Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway

4.3

Location: 3763+HFW, Singamari, Darjeeling, Pattabong Tea Garden, West Bengal 734104, India.

Estimated Visiting Time: 2 hours.

Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway is one of the best ways to enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of Darjeeling. It’s also famous for the spectacular view of the valley around the river Little Rangeet. The ropeway is around 3 km away from Darjeeling Chowk Bazaar. The cable car ride lasts for 45 minutes, taking passengers from an altitude of approximately 7,000 ft to 800 ft, where Singla Bazar is located. Though at present, the ride has been shortened. This ropeway started in 1968, the first cable car system in India. It began with one cable car but now consists of sixteen vehicles. From the cable car, one can get a fantastic view of the valley, the tea gardens, flowing rivers, forests, waterfalls, and the peaks of Kanchenjunga and the Himalayas.

Attraction

Suppose you planned the ropeway’s initial route to reach 2134 meters (7,001 feet), beginning at North Point and ending at Singla on the Ramman riverbed. After a brief detour through the Tukver, Barnesbeg, and Singla tea estates, it arrived at the Singla Bazaar, 8 kilometers from the starting site. The Little Rangeet and Ramman are the first to be encountered by the Great Rangeet as it descends from the glacier elevation of Kabru in the lower Kanchenjunga. The valleys of these two streams can be seen from Singla. The Little Rangeet traverses the luxuriant Bijanbari valley. A view of birds and butterflies at the summit increases the excitement. It’s the perfect spot to observe Darjeeling from a terrible height. The passenger ropeway offers an incredible perspective of Tea passengers as they depart the valley, albeit it is undoubtedly not for the faint of heart.

History

A popular tourist attraction in Darjeeling is the 5-kilometer-long ropeway. It all began with a single cable. However, it presently has sixteen vehicles and runs between Darjeeling’s “North Point” and Singla along the banks of the River Ramman. You can see the valleys and mountain peaks of the Darjeeling area during the ropeway ride. Beginning in 1968, the ropeway underwent a 1998 structural overhaul. After four tourists died, it was terminated in October 2003. But on February 2, 2012, it reopened.

Inside/Outside Views

The ropeway can simultaneously accommodate several passengers in small cabins enclosing them. Large windows in the cabins provide travelers with unrestricted views of the breathtaking surroundings. Passengers have a spectacular view of the Himalayan mountain range as the ropeway ascends. The snow-capped peaks of Mount Kanchenjunga, the third-highest mountain in the world, can be seen standing tall on the horizon. The renowned Darjeeling tea gardens can be seen, especially from the ropeway. Passengers may see the lush greenery, vital to the area’s history and economy. The cable car offers a breathtaking view of the surroundings as it soars above steep valleys. The excursion is made more charming by the sight of the Rangeet River winding through the canyons. Passengers may take in a bird’s-eye view of the lovely hill station, with its colonial-era buildings and bustling markets, as the ropeway travels over the town of Darjeeling. The ropeway frequently travels through clouds because of the area’s high altitude, giving travelers a surreal feeling as they hover above the foggy vistas.

Opening Hours

In Winter and Monsoon, timings are daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. In the Summer, it changes daily from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Entry & Others Fees

Rs. 260/- per person

Rs. 130/- for child (3-8

years)

Near Restaurants

Near Hotels

How to Reach

By Rail: NJP or Siliguri is the nearest rail station to Darjeeling. One can take the Toy train from here and reach Darjeeling. After reaching Darjeeling, taxis and cabs are available there. Taking any of them, one can get the ropeway station.

By Air: One can reach Bagdogra Airport by air from any part of India. After reaching there, one has several options to reach Darjeeling. From Darjeeling to the ropeway station, there are many transport choices like taxi, bus, jeep, etc.