June 16: Nepal's first cable car, the Manakamana cable car, will be closed for 50 days starting July 15 for maintenance and upgrades. Manakamana Darshan Pvt Ltd said that this closure is necessary to upgrade the cable car's digital system.

Deputy General Manager Ujjwal Sherchan of Manakamana Darshan Pvt. Ltd. stated that the current 'analog' technology of the cable cars will be upgraded to a modern digital system using fiber technology.

In addition to the digital system upgrade, the main cable wire, which has been in use for 26 years, will be replaced. Skilled technicians from the Australian company Doppelmayr will carry out the upgrade work. The upgrade will be conducted in various stages to ensure comprehensive improvements.

The Manakamana cable car service, operational since November 24, 1998, serves pilgrims traveling to a famous religious site in Sahid Lakhan Rural Municipality of Gorkha district.

 Despite the suspension of the cable car service, the restaurant at the bottom station located in Ichchhakamana-4 Kurintar (Cheres) in Chitwan will remain open for visitors. (RSS)