Girnar Mountain with Funicular facility Junagadh News Gujarat India

Gujarat State Government has planned to set up Funicular trains at 6th places in the state.

Three places chosen for first phase of Funicular project are Ambaji Temple Gujarat, Saputara Hill Station and Pavagadh Temple Gujarat. Funicular facility would come up at these places within two years if everything goes as per the plan. If successful here, similar project could be planned for Chotila Mataji Temple Gujarat, Palitana Gujarat and Girnar Mountain in Junagadh City.

Briefing media persons about the project, state Tourism Minister Jaynarayan Vyas said: ‘Funicular is better than ropeway as it accommodates more people that ultimately makes journey cheaper’.

‘Another interesting factor that makes Funicular a superior service in compare to traditional ropeway is that in worst condition the wagon would go at the most 3-5 meter backward and then stop. The passengers would be able to leave the train to walk on adjoining steps,’ added Vyas.

It was not clear whether Funicular would replace existing traditional rope ways operated by private company Usha Breko at Pavagadh Mahakali Temple and Ambaji Gabbar or not.

Minister said this would be the first funicular project in the country. Consultant working for Indian Railway is hired for feasibility study and designing of the project.

Girnar Arohan Avarohan Spardha – Climbing Competition Junagadh City News

Third National Level Girnar Arohan Avarohan Spardha, which hold at Girnar Parvat in Historical Junagadh City at 21st February – 2010 has emerged winners in the senior men's section and junior girls section named Ramesh Solanki and his sister Poonam Solanki.

Both are residents of Tad village in Junagadh district, won prizes in the competition held last year also.

To climb and declimb 5500 steps from the base to the Ambaji Shikhar on the Girnar Mountain for the men's section, while the female competitors had to climb and step down 2200 steps from the base to Mali Parab.

The Cash Prize for winner in each group is Rs 50,000 and for runner up Rs 25,000.

Sagar Kataria, from a harijan youth who make out a living by selling fruits on a handcart, emerged the top winner in senior men's section (18-40 year group) climbing and declimbing 5,500 steps in 58 minutes 11 seconds while Ramesh Solanki stood on second spot as he could make the feat only in 58 minutes 12 seconds.

In male junior section (14-18 year group), Haresh Pandit stood first clocking 59 minutes 28 seconds while Rajesh Chouhan finished it in 59 minutes 40 seconds.

In senior female section, New Delhi-based railway employee Kamlesh Baghel won climbing 2,200 steps in 38 minute 14 seconds, while Varsha Karingya of Junagadh stood second clocking 38 minutes 41 second.

In junior girls section, Madhuben Chouhan emerged top clocking 38 minutes 15 seconds while Poonam Solanki stood second finishing in 38 minutes 23 seconds.

Girnar Parvat Mountaineering Competition Junagadh City News Gujarat India

At 21st February 2010 morning, Girnar Mountaineering competition of climbing and coming down of mount Girnar, of the national level was hold and approximately 153 Competitors of India’s 10 States were participated from those 101 competitors are of Gujarat State itself.

Since last two years, there are two type of Girnar Parvat Climbing Competition has organized by Gujarat’s Department of Yuva Sports and Cultural Activities,

(1) Open Gujarat Level Competition
(2) National Level Competition

But on dated 21st February 2010, Shri Fakirbhai Waghela, the State’s Sports Minister will gave flag off at 7.30 a.m. to the competitors to march which was National level competition which live demonstrated by the means of about 12 C.C.

The entire process of the competition including climbing and coming down of the steps of the mountain, by the competitors will viewed face to face by the people with help of 22 digital cameras under VAIFAI system will be done from Garvo Gadh Girnar Parvat.


Government has arraigned to take insurance for all the competitors. The awards will be given as under :

(1) The competitor ranking first Rs. 40000

(2) The competitor ranking second Rs. 25000

(3) The competitor ranking third Rs. 15000

(4) The competitor ranking fourth Rs. 10000

(5) The competitor ranking fifth Rs. 5000

(6) The competitor six to ten Rs. 1000.

