Dharamshala Skyway Ropeway: Status, Tickets & Timings (2026)

Short answer: As of 25 October 2026, the Dharamshala Skyway is closed for scheduled maintenance from 21 to 30 October 2026, and the operator's website says services will resume on 31 October 2026, "subject to completion of maintenance". Listed hours when running are 9:30 am to 6 pm. The official site does not publish fares (the operator's Instagram advertised round-trip special fares of ₹400 for students and ₹500 for Kangra district residents on 2 October 2026), and online booking has shown no bookable tickets, so plan to buy at the counter. We could not confirm the reopening on 31 October, so call the helpline on +91-1892 223302 (10 am to 6 pm) before you go. Until then a taxi or local bus covers the road in 20 to 45 minutes.

> What we confirmed on 25 October 2026 and what we did not > > - Confirmed (official website, 25 October 2026): a notice that the Skyway "will remain closed for scheduled maintenance from 21 October 2026 to 30 October 2026" and that services "will resume on 31 October 2026, subject to completion of maintenance". The site also carries a general "site under maintenance" banner. > - Not confirmed: whether it actually reopens on 31 October, and the current standard fares. We found no news report of the closure or of the reopening. > - Background: it was suspended on 20 August 2025 by order of the Kangra district administration after a landslide close to one of its pillars, and ran again in 2026. On 16 October 2026 it appeared to be running.

The Dharamshala Skyway is the cable car (ropeway) that links lower Dharamshala with McLeod Ganj. When it runs, it turns a slow, often jammed hill drive into a five-minute ride over pine forest, with the Kangra Valley opening up below you. When it does not run, you need a plan B, and that is the more useful thing to know before you arrive.

This guide covers what we could verify about the Skyway, how to reach each station, what to do when it is closed, and a few tips from living here. For every other way into town, see our how to reach Dharamshala guide.

What happened in 2025

The ropeway opened on 19 January 2022. On 20 August 2025, during a very heavy monsoon, a landslide came down close to one of its support pillars (reports differ on whether it was pillar 5 or pillar 6). The Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, acting as chair of the District Disaster Management Authority, ordered operations suspended "until further orders" for passenger safety. A technical committee that included geologists from the Central University in Dharamshala was asked to inspect the site and report before any restart.

We found no news report of the committee's findings or of a formal reopening date. What we did find is a run of traveller reviews from spring and early summer 2026 that describe buying tickets and riding the cabins, including one that mentions a longer walk to a station because of landslide work, and rider reviews dated February 2026 on the official website itself. Through September and October 2026 the operator's Instagram has been posting ride videos and fare offers. So the Skyway is running again, as far as we can tell, but the official website was in maintenance mode with online booking not working when we looked on 16 October 2026.

Our honest advice: treat the ropeway as a bonus, not as your only way up. Confirm on the day.

Quick facts

The Skyway was built by the Italian ropeway company LEITNER and is run by Dharamshala Ropeway Limited, a Tata group company. The official website is dharamshalaskyway.in.

A note on fares: you will see many different figures online, from a few hundred rupees to several hundred for a return. Most are old or second-hand. The official terms say the current fares are displayed on the notice board at the stations, and the online booking page showed no prices when we checked, so we have not printed a standard fare. Ask at the counter before you queue.

How to reach each station

Dharamshala Station (lower)

The lower station is on the Kotwali Bazaar side of lower Dharamshala, near the Bypass Road. Kotwali Bazaar is the main market of the lower town, a short way above the Dharamshala bus stand. Any local taxi driver will know it if you ask for the "ropeway" or "Skyway" station.

• From the Dharamshala bus stand: a short taxi hop, or a walk uphill through the bazaar if you are travelling light.
• From Gaggal airport: about 13 to 15 km by road. If you plan to ride up, ask your driver to drop you at the ropeway rather than in McLeod Ganj, but check first that it is running, or you will need a second taxi. Our taxi page has fixed fares.
• By car: there is paid covered parking at the lower station (the official site listed ₹50 for a car for up to 2 hours when we checked). Space fills on busy weekends.

