Pavagadh: One of the 51 sacred ‘Shaktipeeths,’ the Mahakali Mata Mandir atop Pavagadh hill, is set to undergo a significant redevelopment project. Located in the Panchmahal district, the shrine is nestled within the UNESCO-designated world heritage site of Champaner-Pavagadh.

~ As part of the redevelopment project for Pavagadh hill, replicas of all 51 Shaktipeeths will be established. This endeavor aims to provide the opportunity for numerous devotees to perform ‘parikrama’ and receive blessings from all 51 Shaktipeeths in one location.

~ To facilitate access for senior citizens and individuals with physical disabilities, the existing ropeway, which currently takes devotees to Dudhiya talav, will be extended to a point closest to the Pavagadh hilltop, allowing them to access the temple premises more easily.

~ Currently, vehicles can reach Maachi, which serves as the final point on the Pavagadh hill. Beyond Maachi, travelers must proceed on foot or use the ropeway to reach the Mahakali temple situated atop the hill. By extending the ropeway, the number of steps, which currently totals 282, is expected to be reduced to around 40. This extension will make it more convenient for pilgrims, particularly senior citizens, to reach the temple.

~ As the ropeway gets extended, it will have two stopping points: the current location near Dudhiya talav and another near the temple at the hill’s summit. The trust plans to provide electric vehicles from Dudhiya talav to enable senior citizens to reach the circular parikrama pathway.

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, inaugurated the redeveloped temple premises last year. This previous project involved widening the steps leading to the temple from the foothill, altering the slopes of the steep terrain, creating resting points for devotees, and developing a new temple complex.

Dr. I I Pandya, a retired professor and head of the structural engineering department at M S University’s Faculty of Technology and Engineering, is part of a three-member expert committee said, “There are certain areas where land is unavailable, and in some places, there are valleys as deep as 300 feet. To address this, we will install 15-20 small bridges along the circular ‘parikarma’ path, complete with special FRP railings, to ensure that devotees can easily perform the ‘parikrama’ of all the Shaktipeeths.”

The concept of creating a circular ‘parikrama’ path was initially proposed by Surendra Patel, the chairman of the Shree Mahakali Mata Temple Trust (known as Surendra kaka), and trustee Nikhil C Bhatt, a former executive engineer of R&B at Halol. Dr. Pandya, along with town planner Gopal Shah and civil engineer Paresh Patel, conducted a topographical survey and assessed the feasibility of establishing this ‘parikrama’ path, which extends beyond Maachi. It is worth noting that Gopal Shah is also involved in the redevelopment project in Ayodhya by the Uttar Pradesh government. DeshGujarat