Moreover other prizes like trophy, shield, certificate, memento, T-shirts, etc. will be awarded to the competitors.

As Junagadh Tourism Development Point of View, above is one of the most important events for Junagadh City and for all Kathiyavadis from all around the world.

Girnar Mountain Temples Climbing Competition News Saurashtra Gujarat India

State level Girnar climbing race on 3rd January 2010.

The annual state level Girnar climbing race will be held on 3rd January.

The competition this year has attracted 1496 applications for participation from 18 districts of the state. Of this 1022 applications are from Junagadh districts.

Due to increased distance of race, this year, the competition has received 299 lesser applications compare to last year.

The Mount Girnar is tallest peak of Gujarat. Every year state level and national level competitions are held here. The participants run on steps that are well constructed on the hill to reach atop.

Girnar Mountain Parvat Hill Ropeway Project News Gujarat India

Ramesh to visit Mount Girnar to take stock of ropeway project.

With the environmental panel’s nod, the ropeway project at Mount Girnar in Junagadh now awaits the green signal from the Wildlife Panel, appointed by the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment — following objections by the National Board of Wildlife.

Union Minister for Forest and Environment Jairam Ramesh is likely to visit Junagadh to take stock of the situation before the Wildlife Panel takes its decision. The minister’s visit will focus on the project’s impact on the vulture population in the region, given its importance as a roosting and nesting centre.

He is scheduled to conduct a survey of the site. S K Nanda, state Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment, said: “The minister is likely to visit on December 5. He will check if the project threatens the birds.”

Over 7 hectares of forest area has been diverted for the project at an investment of Rs 89.31 crore, which has raised many eyebrows. Ropeway service cabins by Usha Breco Limited, each with a capacity of eight passengers, will pass over 1,700 meters of forest land. The ropeway, with a capacity of 1,000 passengers per hour, will start from the Girnar foothills and terminate near the Ambaji Temple at the top of mountain. Though the company and the Forest Department have carried out compensatory afforestation on 7 hectares in Toraniya plot, environmental groups have expressed apprehension over the damage to ecology.

According to the Gir Nature Club, vulture is a Schedule-I bird and the project will cause disturbance. Planned in 1968, the project has been delayed for various reasons.

After a foundation stone was laid by Chief Minister Narendra Modi in 2007, the National Board for Wildlife had deferred its decision to approve the state government project in spite of the strong representation by the state in its favor. Home to the Asiatic lions, Girnar forest is spread across 1,800 square kilometer.

It includes Mount Girnar, which is an important pilgrimage place, especially for the Jain community. Earlier, a section of Jains was against the project as the ropeway service would commercialize an important religious site.

Girnar Hill Mountain Wildlife Forest Junagadh News Gujarat India

MP says Kuno Palpu sanctuary can house 60 Asiatic lions.

Waiting anxiously to bring the 'king of the jungle – Asiatic Lions' to Kuno Palpur sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh Government has claimed that the park spread over 900 sq kms can house as many as 60 Asiatic lions.

With Gujarat Government refusing to part with its "pride" from Girnar forests which is the only habitat of lions in the country, the Center has proposed "soft release" of the zoo-bred lions in Kuno Palpur sanctuary as an alternate home to the animal.

The Centre has already identified pure-gene Asiatic lions in the Delhi and Hyderabad zoos for relocating them in Kuno Palpur with an aim to strengthen the population of the endangered species in the country.

"Almost 60 lions can be accommodated in the sanctuary having 900 sq km of buffer area.

Girnar Mountain Parvat Temples Ropeway Project Junagadh News Gujarat India

Girnar Ropeway Project to temple put on hold to "save" vultures.

The Center has put on hold the proposed parvat ropeway project to Gujarat's religious shrine atop Mount Girnar citing threat to the nesting of endangered vultures in the region.

The Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife chaired by union environment minister Jairam Ramesh at a recent meeting has asked a team of conservationists to visit the site and study the impact of the proposed project before deciding its fate.

