The Darjeeling Ropeway connects Darjeeling with Bijanbari, down in the little Rangeet Valley. A monocable type, with one rope acting both as tractor and carrier, the ropeway travels at a speed of 6.5 km an hour. The 4,620 ft span is the biggest and a record for India. Darjeeling- Rangeet Valley Passenger Cable Car is the first passenger Ropeway in India and the longest in Asia. The Ride over the tea bushes and orange- orchards sown to the Rangeet River with the Kanchenjunga and towering over you is an experience unparallel in excitement. Passenger Ropeway in Darjeeling was initiated by the Forest Development department with a single car running one-way. Few years down the year of inception the Cable car was upgraded to 16 cars and went to and fro. At the beginning the ropeway was designed to cover 2134 m (7,001 ft), starting from North point and ending at Singla on the river bank of Ramman. A short stopover at Tukver, Burnesbeg and Singla tea gardens, it reached Singla Bazaar, 8 km from beginning point. Rangeet Valley passenger ropeway offers spectacular views. It is placed in North Point, almost 3 km from main town area. The place is too close to Zoo and not very far from these areas. The cable system is supported with monocables and provides with a ride of 2 to 2 ½ hr to the Takavar tea estates. It is an ideal spot to watch the whole of Darjeeling from a scary elevation and the joy is doubled up panorama of birds and butterflies at the top.
