KATHMANDU, Jan 18: Dharahara, which came into operation after reconstruction, has collected around Rs 45 million in revenue in the first six months of the current fiscal year 2082/83. The revenue was collected from entry fees between mid July 2025 and mid-January 2026.
According to Mahesh Rai, chief of the Interim Dharahara Operation and Management Unit, Dharahara generated Rs 44.24 million in revenue during these six months.
During this time, 242,863 visitors visited Dharahara, including 2,005 foreign tourists, Rai said. Dharahara remained open for 147 days during the period.
Although Dharahara was formally inaugurated on September 20, 2024, on the occasion of Constitution Day, it was opened to the general public with paid entry only from November 25, 2024, according to the management unit.
Dharahara, which used to remain closed every Wednesday until before the Gen Z movement, is now operating seven days a week.
From November 25, 2024 to mid-July 2025, Dharahara collected Rs 51.2 million in revenue. During that period, around 270,000 visitors visited the tower, the management unit said.
Dharahara generates revenue of nearly Rs 50 million
Rai said the number of visitors is extremely high on Saturdays and public holidays, often resulting in overcrowding.
“There are a very large number of domestic tourists. Many of them come from outside Kathmandu. Foreign tourists come only occasionally, around 12 to 15 per day,” Rai said.
As Dharahara is currently operating on an interim basis, the management unit stated that once it becomes fully operational, plans include arranging traditional materials that reflect art and culture inside the tower, along with sports and other recreational facilities.
Rai said foreign tourist arrivals remain low because Dharahara is still in interim operation and has seen limited promotion. He said once full operation begins, promotion will improve and preparations are underway to increase foreign tourist arrivals.
He added that if the state works with tourism associations and the Tourism Board to run Dharahara focused programs, foreign tourist arrivals and revenue could increase.
According to Rai, during the initial phase of operation, around 1,200 to 1,500 people visited Dharahara daily. That number has now risen to around 2,200 to 2,300 per day.
On public holidays, visitor numbers reach 2,700 to 2,800, he said.
The management unit said better organization could further increase visitor numbers.
Rai said Dharahara is still under construction and is not yet under full state ownership, which has prevented the addition of other services inside the tower. Legal issues have also made management difficult.
He said Dharahara is expected to come under full government ownership in mid-April 2026, after which preparations are underway to award a contract and begin full operation from mid May 2026.
As Dharahara is operating on an interim basis, staffing remains limited. At present, only 13 staff members are employed, but around 80 staff will be required once full operation begins, the management unit said.
The entry fee to climb the historic Dharahara has been set at Rs 200 per person, with a 50 percent discount for students, senior citizens, children, and persons with disabilities.
Children under 10 years of age and senior citizens above 80 years can enter free of charge. Tourists from SAARC countries are charged Rs 500, while tourists from countries outside SAARC are charged Rs 1,000 per person.
Dharahara was opened with an entry fee under the Special Structure Operation and Management Development Committee (Formation) Order, 2024. A Cabinet meeting held on November 22, 2024 decided to open Dharahara and approve the fee structure.
Parking fees at Dharahara have been fixed at Rs 20 per hour for four-wheelers and Rs 10 per hour for two-wheelers. An entry fee of Rs 50 has been set for access to the Dharahara premises.
For advertisements of national importance displayed on the Dharahara pillar, a fee of Rs 5,000 per hour has been fixed. Commercial video shooting is charged Rs 5,000 per hour, while photography costs Rs 1,000 per hour.
