DHARAN: The iconic ‘Charles View Point,’ named after the British Prince Charles who climbed Shailung Hill 40 years ago, has now been renamed ‘Bhedetar Skywalk Tower’.
The new skywalk, designed to allow visitors to walk above the landscape, features a lead bridge for added safety and durability.
Approximately 43 years ago, during the construction of the Dharan-Dhankuta Highway with British assistance, Prince Charles ascended Shailung Hill and took in the views of the Dharan and Dhankuta markets.
In honor of this historical visit, Wonders Amusement Parks and Attractions Pvt Ltd, in collaboration with the Koshi Pradesh Development Authority, Sangurigarhi Rural Municipality, and Dharan Sub-metropolitan City, has constructed an 18.5-meter-high skywalk tower on the same hill.
Bhedetar, a prominent tourist destination in the east, is located 16 km from Dharan and 52 km from Biratnagar.
It attracts both domestic and international tourists, including recent visitors from India and Bangladesh, seeking respite from the Terai heat and enjoying the area’s natural coolness.
The new skywalk tower, built through a public-private partnership, is expected to attract three times more tourists.
The Provincial Investment Authority and Wonders Amusement Parks and Attractions Pvt Ltd formalized their partnership with a signed agreement.
The Skywalk Tower’s design and technical aspects have been supervised by a team of skilled Nepali engineers.
The lead bridge spans 41 meters in length and 2 meters in width, with 18.5-meter-high iron observation tower above it.
The lead used in the skywalk has a thickness of approximately 33 millimeters.
The construction cost of around 20 million rupees is partially funded by a 23 percent tax on tickets to the skywalk tower.
Of this tax, 55 percent will be allocated to Sangurigarhi Rural Municipality and 45 percent to Dharan Sub-metropolis.
According to the agreement, after 25 years, the company will transfer the physical assets to the government.
The land was leased to the construction company for 25 years.
Sanjiv Roka, the Executive Director of the company, noted that the project was completed within four years following the approval of the technical work and project design by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development of the state government.
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