The ropeway in India (also known as aerial lift, cable car or chair lift) is a public transportation system where cabins, gondolas or open chairs are hauled above the ground with the help of cables.[1][2] India's Parvatmala Scheme (literally "mountain garland scheme"), the world's largest ropeway project, envisages spending ₹1,250 billion (US$15billion) in public–private partnership (PPP) mode over five years till 2030 to build 200 new ropeway projects of more than 1200km length, which will decongest the traffic in narrow roads of big cities and provide cheaper connectivity in mountainous and touristy areas.[3] Since 30% of India is covered by mountains,[3] the ropeways are specially useful in mountainous areas, where it is difficult to build roads or railway, as lower cost and higher Return on investment (ROI) projects.[1][2] This article also contains a list of "glass bridges in India" ("glass skywalks in India"), which are mostly glass bridge skywalk.
Rajgir Ropeway in Bihar, 333m-long chairlift ropeway built in 1960s, is India's first ropeway.[4] As of 2024, the 4km-long Auli Ropeway in Uttarakhand is India's longest[5] and world's the second-longest ropeway behind Vietnam's 7,899.9 m long Hòn Thơm cable car,[6] and when completed the under-construction 5.5km-long Mussoorie-Dehradun Ropeway will be the longest in India.[5]Kashi ropeway is India's first urban ropeway,[7] and world's third urban public transport ropeway behind Bolivia's Mi Teleférico opened in 2014 and Mexico City's Mexicable opened in 2021.[8]
As of 2025, all 36 states and union territories (UT) of India have either existing or planned ropeways, except in the UTs of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.
History
In 1960s, the first modern ropeway in India was built at Rajgir, which was a gift to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Rajgir by the famous Japanese Buddhist monk Fuji Guruji (Nichidatsu Fujii) and socialist leader Jai Prakash Narayan was the first person to take a ropeway ride.[4]
List of ropeways
Alphabetical list by the state and union territories of India.
GuwahatiUmananda Island ropeway: Twin-track, bi-cable, double reversible jigback ropeway of 1800m length and 250 PPH capacity is India's longest river ropeway. It is built across Brahmaputra River over Umanand Island and allows easy transportation to and from North Guwahati.
Bihar
Rajgir Ropeway in Bihar, 333m-long chairlift ropeway built in 1960s, is India's first ropeway.[4]
Chandigarh
Chandigarh-Mansa Devi Ropeway: proposed ropeway will begin from the Chandigarh Botanical, with stops at Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake, Mata Mansa Devi Mandir railway station, and end at Mata Mansa Devi Mandir hill top. No progress has been made as of September 2025. There is also proposal to extend it further 15 to make it part of Parwanoo-Shimla Ropeway.
Ambaji ropeway, Ambaji, Gujarat - Installed by Project M/s S.N Lall, MEC ( Aarconinfra Ropeways ) for client Usha Breco Limited, known as Ambaji Udan Kahtola. Ropeways also known as 4th busiest ropeway of India. This ropeway is at Maa Ambaji Devi Temple since 1998. This ropeway has 760PPH capacity.
Pavagadh ropeway to Kalika Mata Temple: It was built in 1986. After it was upgraded in 2005 to 1320 PPH capacity with modern technology, it became highest capacity in India. It is third busiest ropeway of India.
Goa
Reis Magos-Panaji Ropeway: planned from Reis Magos to Panaji, under construction in 2025.[13]
Bilaspur ropeway: It is one of the 7 ropeway projects, of 60.6km combined length, approved for construction in Himachal Pradesh in September 2022 at the total combined cost of nearly INR2964 crore (~US$355 million).[14]
Chamba ropeway: It is one of the 7 ropeway projects in Himachal approved for construction in September 2022.[14]
Dharamshala ropeway: It is one of the 7 ropeway projects in Himachal approved for construction in September 2022.[14]
Kangra ropeway: It is one of the 7 ropeway projects in Himachal approved for construction in September 2022.[14]
Kullu ropeway: It is one of the 7 ropeway projects in Himachal approved for construction in September 2022.[14]
Devi ropeway: It was built in 1997 with 800 PPH capacity.
