The Pharping Hydropower Station, Nepal’s first hydroelectric project, marked a historic moment in the country’s journey toward modernization. On May 22, 1911, King Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah inaugurated Nepal’s electric era by turning on the country’s first electric lamp in Tundikhel, Kathmandu.
Commissioned by Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher Rana, the station was named Chandra Jyoti in his honor. Inspired by his visit to England eight years earlier, Chandra Shumsher initiated this project as part of his grand plan to modernize Nepal through technological advancements.
Construction and Vision
Construction of the 500kW Pharping Hydropower Plant began in 1907, located 12 kilometers south of Kathmandu. British engineers oversaw the work, supported by Nepalese personnel, including Tilkikram and Bakhat Bahadur from the Nepal Army. The main engineer for the powerhouse was Kishore Narsingh Rana, and two British engineers, identified as “Barnau Puwante” and “Mr. Linzale,” also contributed.
All the equipment, including turbines and penstock pipes, was shipped from Calcutta to Bhimphedi and painstakingly carried by porters over mountainous terrain to the site. The plant utilized water from two springs, Satmule and Sesh Narayan, stored in a circular reservoir.
Early Operations
Initially, the station supplied electricity exclusively to the palaces of the Ranas, homes of courtiers, and a few streetlights in Kathmandu. Before wiring the palaces, the system was tested in a house in Khokana to ensure safety.
Regional and Global Context
Pharping’s commissioning placed Nepal at the forefront of hydroelectric development in Asia, becoming the second country in the Asia to build such a plant. Globally, hydropower was still in its infancy — the world’s first hydropower plant had been installed in Wisconsin, USA, in 1882, and China’s first plant was built in 1912, a year after Pharping.
A Pioneering but Slow Start
Despite this early achievement, Nepal’s hydropower development progressed slowly. It wasn’t until 1939, 28 years later, that the country built its second hydropower station, the 640kW plant at Sundarijal. Even with immense hydropower potential, it took Nepal another half-century to reach a generation capacity of just 1MW.
The Pharping Hydropower Station remains a testament to Nepal’s early embrace of renewable energy, symbolizing a bold vision for modernization and laying the foundation for the country’s vast hydropower potential.