"Girnar wildlife sanctuary is the only known colony of long-billed vultures in Gujarat. If the ropeway passes through the trees housing vulture nests, it will be a disaster," Asad Rehmani, a prominent conservationist from Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and committee member, said.

He said 121 vultures (long-billed and white-beaked species vultures) were counted in the region in 2005 which have declined to 79, according to the 2007 census.

He said the environment impact assessment report submitted by a private firm Usha Breco Ltd seeking to construct the ropeway was not factually correct with particular reference to faunal diversity of the area.

The committee also observed the project seeking diversion of around seven hectares of Girnar forest land was yet to get environmental clearance.

However, the Gujarat Wildlife Department, strongly arguing in favor of the project, said it would only ease the pressure on the wildlife created by visiting devotees who currently pass through the jungle to reach the holy shrine atop Girnar Parvat, Junagadh City.

Girnar Mountain Temples Annual Lili Parikrama Junagadh City Gujarat India

Girnar Lili Parikrma will start at 29th October and this time will also ban for Plastic and Gutkha.

Around one million Hindus will participate in Girnar’s anual Lili Parikrama(Green pradakshina or circumambulation). The 36-km parikrama will start from 29th of October and end on 2nd November. According to Gujarati Hindu calendar Parikrama starts from Kartik 11 to 15 every year.

Girnar the tallest mountain of Gujarat is 6 km. from Junagadh city. On an average, about 7 lakh devotees attend the parikrama but as Gir forest has a lush green look after good monsoon this year, it may attract one million devotees. In year 2003 Parikrama had attracted 1.2 million devotees.

The History of Girnar Lili Parikrma in Junagadh is like that,"according to popular belief, after winning the war at Kurukshetra, Pandavas had done the parikarma to seek God’s blessings."

As the stretch of the Parikrama passes through the forest, it is an adventurous trip for the youngsters. After the rainfall, the ponds and rivers are full of water adding to the scenic beauty of the forest and hills, so this year many more youngsters will participate in the Parikrama. Youngsters see it as solving a dual purpose. They complete a ritual as they enjoy the beauty of Gir forest.

Early this week, the district collector of Junagadh chaired a meeting to discuss the arrangements. The meeting resulted in formation of Action Group for smoother implantation of various related works.

The state transport corporation has planned to arrange 150 extra buses, 20 more than last year to accommodate extra traffic of Lili Parikrama. Railway authority is planning to add extra coaches around Parikrama schedule.

The Parikrama will commence from Girnar Taleti, night halt at Jinabava Madhi, and MarvellaBordevi and return to the starting point on the fifth day.

The forest department has put a ban on plastic bags and gutkha. Anyone found violating the ban will be fined, said forest department officials.

Girnar Mountain Parvat Temples Ropeway Project Junagadh News Gujarat India

Politics has taken front seat in the controversial Girnar Ropeway Project which plans constructing a ropeway to the Girnar shrine through the Gir sanctuary.

After much legal debate in Gujarat, the project is now finally awaiting clearance from the National Board for Wildlife in India. Activists in the state have raised a serious alarm over disturbing the vulture nests falling on the way of the proposed ropeway.

The state's ruling party BJP is lobbying for the clearance of the project, citing huge tourism opportunities for the locals of Junagadh.

However, at the Board's latest meeting on Wednesday, the issue "boomeranged" for the party, whose workers in Junagadh have been pushing for the approval of the project since decades.

Union minister of state, forest and environment, Jairam Ramesh said he would visit the site himself for inspection before giving approval. The political implications of this might prove tricky for BJP's MLA Mahendra Mashru, who is championing the cause of the Junagadh residents.

"He will have to host a Congress minister's visit to his constituency to get the permission," an activist close to the developments said, adding that after winning the Junagadh Corporation Elections, the Congress workers are active in the constituency and are expected to take credit of the clearance of the project.

"This will not serve the BJP's political purpose at all, but they are in a spot over this," he said.

