Darjeeling Ropeway

One of Asia's greatest Traveler Ropeways and India's earliest and first Traveler Ropeway is the "Darjeeling Rangit Place Traveler Wire Car" generally known as the 'Darjeeling ropeway' - situated at 27 ° 3'40"N 88 °15'15"E at an elevation of 7000 legs above sea stage. Darjeeling Rope-way was started by Forest Development Department of West Bengal in 1968. It was stopped in October 2003 after four tourists died when the cable snapped causing two cars fall straight down the hill in 2005. Darjeeling Rope-way was jointly operated by West Bengal Forest Development Corporation and the Conveyor and Rope-way Services Private Ltd. with just one cable car running just one way - downhill from Darjeeling. It is one of the best ways to experience the panoramic views that Darjeeling is so famous for. Darjeeling Ropeway is also called as the Rangeet Valley Cable Car because of the spectacular view of the valley around the river Little Rangeet. This ropeway, which is 5 kilometers long, connects Darjeeling with Singla Bazaar on the Rangeet River at the bottom of the valley.

In the initial stage there were five stations in all. In between Darjeeling North Point (Singamari) and Singla Bazar in Ramman Valley, the cable cars stopped at Tukvar, Burnesbeg and Singla Tea Estate. The total distance between two end stations was 8km and it took 45 minutes to cover it. One could get down at any point for a close look at the valleys and continue with the journey any time later. The journey was indeed a memorable one. The mountain ridges covered by dense forest did present an awe-inspiring scene. Added to that, were the waterfalls, tea gardens as well as flowing rivers amid the green valleys. However it did not last long the operation had to be stopped because of a tragic accident and later re-opened with many safety measures.

The present rope way has been extensively modernized and visitors can now safely travel over the clouds to witness the aerial view of the lush green tea gardens below. As you ride the cable car, you will travel from an altitude of about 7,000 ft. (or 2134m) down to 800 ft. (or 244m) where the last station Singla Bazar is located. This ropeway cable car can take six passengers at a time and you will be able to get breathtaking view of the valley below, see the spread of lush green tea gardens on the hill slopes, flowing rivers, forests, waterfalls and to top it all the magnificent view of the Eastern Himalayan range including the snow capped peaks of the Kanchenjunga. Over the year many people has taken a ride of this thrilling cable and has felt an utmost adventure, you must try coming into a gulf of venture where everything happens just at a click of one. Being at a site where greenery has blessed a multi ambiance and at a same time a grace of delicate Darjeeling which has touched a heart of million makes the journey even more alluring. The best time to discover this wonderful experience of March to May and September to November. Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway operates from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. in summer. In winter it operates only till 4 p.m. The Ropeway generally remains closed on the 15th of every month for carrying out maintenance work.