KATHMANDU: The newly reconstructed Dharahara, reopened to the public after being destroyed in the 2015 earthquake, has generated more than Rs 48.3 million in revenue since it began paid operations in November 2023.
According to Mahesh Rai, head of the Interim Dharahara Operations and Management Unit in Sundhara, the tower attracted 262,555 visitors by July 8.
Among them, 1,549 were foreign tourists. With the exception of Wednesdays when the tower remains closed, an average of around 1,200 people visit the site daily.
“Due to limited operating hours from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM, not all visitors are able to get tickets,” Rai said. “If opening hours were extended, more than 1,500 people could visit Dharahara each day.”
The entry fee for Nepali citizens is Rs 200 per person, while students, senior citizens, children, and persons with disabilities receive a 50% discount.
Visitors from SAARC countries are charged Rs 500, and those from non-SAARC countries pay Rs 1,000 per person.
Operations began after the Council of Ministers approved the ticket pricing on November 21, 2024. Dharahara is now run under the Special Structure Operation and Management Development Committee Formation Order, 2043.
Additional charges include Rs 50 for entry into the premises, Rs 20 per hour for four-wheelers, and Rs 10 for two-wheelers for parking.
Advertisements on the Dharahara pillar cost Rs 5,000 per hour, and commercial video shoots are charged at the same rate. Photography is permitted at Rs 1,000 per hour.
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