Darjeeling is a world-renowned picturesque hill station, where the tourists can witness beautiful sceneries from the magnificent snow-capped mountains to the delightful valley complete with lush green tea estates. For this reason, the cable car in Darjeeling is considered as a major tourist attraction of the region. Darjeeling gives its travelers a wide range of great panoramic views while traveling in the enchanted valley.
The cable car in Darjeeling is a ropeway in the city of Darjeeling, which is located in the state of West Bengal in India. The cable car is a popular tourist attraction in Darjeeling. There are about sixteen cars which are used to travel from the "North Point" of Darjeeling to Singla on the Ramman river bank.
From the ropeway, you get the view of the whole city, forests, tea estates and much more. You will have to buy the tickets to experience the ride in the cable car in Darjeeling. The cable car can accommodate a total of 6 persons at a time.
History of Cable Car
The cable car in Darjeeling was started in the year 1968 and it is the first cable car system in India. Set up to cater to the tea gardens in the valleys which did not have easy access. Nowadays, it is used as the most sought after tourist attraction, where a lot of tourists visit and experience the beauty of Darjeeling's picturesque beauty in the best way possible all year round. There are 16 cable cars, which travel from the North Point in Singamari to the Singla Bazaar that is located on the banks of the charming Ramman River.
The cable car in Darjeeling is not open on the 19th of every month as that day is reserved for maintenance operations. The time required to travel in the cable car from one point to another is about 45 minutes but the duration may be extended as there will be a long queue of the tourists waiting to experience this major attraction. It is sensible to reach early in order to minimize waiting time.
Darjeeling View from the Cable Car
The transportation of passengers takes place at an altitude of 7000 feet. The view of the many tea estates of Darjeeling, the flowing waterfalls, and the magnificent Kanchenjunga makes it an experience of a lifetime and every tourist who visit the region is mesmerized. The speed of the cable is kept moderate which allows the tourists to click some of the best pictures of the scenic beauty. The cable car makes a small stop at the bottom end of the trip, where the passengers can explore the attractive tea gardens, or just spend some quiet time at the small mountain cafe, before heading back to the Singamari base station.
How to reach for Cable Car
The station of the cable car in Darjeeling is situated at Singamari, at a distance of 3 km from the city’s Chowk Bazaar. You can reach the cable car station by hiring the private cabs or also share jeeps from the Chowk Bazaar. It will be a 15-minute drive to reach if there is no traffic. At North Point on the Lebong Cart Road, nearby St. Joseph's College, there is a narrow and steep stairway that leads to the Singamari cable car station.
Best time to visit for Cable Car Ride
Tourists can visit for the Cable Car ride anytime but the best time of the day is from the 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. in winter season while 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M in summer and autumn season.
Places to visit near the Cable Car
Some of the best places to visit near the Cable Car in Darjeeling include the Tea Estate. One should visit here and enjoy the aromatic surroundings and learn about the processing of the tea. The other famous places to visit are Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, etc.
Cable Car Darjeeling Timings: 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Cable Car Darjeeling Entry Fees: INR180 per person.