McLeodganj Station (upper)

The upper station is on Temple Road in McLeod Ganj, the road that runs down from the main square towards the Tsuglagkhang complex. The builder describes it as about 300 m from the Dalai Lama's residence, so you are a short walk from the main temple and the start of the Lingkhor kora path.

• From the McLeod Ganj main square: walk down Temple Road, about 5 to 10 minutes.
• From Bhagsu or Dharamkot: walk or take a taxi to the main square first, then down Temple Road.

For which side of town suits your stay, read Dharamshala vs McLeod Ganj.

When the ropeway is closed: your alternatives

These run every day, including when the Skyway is shut.

Taxi

The simplest option. A taxi between lower Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj takes about 20 to 30 minutes on a normal day and costs approx. ₹300 to ₹500. On peak weekends and holidays the road can jam badly, so leave extra time. Book ahead through our taxi service if you have luggage, an early start or a late arrival.

Local HRTC bus

Local buses run from the Dharamshala bus stand up to McLeod Ganj through the day, approx. ₹20 to ₹30 and 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. They are cheap and frequent, but crowded at school and office times, and awkward with large bags.

The footpath

There is a steep network of footpaths and steps between the two towns, passing near Gangchen Kyishong (the Tibetan administration area) below McLeod Ganj. Walking down takes about an hour; walking up is a real workout and more like 1.5 hours for most people. Wear shoes with grip, carry water, avoid it after dark and in heavy rain, and watch for monkeys. It is a good way down if you want to see the in-between neighbourhoods, less so as a way up with a bag.

Tips for riding the Skyway

• Check on the day. Even when the ropeway is operating normally, it stops for high winds, thunderstorms, power cuts and maintenance. Call the helpline or ask your hotel before you set out.
• Avoid peak weekend afternoons. Queues build on summer and holiday weekends and around Diwali and New Year. Early morning on a weekday is usually quickest. If online booking is working, it can save you the ticket queue.
• Monsoon caution. July to mid-September is landslide season in the Dhauladhar foothills. Closures are more likely, and the 2025 suspension happened in August. Do not plan a tight connection around the ropeway in the rains.
• Know the last ride. If you go up in the afternoon, check the time of the last cabin down. The official site lists closing at 6 pm, and its terms ask return passengers to board at least an hour before closing, so aim to be back at the upper station by about 5 pm.
• Bags. Normal travel bags go through a security check. A big rucksack is fine; several large suitcases may not be welcome in a full cabin.
• Power stops. Cabins can pause mid-line for a few minutes during a power interruption. It is normal. The official terms say tickets are not refunded for short stops, only if the service stops completely.
• Pick your seat. Sit facing downhill on the way up for the best valley views; the Dhauladhar peaks show best from the upper station itself.

Combining the ride with sightseeing

The Skyway makes a neat half-day loop that saves you two slow drives:

1. Morning in lower Dharamshala. Walk Kotwali Bazaar, see the War Memorial, and get a coffee near the bus stand.
2. Ride up. Take the Skyway from the lower station to McLeod Ganj.
3. Afternoon in McLeod Ganj. Check the Dalai Lama Temple timings, walk down Temple Road to the Tsuglagkhang complex, then do the Lingkhor kora around it, which takes about 45 minutes.
4. Evening. Momos and thukpa in the main square, then a taxi or the Skyway back down before it closes.

If the ropeway is shut that day, the same plan works with a taxi between steps 1 and 3. Our places to visit in Dharamshala list and 3-day itinerary fit the rest of your trip around it. For more on each town, see our McLeod Ganj and Dharamshala guides.

Is it worth it?

When it is running, yes, mainly as transport. It saves time on busy days, the view down the valley is lovely, and it drops you right by the temple. It is not a big sightseeing experience in itself, and a taxi costs about the same for a group of three or four. Solo travellers and couples going between the two towns on a crowded weekend gain the most.