Parwanoo Timber Trail ropeway: It is India's first Hill to Hill ropeway which is 1.8km long without pillars in between the LTP (Lower Terminal point) and UTP (Upper Terminal Point). This bi-cable ropeway, with capacity of 1000 PPH, was built in 1988 for the Timber Trail Resort.
Parwanoo-Shimla Ropeway: a proposed 40 km, 11 station ropeway line, taking two hours for the entire length, expected to be completed by 2030. [15] There is proposal to link it with Chandigarh-Mansa Devi Ropeway by extending it 25 km south to make it one integrated ropeway.
ShimlaJakhu Temple ropeway: This is 410 m long, double-grip, mono cable ropeway, with 400 PPH capacity was built in 2017.
ShimlaTara Devi Temple ropeway: It was approved for construction in September 2022. This 14.67km long ropeway with 15 stations will cost INR1546 crore (~US$200 million).[14]
Sirmaur ropeway: It is one of the 7 ropeway projects in Himachal approved for construction in September 2022.[14]
Jammu and Kashmir
Gulmarg Gondola – The Cable Car of Gulmarg, Kashmir.
Gulmarg Gondola at Gulmarg: This ski resort has the 2nd highest cable car in the world and Asia's highest and longest cable car reaching an altitude of 13,400ft.[17]
Jammu ropeway: it is 1.65km long cable car, with first section from Peer Kho to the Mahamaya temple over the Tawi River and second section is from the Mahamaya temple to the Bahu Fort.
Ramban ropeway: planned from Karchial to Vasmarg in Ramban district, tenders for preparation of DPR have been invited in March 2025.[16]
Srinagar Shankracharya Temple cable car: 1.05 km planned.[16]
Vaishno Devi ropeway: It is a 375 m long, bi-cable, double reversible jigback ropeway with 800 PPH capacity to carry passengers from The Bhavan to Bhairon temple.
Chitrakoot ropeway: 302 m long ropeway with 500 PPH capacity. This Aerial Ropeway is situated at Hanuman Dhara in Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh.
Dewas ropeway: 400 PPH capacity 367 m long ropeway ascends from the junction of two national highways right up to Maa Chamunda Temple and Tulja Bhawani Mata Temple, while simultaneously being home to a Jain Temple and a Mosque.
Maihar Maa Sharda Devi ropeway: It was built in 2009 with 800 PPH capacity.
Gangtok ropeway: Built in 2003, this ropeway ferries tourists from one part of the city to another and offers a panoramic view of the full Gangtok city. This ropeway also serves to de-congest the city.
Auli ropeway: This is 4.2km ropeway constructed in 1987 by Aarconinfra Ropeways ( earlier Method & Erectofab Consultant) and it was then considered as India's longest and second longest ropeway in Asia at the time of its construction.[25]
Chandi Devi Temple Udan Khatola: It was constructed in 1997 and has 800 PPH capacity.
Mansa Devi Temple Udan Khatola: Haridwar is India's first city with two passenger ropeways. This ropeway, built in 1981 with 800 PPH capacity, is the busiest ropeway of India.
Mussoorie ropeway: It is India's first cabin /gondola based ropeway which was constructed in 1971 by Aarconinfra Ropeways ( earlier Method & Erectofab Consultant) and It is 400m long, bi-able zig back with 400 PPH capacity.[26]
Nainital ropeway: Constructed in 1990 by Aarconinfra Ropeways ( earlier Method & Erectofab Consultant), it is 2270m long bi-cable, zig-back, 1200 PPH capacity ropeway with 2 wagons which can carry 8 persons each.[26]
Digha cable car: It was built in 2015 is within the premises of Amrabati Park and traverses the beautiful lake and greenery of the park. Digha is a seaside resort town in Purba Medinipur district and at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal.
Kolkata Science City ropeway: Built in 1998, with 500 PPH capacity in the heart of city Kolkata.[31]
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