5 hill stations in India to experience scenic cable car rides

Hill stations, with their calm and tranquility, are much-loved spots all over the world. They offer scenic landscapes, cool climates, and the calmness that one cannot find in a city. But there’s a quieter thrill taking over in many of these elevated getaways: cable car rides. These cable car rides don’t just help you travel from one place to another but also offer you some breathtaking views of the valley.
Whether you’re gliding above tea gardens, cutting across snow-covered slopes, or rising to a hilltop temple without the trek, these rides redefine how we experience the mountains. Here are five hill stations where the cable car is not just a ride, but a highlight in itself.

This place has made way for one of India’s most enjoyable experiences, the cable car. The 1 km “zig-back” ropeway connects three key stations: Deorali near the Institute of Tibetology, the intermediate Namnang station, and the upper station near Tashiling Secretariat, in a 20-minute round trip. Each cabin car can hold 24 passengers and gives spectacular views of the hills of Gangtok and the pastel rooftops against the backdrop of the Teesta valley and Kanchenjunga. The cable car takes away the effort of navigating narrow lanes, and it also gives the perfect panoramic view of the beautiful valley.

Auli has the grandest aerial ride of India and is also the highest and longest ropeway in India.The cable car here covers almost 4 km and gives a view of the dense oak forests, meadows dyed in alpine flowers, with Nanda Devi and Trishul peaks visible at every turn. People love the view from the top once you reach, some call it paradise while photographers consider it as a dream place for the perfect shot. In winter, the slopes glitter white, and summer evenings glow golden. You can look at the breathtaking beauty of the hills of Uttarakhand.

The Jakhu Ropeway link between the Ridge and Jakhu Temple is the first such gondola in Shimla and the six-minute ride gives you a perfect view of the oak and deodar trees and also cuts a 1–2 hour uphill walk. When you reach the top, you’ll see the famous 108-ft Hanuman statue and can also feel the cold, crispy breeze of the mountains. The view of the Shivalik hill is also very stunning from here. The cable car makes the temple accessible for everyone, whether it be elders, kids, or middle-aged people.

The Darjeeling ropeway connects the North Point with Singla on the banks of the Ramman river and one way ride takes about 15 minutes over a distance of 2.3 kms. It also overlooks tea plantations, ridges, waterfalls, and fields dotted with butterflies. This ropeway offers one of the most picturesque and poetic aerial experiences in India. Floating above the hills of Darjeeling, it’s perfect for a romantic escape or a quiet, contemplative ride amid breathtaking views.

Saputara is nestled in the Dang hills of Gujarat, and the ropeway here connects the Sunset Point to Sunrise / Governor’s Hill in a five to seven-minute ride over the hill town lake and surrounding valleys. This ride elevates a sunset into a visual feast of Sahyadri hills turning golden then indigo, as it operates at the time of golden hour. This ride takes you right into the quiet charm of the Sahyadris, where the hills seem perfectly carved by nature and the sunset feels like a personal moment—peaceful, just a few minutes above the everyday noise and chaos below, offering pure scenic bliss.