Pharping (Chandrajyoti) Hydropower Plantफर्पिङ (चन्द्रज्योति)
Nepal's first hydropower plant (500 kW), at Pharping near Kathmandu, also known as Chandrajyoti after Chandra Shamsher Rana. Commissioned in 1911, it was the second hydroelectric plant in South Asia and is now preserved as a living museum.
Installed capacity
0.5 MW
Run-of-river
River / basin
Pharping springs
Bagmati basin
Location
Kathmandu
Bagmati
Commissioned
1911
Operational
Milestones to commissioning
The route from construction to commercial operation.
- 1911
Commissioned — Nepal's first hydropower plant
Location
Approximate dam-area location on OpenStreetMap — precise to the district and river reach, not the exact structure.
Pharping (Chandrajyoti) Hydropower Plant: key facts
Quick answers on capacity, river, developer, status and commissioning, drawn from the sourced data above.
What is the capacity of the Pharping (Chandrajyoti) Hydropower Plant?+
The Pharping (Chandrajyoti) Hydropower Plant has an installed capacity of 0.5 MW. It is a run-of-river hydropower scheme.
Which river is the Pharping (Chandrajyoti) Hydropower Plant on?+
The project is on the Pharping springs River, part of Nepal's Bagmati basin, in Kathmandu district, Bagmati Province.
Who is developing the Pharping (Chandrajyoti) Hydropower Plant?+
The Pharping (Chandrajyoti) Hydropower Plant is developed by Government of Nepal (historic) (government (nea)).
What is the status of the Pharping (Chandrajyoti) Hydropower Plant?+
As of mid-2026 the project is operational.
When was the Pharping (Chandrajyoti) Hydropower Plant commissioned?+
The Pharping (Chandrajyoti) Hydropower Plant was commissioned in 1911.
Sources & data note
Figures for Pharping (Chandrajyoti) Hydropower Plant are compiled from the sources below and cross-checked where possible. Status and projected dates reflect research as of mid-2026 and may change as the project progresses. The map location is an approximate dam-area estimate. Commentary is Amarnepal's own.