Pathibhara Cable Car Dispute Turns Violent in Taplejung
| Event date | 25 January 2025 (clashes); six-point agreement 4 February 2025; protests resumed later in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | Pathibhara (Mukkumlung), Phungling, Taplejung |
| Type | Infrastructure; community and heritage dispute |
| Injured | Several on 25 January; at least 13 in a later clash |
| Verification | Verified |
| Status | Unresolved — update as talks continue |
A 2.7 km cable car planned by the IME Group from Kaflepati in Phungling to the Pathibhara temple above Taplejung became the region’s biggest development dispute. Pathibhara, known to the Limbu community as Mukkumlung, is a sacred site, and a “No Cable Car” movement has demanded that it be left in its original state.
On 25 January 2025 protesters and security forces clashed near the site, leaving people injured on both sides. Protesters then enforced a transport shutdown across nine eastern districts. On 4 February the government and the protest group signed a six-point agreement that halted construction of the upper station pending further talks. Tensions returned later in the year, and in one clash at least 13 people, including 11 security personnel, were hurt as protesters tried to march to the construction site.
The dispute matters beyond Taplejung. It sets indigenous claims to sacred landscapes against a tourism-led development model, and the outcome will shape how pilgrims and trekkers reach the gateway to Kanchenjunga.
Sources
- The Kathmandu Post — "Four injured as locals protest against cable car project in Pathibhara"
- The Kathmandu Post — "Government and Pathibhara cable car protesters reach six-point agreement"
- The Kathmandu Post — "Pathibhara cable car protests to resume"
- Global Voices — "Pathibhara Temple Cable Car Project: Protecting Indigenous rights versus development"
- Nepal News — explainer on the Pathibhara/Mukkumlung controversy
Last reviewed 29 September 2026. Written in Merolog’s own words from the sources listed; where sources disagree, each figure is attributed rather than merged. Spotted an error or a newer figure? Leave a comment on this entry.