Solang valley ropeway opens in Himachal

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Sunday inaugurated Himachal's first ropeway-cum-ski centre project, at Solang valley in Kullu district.

Built under the private-public-partnership (PPP) model at a cost of Rs36 crore, the ropeway will connect the ski-slopes at Mount Phatru, providing skiers a longer downhill run.

The project was executed by Himachal-based private company, Ski-Himalayas Ropeway, in association with the department of tourism and civil aviation. It uses a gondola system built using European technology, which can be used in both summers and winters.

Amitabh Sharma, managing director, Ski Himalayas Ropeways, said that the gondolas will take tourists to the ridge of Mount Phatru at a height of 10,000 ft during summers, with the provision of carrying skiers to the top terminal too.

The project, Dhumal said will give a boost to the tourism in the state, adding that there are five other ropeway projects in the pipeline.

The Solang Nullah, which derives its name from Solang (nearby village) and Nullah (water streams from mountains), is a popular tourist destination for skiing, offering a challenging run to both beginners and advanced skiers.

Dhumal also inaugurated the annual Manali winter carnival that attracts skiing enthusiasts to the Solang Nullah, adding that the event will be hosted as a national-level event next year onwards.