Temple stands at the Chandragiri Hill and is an extremely pristine shrine. The temple features two levels in the typical pagoda-influenced Nepalese architecture, wooden grid windows and wall carvings of different gods and goddesses. Outside the temple, there is a statue of King Prithvi Narayan Shah standing against the white mountain peaks in the distance. It maintains its historical importance as it was said that King Prithvi Narayan Shah prayed here before the unification of Nepal and conquered Kathmandu Valley. It is also believed that he meditated on the hilltop and got blessings from Bhaleshwar Mahadev for his devotion. After Prithvi Narayan Shah unified the country, he used Chandragiri Hill to be one of the four trade passes.

Chandragiri Hills Private Limited operates the cable car with recreation centers, restaurants and shops on the hilltop. There is a plan to build an amusement park, organize paragliding and zip flying adventures. You can find many shops that promote local and branded products here. There are other cafes and food stalls in and around the place. This place has been designed to be friendly for differently-abled people as well. The paths and pavements are made easier for the elderly to walk around without too much of stress and effort. This place has gained popularity among the locals as well as the tourists in a short span of time. It is a must visit place at least once for all the nature, history and culture lovers.