Taplejung Rally Revives Push for Pathibhara Cable Car Amid Ongoing Debate

A large harmony rally in Phungling, the district headquarters of Taplejung, has put the Pathibhara Cable Car project back in the spotlight, with supporters urging the government to move ahead quickly with construction.

The event was organized by the Bikashpremi Yuwa Samaj and drew local residents as well as representatives from multiple organizations. Backers of the project said the cable car would strengthen religious tourism, create employment, and help expand the local economy.

Why supporters are pushing the project

Pathibhara is one of eastern Nepal’s best-known pilgrimage destinations, and supporters argue that a cable car would make access easier for visitors while unlocking a new wave of tourism-driven development in Taplejung.

According to the rally’s organizers and participants, the project is expected to generate jobs directly and indirectly, especially through transport, hospitality, and small businesses tied to pilgrimage traffic.

A project with major local stakes

The Pathibhara Cable Car has long been seen as more than an infrastructure project. For supporters, it represents a chance to turn a remote hill district into a more connected tourism hub. For critics, it has become a symbol of the tension between development, sacred heritage, and environmental protection.

Reporting in previous coverage shows the project has already faced sustained opposition from groups that view Pathibhara, also known as Mukkumlung, as a sacred site with deep cultural and spiritual meaning for the Limbu community. Those opponents have warned that construction could damage forest land and disrupt local traditions.

At the same time, supporters have continued to argue that the cable car can bring practical benefits to the region, particularly by improving access for pilgrims and increasing business opportunities for local residents.

The bigger picture

The rally in Phungling reflects how deeply divided the Pathibhara debate remains. One side sees a major tourism and development opportunity. The other sees a threat to sacred land, identity, and ecology.

That clash has made Pathibhara one of Nepal’s most closely watched local development controversies, with each new show of support or resistance adding pressure on decision-makers to find a workable path forward.

For now, the rally signals that pro-project momentum remains strong on the ground in Taplejung, even as the broader dispute around the cable car continues to attract national attention.