With the Girnar ropeway operational, devotees can go from foot of the mountain to the Amba Mandir in 10 minutes. Earlier, we had to climb 4000 steps to reach this temple. It has taken years of litigation and waiting for environmental permits for this longest temple ropeway project to finally start!

This is a tricky topic to write about, but the first time I heard that a ropeway was being started at the Girnar mountain, I thought back to my first pilgrimage on this pure hill. It was during a solar eclipse. I had no particular intention of going up, family members were contemplating whether it was auspicious to climb this hill during an eclipse. But as I was at the foot of the hill, I decided to climb a bit and see. I kept climbing the steps, as the sun dimmed. I didn’t look towards the sun… anyway, I found the hill very conducive for silence and meditative quality. There were many amenities enroute, even stalls selling meals and aerated water and what not. I got little quiet spots to sit on the parapet. It wasn’t empty but there weren’t too many people and I could enjoy the place and see the devotees bustling by.

How will it be with a ropeway I wondered? Instantly, the thought of too many people came to me. Will a lot of people take the ropeway up and decide to climb down? Making it much more crowded? If a lot of people take the ropeway, the top will have to be ready and prepared to handle the people’s waste and various requirements in a clean and sustainable manner. Along with the ropeway have more bathrooms and garbage cans with proper disposal methods been created?

10 Minutes to Girnar Amba Mata Temple

The ropeway starts from the foot of the hill. Without any climbing, the devotees can take a 10-minute ropeway straight to the Amba Mata temple. The devotee flow to the Amba Mata temple is sure to increase. It will facilitate old and weak people to do this pilgrimage, who previously couldn’t have been able to do. At the same, it will also increase the number of youth and others who simply want to go for the darshan along with the scenic views. Either case, the powerful deity would bless each one most likely, thus it is nice.

Easier Dattatreya Temple & Neminath Tirthankar Nirvana Spot Pilgrimage

I also feel relieved to get the option for partway ropeway support when I want to do this Dattatreya temple & Neminath Nirvana Spot 10,000 steps pilgrimage (Yes, Jain’s also have a great significance of the route onwards). Because I have only climbed to the Jain temples right below the Amba Mata mandir, about 3000 steps. And it was not a short or easy pilgrimage. While I could go onwards a little more, the top was a lot further away. And I wasn’t sure how the pilgrims were doing the full route in one day. Though, the vendor selling biscuits and tea assured me that if I continued onwards I will be able to manage it. Well, maybe. I don’t know. Let’s see when I go next.

Even if I don’t go by ropeway, simply to do the pilgrimage “properly” by foot and self-power – at least I will have the assurance of getting the ropeway on my way back if I so need. I do appreciate that.

Jains Most Likely Will Take Girnar Ropeway Only One Way (Upwards)

For Jain’s, the ropeway is suitable only one way because significant temples and spots exist on the old route (Sehsavan route). The ropeway does not go down that route. So, most likely, for Jains coming up via the ropeway is good. Then climb down a bit to the Jain temple complex below Amba Mata Mandir. After that, to return down, take the Sehsavan route, so as to visit the major temple and Neminath diksha and enlightenment kalyanak spots. Read more about these old and new routes of Girnar here in my previous blog.

Note: the online booking of ropeway currently allows only two-way booking. Though the FAQs on the website mention one-way ticket is available… I did not find a way to book it.

Sustainable Development In Eco-Sensitive Pilgrimage Routes Like Girnar

To ensure the increase in devotees can be a great boon, adequate effort is needed to maintain the cleanliness and natural ambiance of the place. I feel the government should ensure the following,

• Garbage cans with strict no-litter policy
• Free water units can be placed. People shouldn’t be allowed to carry disposable plastic up on mountain. Security check should be there, disposable plastic bags, bottles should be confiscated
• Adequate toilets and maintenance staff for them
• Sustainable disposable system of garbage cans and toilets. Often garbage cans are emptied at the side of the mountain-side due to lack of manpower/infrastructure to haul garbage back down
• Planned sustainable development of shops, toilets and any other structures that are added to the route

What else should be ensured on such pilgrimage places which have become really popular with pilgrims and see heavy foot fall?

Would the Girnar Ropeway REDUCE Footfall on the Trekking Routes?

Do you think that large number of people would take the ropeway and that is why footfall on the trekking routes will reduce significantly? I am somehow skeptical about this.

One, because the ropeway tickets – to and fro – are at 630 INR per person on the website. One way ticket rates will be lower priced, but I don’t see the option to book those on the website. My uncle who visited recently mentioned it was about 400 INR, so maybe offline is cheaper or was it one-way? Not sure. Either case, it is not the most reasonably priced. I think there will be a significant number of visitors who would not want to pay that much. Maybe, only the elderly in the group may go by ropeway, rest may come walking.

Two, usually I have seen when a large number of devotees gravitate to a specific place for pilgrimage, they pull more other folks there as well. Maybe it is because many of them have some special experience which leads to stories about miracles. Or maybe it is just the FOMO factor, that people want to go on pilgrimages others have done.

So, I suspect, the ropeway is now going to bring a lot more people to the Girnar mountain pilgrimage. And not just the Amba Mata shrine but also on the route beyond.

I fervently hope the government has prepared for additional people in sustainable development, I haven’t read anything about this in the media.

With Increased Footfall, What Should We Devotees Who Like the Quiet Do?

I think that those of us who are able bodied need to explore more offbeat pilgrimages in the country. It is very important because those places need attention. In India, there is an unbalanced trend of certain pilgrimage places getting too much crowds, while others are totally neglected. I think we should look at many other places which are often also very powerful and with very important history.

At the same time, for Girnar, there is the old route, which is a lot emptier. Since, Jains have the temple there, and few more Hindu temples and caves are there, it will remain somewhat active. So, we can always go that route to find the quiet and stillness we desire to experience the place and nature. Girnar also gave me the feeling of many secret routes and spots. So, maybe, like the Aghori Jhuggi I found at the base, we can get a guide to take us to those other places 🙂

What’s your feeling about the Girnar Ropeway coming up?

Useful Travel Information to Plan Your Girnar Trip

How to get there,
Closest Airport: Rajkot airport. Take a private taxi or plan for bus/train to Junagadh
Closest Railway Station: Take a train to Rajkot or directly to Junagadh. Here is a list of trains that go to Junagadh station.
Closest Bus Station: You can take a private or GSRTC bus from Rajkot or any other nearby cities to Jungadh. Tickets cost from 150 INR to 1500 INR

Best mode of transport: Rent a self-drive car from Rajkot

When to visit,
Best day of week: Weekdays will be less crowded than weekends. Also, check for any festivals or events though this is difficult as a lot of different communities mingle at Girnar. So, one can’t anticipate exactly the crowd situation. That is why it may be better to book your stay, transport etc.. a bit in advance.
Best time of day: Early mornings would have lesser crowd

Stay @ Dharamshalas nearer to Girnar, however, they cater to different communities often, so unless you have prebooked getting accommodation may be tough. Other option is taking hotels in Junagadh like Bellevue Sarovar which looks quite good in pics, but I would suggest staying in Girnar taleti if possible for a closer experience.

Eat @ Girnar taleti has a few dhabba style restaurants to eat at. Otherwise, the dharamshalas will have their bhojnalayas. Don’t expect anything fancy. Junagadh has some good restaurants like Honest chain.