Kathmandu- A new cable car project in Solukhumbu, the home of Mount Everest, will allow tourists to observe the world’s highest peak up close.
The project has moved forward with an investment commitment of Rs 1.475 billion. It will feature high-end resorts at both the base and top stations, with a total estimated cost of around Rs 6.50 billion.
The initiative is led by Akarshan Pokharel, who previously constructed the ‘Sky Walk View Tower’ in Kamaladi, Kathmandu.
The cable car will span 4.8 kilometers, connecting Chaurikharka, Lukla (Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, Ward No. 2) to Lumding Chedingma.
Passengers will be able to enjoy breathtaking views of the Himalayan mountain range.
Engineer Pokharel, who returned to Nepal in 2018 after living in the U.S., has been expanding investments in various sectors. He has focused on adventure tourism and successfully launched the ‘Sky Walk View Tower’ in Kamaladi.
To proceed with the Everest region cable car project, Pokharel and his team have registered a company under the Department of Industry. The project will be executed under Wonders Everest Cable Car Pvt. Ltd.
Mingma Chhiri Sherpa, chairman of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, confirmed that the municipality has granted approval for the project, ensuring that it does not disrupt trekking routes. He stated that a hotel and other facilities will be constructed alongside the cable car, contributing to the identification of new destinations and boosting tourism in the area.
The cable car is expected to serve more than 1.2 million passengers annually. The Everest region is a key attraction for climbers, and thousands of tourists visit the area for trekking each year.
Chairman Sherpa believes the cable car will further increase the number of trekkers in the region. Additionally, road infrastructure is being developed near Lukla.
A road has already reached Surke, near Lukla.
The ‘Ngim Dorjee Sherpa Tourism Road’ was inaugurated by former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on January 4. Vehicles can now reach Surke in Ward No. 2 of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, bringing it closer to Lukla.
With this road development, travelers now have an alternative transportation option when flights to Lukla are disrupted due to weather conditions. A track has been opened from Salleri in Solukhumbu to Surke.
