Two New Lifts Built on Pavagadh Hill: Reach Temple Without Stairs, 40-Person Capacity
Once upon a time, visiting the Pavagadh Temple required a lot of courage as visitors had to climb more than a thousand steps to reach the temple. Since 1986, the introduction of the ropeway has provided much relief to devotees. However, even today, after 38 years, one still needs to climb about 500 steps from the base to the temple, though that will soon change. In just six months, visitors will be able to reach the temple gates directly using a lift without climbing a single step.
The Mahakali Temple at Pavagadh is one of Gujarat’s renowned pilgrimage sites, with ongoing construction at different stages. The initial phase included expanding the temple area, installing a flagpole, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisting a flag after 500 years on June 18, 2022. The work on the next phase is also progressing rapidly.
Among the visitors to Pavagadh, there are often elderly individuals and children, some of whom have physical difficulties. They manage to reach the ropeway but find it challenging to climb the remaining 500 steps to the temple. This situation will soon be resolved.
To ensure that all visitors can reach the temple easily and save time, the Pilgrimage Development Board has decided to enhance the facilities. A lift is currently being constructed at Pavagadh. According to the project timeline, the lift will start operating in just six months. The board has received official approval from the government for this project.
After receiving government approval, the lift’s construction began on February 22, 2023. Excavation has been done beside the temple, and the work on two lifts is now nearing its final stage.
Current Visitor Access to the Temple:
Currently, visitors to Pavagadh reach the base of the hill via private or government transport vehicles. Once there, they have two options:
- Climb the steps to reach the temple.
- Take the ropeway to reach the Dudiya Talav (Milk Lake).
If a devotee takes the ropeway, they can reach Dudiya Talav in about 45 minutes. From there, they can choose one of two paths to reach the temple.
Once the lift is operational at Pavagadh, it will greatly simplify the journey for devotees. After reaching Dudiya Talav via the ropeway or by foot, the lift will be just a short distance away. It will take only about three minutes to reach the lift from the ropeway. The government is also considering another option.
According to sources, electric cars may also be introduced to transport visitors to the lift. An official announcement is expected in the near future.
When visitors reach the lift, a ticket counter will be located near the entry point. They will need to buy a ticket to use the lift. It is anticipated that the ticket prices will be reasonable. Religious leaders and those associated with the temple have also requested that they be allowed to use the lift for free.
Facilities for refreshments will be available for visitors arriving from afar. Toilets for ladies and gents will be located next to the ticket counter, and a waiting area will be created nearby. Directly opposite the waiting area, there will be three rooms: two for the general public and one for VIPs.
To manage the flow of visitors, time slots will be allocated when buying lift tickets. Devotees may need to wait in the waiting area if their time slot has not yet arrived.
According to the time slots, visitors will board the designated lift and descend to the temple area in just 40 seconds. A special walkway will be constructed between the lift and the temple, allowing visitors to walk directly to the temple.
Progress and Details of the Lift Project:
The Divya Bhaskar team visited the site to understand the progress of the lift project. They reached Dudiya Talav via the ropeway and then walked on the unpaved path to the lift construction site. The lift’s structure is approximately 210 feet above the ground, and it is nearly complete, just below the temple level. Nearby, workers were excavating the land with JCB machines.
The lift is being constructed on the side of the temple. The work, started by our company on February 22, 2023, is ongoing.
A team of 40 to 50 people is working on the Pavagadh lift project. About 70 to 75 percent of the work has been completed in roughly a year and a half, with the entire project expected to be finished by February 2025.
Kaushalkumar Pandey mentioned that two lifts will be operational at the Mahakali Temple in Pavagadh for the convenience of pilgrims. Once the service is launched, each lift will accommodate 20 people, allowing a total of 40 people to travel together.
“Alongside the construction of the two lifts, a staircase is also being built for maintenance purposes. The lift structure has 25 floors, ensuring that if the lift stops or encounters any issues, passengers can be safely evacuated.”
The lift at Pavagadh will be similar to those used in high-rise buildings or flats but with higher speed and capacity. According to Kaushalkumar Pandey, this lift will be high-speed and capable of carrying 20 people, making it faster and more efficient than regular lifts. After descending from the ropeway, it will take only three minutes to reach the temple.
