The hillock of Pavagadh in the Panchmahal district of Gujarat, across the UNESCO World Heritage Site Champaner, houses the shrine of Goddess Mahakali at the top. In Hindu mythology, it is one of the 51 places where the body parts of ‘Sati,” the divine consort of Shiva, fell. Pavagadh is one of the most important places of worship, a Shaktipeeth, in the Shakt tradition of Hinduism.
Mahakali of Pavagadh is the clan deity ( Kuldevi) of an estimated 30% of the state’s population. The temple, a small and unkempt place, was transformed to its present glory in July 2022 at the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PM performed the Dhwajarohan ceremony at the renovated and beautified temple on the day, which incidentally was his mother’s anniversary in 2022.
The beautified pilgrimage center, which had a ropeway and shifting of minor structures, enhancing aesthetic appeal, is now set to install a ropeway up to the main temple. At present, a devotee has to climb 449 steps even after reaching the top of a hillock with a ropeway.
The Government of Gujarat as well as the National Monument Authority have granted permission for the extension of the ropeway at Pavagadh. At present, the ropeway reaches a spot called Dudhia Talav. In the new plan, there would be another ropeway station erected at Dudhia Talav, which would allow devotees to reach the temple without having to climb 449 arduous steps.
A joint monitoring committee has already visited the place. Once the Ropeway Advisory Board issues permission, the work will commence within two months at an estimated cost of Rs. 100 crore.
The plan includes building 2 lifts with side viewing galleries, which will bring the pilgrims from Dudhia Talav to a height of 72 meters. There will be a 40-meter bridge, weighing 72 tons, to bring the pilgrims to the temple precinct
Surendra Patel, trustee of the Mahakali Temple Trust, informed that the planned bridge will be 40 meters long with a capacity of 2000 people passing through.
The present facility of the ropeway is 774 meters long. It functions with 34 trolleys, each with a seating capacity of 6 people. The ropeway carries around 11 to 12,000 people each day. More than 25 lakh people have used the ropeway since it’s inception.
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