Bijli Mahadev Temple In Himachal To Be Connected By Ropeway, Will Boost Spiritual Tourism

The National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) has invited bids to build a 2.84-km-long ropeway from Nature Park (Mohal) to Bijli Mahadev temple in Kullu district in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

Establishment of this ropeway would boost the spiritual tourism in the region, where thousands of people from across the country visit to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva at the popular shrine of Bijli Mahadev.

Currently it can be approached only after a 3 km trek.

To be built at an estimated cost of Rs 233 crore, the ropeway project shall be executed on design, build, operate and transfer (Hybrid Annuity) basis.

The selected bidder will have to develop the project in a period of 18 months from the date of award of the contract and will be responsible for operation and maintenance of the ropeway project.

Unique Phenomenon

Located at an altitude of about 2,460 m in the Kharahal valley, the temple is well known for its unique natural phenomenon.

Every 12 years, the Shiv-lingam is struck by lightning which causes the lingam to break into pieces.

These pieces are put together by temple priest and covered with butter and after few days the lingam is restored to its original shape till another similar flash takes place.

It is for the periodic bolts of lightning (bijli) around the shrine, from which Shiva (Mahadev) is believed to save his devotees, that this place is known as Bijli Mahadev.

Seven Projects In Pipeline

Earlier, in April 2022, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to construct seven ropeway projects under the ambitious Parvatmala Yojana was signed between NHLML and the state government of Himachal Pradesh.

By leveraging world class technology, seven ropeway projects, with a total length 57.1 km, will be constructed in the State, at a total cost of Rs 3,232 Crore.

These include two ropeways in Kangra district - 13.5 km ropeway to connect Palampur Thatri with the Chunja glacier in Dhauladhar at a height of 12,000 ft and the 6.5 km-long Himani-Chamunda ropeway which will connect New Chamunda Temple with old Chamunda Temple.

In Sirmaur district, ropeway project will come up between Shirgul Mahadev Temple and Chudhar (8 km), and in Bilaspur between Lunhu and Bandla (3 km).

In Chamba district, two ropeway projects will come up - a 20.4 km ropeway from Killar to Sacch pass and Bharmour to Bharmani Mata Temple (2.5 km).