The newly constructed Siddhartha Cable Car, connecting Deurali Danda in Butwal to Nuwakotgadhi in Palpa, has added a fresh allure to tourism in the region. Despite its official inauguration still pending, the cable car has already become a magnet for tourists, drawing over 1,000 visitors daily since its informal operation during the Dashain festival.
According to the cable car manager, Manoj Bhusal, the attraction sees heightened demand during public holidays, requiring advance ticket bookings. Priced at NPR 350 per person, the cable car has already served over 80,000 passengers since Dashain.
The lower station at Deurali Danda offers a variety of attractions, including a water fountain showcasing a world map, traditional stone spouts, and the Lotus Park symbolizing the seven steps of Siddhartha Gautam. The upper station at Nuwakotgadhi features a 50-foot-tall statue of Buddha, a cultural stage, stone spouts, and ongoing development of hotels, restaurants, and resorts to accommodate tourists.
Manoj Bhusal highlighted the popularity of the lower station as a photo and TikTok hotspot, while Rajendra Singh Gurung, Chairman of Siddhartha Cable Car Pvt. Ltd., shared plans for advanced infrastructure at Nuwakotgadhi. The second phase of development includes constructing a zipline, bungee jump, a suspension bridge connecting Deurali Station to Phoolbari, and a fully equipped resort.
Nuwakotgadhi holds immense historical and archaeological importance. The site boasts landmarks such as Bhairav Kamana Temple, a Shiva Lingam installed by King Rudra Sen, cannon sites, treasure houses, and the hermitage of King Shuddhodhana’s guru. It is also home to Ranikuwa, a traditional royal well.
Additionally, Nuwakotgadhi was a strategic location for King Manimukunda Sen’s summer palace and holds ties to Nepal’s victory over the British forces under Colonel Ujir Singh Thapa’s command at Jitgadhi fort, located near Butwal’s lower cable car station.
Geographically, Butwal serves as a confluence of the Chure hills and the Terai plains. While the city experiences scorching summers, the 7-minute cable car ride to Nuwakotgadhi offers a cool and refreshing escape with panoramic views of the surrounding hills and plains. Visitors can enjoy the serene atmosphere and breathtaking views of the northern Himalayas and the southern plains.
With 25 cable car cabins capable of accommodating eight passengers each, the facility has a capacity of 10,000 daily visitors. Equipped with a double protection line for safety, the cable car ensures uninterrupted service even during technical failures.
Siddhartha Cable Car has provided employment to around 50 locals and engaged 227 investors, including 190 from Butwal. Madhav Nepal, one of the operators, expressed optimism about the cable car’s potential to develop Nuwakotgadhi as a major tourist destination and attract both domestic and international visitors, particularly those visiting Lumbini.
The cable car project, initiated on Falgun 9, 2077 BS, overcame challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic difficulties to be completed in three and a half years. Covering 6.098 hectares of community forest, the company has purchased equivalent land in Palpa for reforestation, ensuring environmental balance.
The Siddhartha Cable Car joins the Lumbini Cable Car, located northeast of Tinau River, in enhancing Butwal’s reputation as a key hub for historical, cultural, and natural tourism in Nepal.
