Patna: The Bihar government is accelerating ropeway projects across the state as part of its plan to promote religious and tourism destinations, with two new projects proposed in Patna and Bhagalpur.
A ropeway is proposed from Patna’s Marine Drive to the Hariharnath Temple in Sonepur, while another is planned across the Ganga in Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur, connecting the river islands that are home to several old temples.
Bihar currently has two operational ropeways, while four more are under construction. With the two newly announced projects, the state is expected to have eight ropeways in operation in the coming years.
Patna Marine Drive-Sonepur ropeway
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary recently announced the proposed ropeway connecting Patna’s Marine Drive with the Hariharnath Temple in Sonepur. The project is expected to make it easier for devotees and tourists to travel between Patna and Sonepur.
The proposed route is around 7 km long. At present, travellers between Patna and Sonepur use the Mahatma Gandhi Setu or JP Setu. A four-lane bridge is also being constructed parallel to JP Setu.
The ropeway is expected to cross the Ganga within minutes and provide an aerial travel experience. According to the proposal, it will have a relatively flat design similar to the ropeway in Varanasi.
Officials expect the project to boost tourism and commercial activity in Sonepur, Hajipur and surrounding areas, potentially benefiting hotels, restaurants and other businesses and encouraging investment.
The state government is also planning a new satellite township named Hariharnathpur on around 33,000 acres of land.
Ropeway planned to Ganga islands in Kahalgaon
A second new ropeway has been proposed in Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur, to connect three islands located in the Ganga.
The islands are known for their scenic surroundings and several old temples. At present, boats are the primary means of reaching the sites.
Among the religious sites on the islands are the Shanti Baba Temple, Punjabi Baba Temple, Bengali Baba Temple, Radha Krishna Temple, Santmat Satsang centre, Ganga Temple, Ashtavakra Temple dedicated to Maharishi Ashtavakra, and the Baba Bateshwarnath Shiva Temple.
The proposed ropeway is expected to improve access to these sites and give a boost to religious tourism in the Kahalgaon region.
Four ropeways under construction
Four other ropeway projects are at different stages of construction and development in Bihar.
Gaya’s Pretshila: A ropeway is being constructed at Pretshila, where thousands of people visit for pind daan rituals. The project is intended to reduce the need for pilgrims to climb the long flight of steps to the hilltop.
Administrative approval was granted on December 20, 2016, and construction began on August 14, 2022. The project was targeted for completion by June 2026, but around 84% of the work had been completed, according to the information provided.
The project has an estimated cost of ₹1,048.76 crore. Delays in obtaining ASI, EIA and Stage-II clearances affected its progress.
Jehanabad’s Vanavar Hills: A ropeway is also being constructed at Vanavar Hills in the Makhdumpur block of Jehanabad district to provide easier access to the Baba Siddhanath Temple at the hilltop.
The supplied project details state that the construction began on July 16, 2022, and that around 92% of the work has been completed. A trial run has also been conducted, with the ropeway expected to become operational after the month of Shravan.
The project is expected to improve tourism access to Vanavar, which is often referred to as the ‘Himalayas of Magadh’. The government plans to develop the area as part of a wider tourism circuit connecting it with Rajgir, Bodh Gaya and the Barabar Caves.
Kaimur’s Mundeshwari Temple: A ropeway is also planned near the Mundeshwari Temple on Pawra Hill in Kaimur district. Located at an altitude of around 600 feet, the temple is regarded as one of India’s ancient temples and attracts large numbers of devotees, particularly during Navratri and Mahashivratri.
The project received approval in 2016 but has faced repeated delays. The supplied information says the earlier completion deadline of December 31, 2024, was missed.
Following wildlife and Stage-I clearances, steps were taken to restart the project. At a meeting chaired by the Tourism Department Secretary on April 10, 2026, it was agreed that the project would be returned to the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. The agreement was subsequently cancelled on May 21, 2026, and the process of formally returning the project to the corporation is underway.
Rohtas: A 1,324-metre-long ropeway is being constructed from Nursery near the Rohtas block headquarters to the Dharamshala at Chaurasan Temple at an estimated cost of ₹1,265.15 crore.
The project is intended to ease the difficult climb of around 1,400 feet from the Akbarpur area to Rohtasgarh Fort and the Rohiteshwar Dham Chaurasan Temple.
The project was approved on February 10, 2015, and was initially scheduled for completion by August 25, 2020. Its deadline has since been extended eight times, with the latest target set for October 31, 2026.
Around 70% of the work has reportedly been completed. During a trial run in December 2025, a section of the Upper Tunnel Point (UTP) was damaged. An IIT Patna structural audit was subsequently conducted, following which corrective work was carried out.
Bihar currently has two operational ropeways
Rajgir ropeway: Installed in 1969, the Rajgir ropeway was established for access to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa and is currently operated by the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation.
The eight-seater ropeway travels to an elevation of around 1,000 feet and provides views of Rajgir’s five hills — Vipulachal, Vaibhargiri, Sonagiri, Udayagiri and Ratnagiri. Visitors taking the stairs would have to climb more than 1,000 steps.
Mandar ropeway: The 377-metre-long ropeway at Mandar Hill in Bausi, Banka, was inaugurated on September 21, 2021. It takes around four to five minutes to reach the hilltop and has eight cabins.
The ropeway provides visitors with views of the surrounding landscape and the ancient temples on Mandar Hill. According to local religious tradition, the hill was used as a churning rod by the gods and demons during the Samudra Manthan.
Ropeways expected to boost Bihar tourism
The expansion of the ropeway network is expected to improve access to religious and heritage destinations, reduce the physical difficulty of reaching hilltop temples and create new opportunities for tourism-related businesses.
With projects planned or under construction at major religious and heritage sites, the Bihar government’s ropeway push is aimed at improving connectivity while strengthening the state’s religious tourism infrastructure.
