Pavagadh: New Ropeway Offers Quick Darshan of Mahakali Mata in Just 20 minutes, Saving Hours of Climb Ropeway from Dudhiya lake to the temple

The state government is making daily arrangements for the development of Pavagadh. The number of visitors is increasing day by day. In the first phase, the Pavagadh Development Board, with a budget of 125 crores, has completed work within three phases. This includes new steps up to the temple spire, beautification of Dudhiya Talav, tourist facilities on both sides, water management, and adding three layers to the temple area, covering a total area of 800 square feet that has transformed into a grand complex today. The temple has also been renovated at a cost of 12 crores. On June 18, after 500 years, the Prime Minister hoisted the flag on the spire, and since then, Pavagadh has been in the limelight for pilgrims.

The Chief Minister has approved a budget of 180 crores for the development of Pavagadh. As the number of people visiting Pavagadh continues to rise, various facilities are being expanded. Current work is ongoing at the Machi plateau, where activities include the provision of parking, water, toilets, and crowd control. A tender has been issued for parking arrangements on the way to the Machi plateau, and a 50-crore project is underway for the development of the Vadatalav area. This includes creating a water body, setting up a tent city, and developing the Virasat Van (Heritage Forest) to benefit the people. The Chief Minister has allocated 180 crores for the development of Pavagadh and Champaner.

Previously, climbing the 500 steps to the temple spire was a significant challenge, but now a new ropeway system is in place, allowing visitors to reach Dudhiya Talav via the ropeway. Apart from the ropeway system, 2400 steps are already in place, with 500 more to be added in the future, making the pilgrimage to Pavagadh much more accessible.

In 5 to 7 minutes, it will be possible to reach the temple from the ropeway, as mentioned by R.R. Raval, Secretary of the Pavagadh Yatradham Development Board. The current ropeway system is operating for about 5 to 10 minutes, but with the construction of a new phase of the ropeway, the time will be reduced to 5 to 7 minutes, making it much more convenient for visitors.

The current ropeway takes you up to Ambaji, after which visitors have to climb several steps to reach their destination. However, with the completion of the second phase of the ropeway, you will be able to reach the temple located near Pavagadh without any further climbing.

At present, every hour, 1200 pilgrims are transported by the ropeway, and the company has made significant improvements. With the extension of the ropeway, about 2000 pilgrims will be able to reach the hill every hour, significantly reducing the time and effort required for this holy journey.

A large dining hall for 5,000 people is being constructed near the Chhasiya Talav, which is being facilitated by the temple trust. This dining hall will be situated at a lower elevation from the temple and will be accessible via a lift, which is being built to connect the lower area to the temple premises. This lift, which rises to a height of 82 meters, will accommodate up to 20 passengers at a time, significantly enhancing the convenience for pilgrims.

Additionally, a substantial dining facility is being established below the temple for around 5,000 people, primarily aimed at accommodating pilgrims who come for darshan. This development is further supported by the Forest Department, and the temple trust has contributed financially to this project.

Apart from this, there are plans for a high-speed lift to be constructed with an estimated cost of 20 crore rupees. This lift will have a height of 70 meters and a capacity of 20 passengers, aimed at providing ease of access to senior citizens and differently-abled devotees. The tender process for constructing this lift has been awarded to a private agency based in Ahmedabad, and it is expected to be completed within a year.

These initiatives are aimed at improving the overall experience of pilgrims and making the temple more accessible to a wide range of devotees.

To ensure that the lift remains accessible to those who need it the most, there is a consideration to keep the charges for using this lift to a minimum or possibly even make it free for certain categories of people, such as women, children, and senior citizens. Requests have been made to the government for allowing the use of this religiously significant and government-subsidized lift for free.

The project to construct this lift, costing around 121 crore rupees, has been developed as part of the Pavagadh Development Project since 2017. Phase 1 of this project included widening of pathways, construction of toilet blocks, police booths, water huts, sitting pavilions, and other essential infrastructure. The widening of the pathway alone covers a total length of 3.01 kilometers and involves constructing a total of 2,374 steps. Phase 2 includes extensive expansion of the temple premises, covering an area of 545 square meters, which has been divided into three sections after expansion.

These initiatives aim to improve accessibility, facilities, and convenience for pilgrims visiting the temple, with special consideration for the needs of women, children, and senior citizens.