Gandhinagar: More than 47 lakh pilgrims and tourists used the ropeway to reach hilltop shrines at Girnar, Pavagadh and Ambaji in during 2025-26.Govt said the three ropeway services collectively ferried over 47.3 lakh passengers during the year. Pavagadh recorded the highest footfall with more than 23.4 lakh passengers, followed by Ambaji with 15.6 lakh and Girnar with 8.3 lakh.The statement said that the ropeways have made pilgrimage to the state’s hill shrines more accessible for senior citizens, children and persons with disabilities, while the increased tourist inflow has generated employment opportunities for local youth.The 2.12km Girnar ropeway, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Oct 2020, is among the world’s longest ropeways, the govt claimed. It connects the base of Girnar hill to the Ambaji temple, located at an elevation of around 3,660 feet. The ropeway has 31 modern cabins and can transport up to 1,000 passengers an hour, with the journey taking around nine minutes, the statement said. On foot, pilgrims have to climb around 5,000 steps to reach the Ambaji temple.Girnar is home to several important religious sites, including the Ambaji temple, Guru Dattatreya temple, Gorakhnath temple and historic Jain temples.The statement said the ropeway is especially helpful during monsoons when clouds surround the Girnar hills. Footfall also rises during Navratri, Janmashtami and the holy month of Shravan. Its proximity to Somnath and the Gir wildlife sanctuary further enhances its appeal among tourists.