Forest officials have admitted that over 12,000 trees are likely to be chopped for the project. After claiming that there are 'no' vulture nests in these trees to be affected by the ropeway project, the company constructing the ropeway has admitted in a written communication to NBWL of vulture nests in the region.

In the last meeting of NBWL in July, it was decided to get an expert report on the site.

The report conceded that several vulture nests will be permanently damaged because of the ropeway. An alternated route has been suggested in the report.

Feasibility of the alternate route is also expected to be examined during the minister's visit.

Girnar Parvat Temples Mountain Ropeway Project Junagadh News Gujarat India

Garvo Gadh Girnar

Memorandum supports early start of Girnar Ropeway Project.

Junagadh BJP legislator Mahendra Mashru has prepared a memorandum bearing one lakh signatures as support for the early commencement of the ambitious ropeway project on Girnar Mountain.

“A book carrying signatures of one lakh people has been prepared after the successful signature drive carried out in city center during last week. We will submit the memorandum to the Prime Minister and ask for the implementation of the ropeway project,” said Mashru.

He said the memorandum will be sent to New Delhi through the proper channel.

On the completion of the drive, the book carrying one lakh signatures was put up for public notice and a function was organized at the Red Cross hall in the city centre on Saturday. Some youths present at the function had even sprinkled drops of blood on the book wrapper, according to sources.

According to the memorandum, the ropeway project will help reduce pollution on Girnar Mountain. It will also not prove harmful to the environment.

Lakhs of people visit Girnar Mountain every year.

Girnar Hill Mountain Parvat Temple Junagadh(Saurastra) Gujarat

Cracks appear in Sudarshan pond parapet.

Reports of cracks appearing in the parapets of Sudarshan pond sent officials of district administration and Junagadh Municipal Corporation into a tizzy on Wednesday. Inspection on the site did reveal cracks, however, no calamity was reported.

According to district administration officials, incessant rains in the valley of mount Girnar from Wednesday morning inundated Sudarshan pond, located at Bhavnath.

"Residents around the pond were asked to evacuate and the road from Girnar Darwaja to Bhavnath was blocked for some time. However, a major calamity was averted as the rains stopped," said JMC commissioner R M Sharma.

Meanwhile, a retired officer of roads and buildings department of JMC attributed the damage to the wall to random digging by the JMC. "In the past, JMC officials had done substantial amount of digging around the parapets of pond for creating parking lot or erecting stage for cultural programmes during fate. This has done great damage to the pond, causing near calamity like situation," said J N Vasavada.

Junagadh City News – Girnar Ropeway Project

Environmentalists to file PIL against ropeway project at Girnar Parvat.

Environmentalists fear that the proposed aerial ropeway project at Mount Girnar can pose a big threat to ecology in the area.

Girnar is home to nearly 10 Asiatic lions and is also an important roosting and nesting site for vultures.

While public hearing for clearance of the project is scheduled on June 6,Gujarat Nature Club (GNC), an environmental NGO is set to protest against the project.

GNC has also planned to file a public interest litigation in the High court.The fact that over 7 hectares of forest area costing around Rs 89.31 crore has been diverted for the project has raised many eyebrows.

Ropeway service cabins, each having a capacity to accommodate 8 passengers, will pass through over 1,700 meters of forest area.

According to project details, 1,000 passengers will be carried in ropeway cabins in an hour. The service will start from Girnar foothills and end near Ambaji Temple at the top of the Girnar mountain.

While the service providing company along with the forest department has agreed for compensatory afforestation in over 7 hectares of land in Toraniya plot, the damage to the ecology in the area cannot be ruled out, said environmentalists.

“The area surrounding the project site is home to at least 10 Asiatic lions. The project will disturb their normal life,” said Amit Jethava, the president of GNC.

He said, “Girnar is also an important rooting and nesting site for Schedule-I vultures. The project can pose a big threat to the site.” He said that as per the last census, there were 79 vultures at Girnar.

The GNC said that besides opposing the project during the public hearing, they will also take legal routes.

Girnar Lili Parikrama Junagadh City Gujarat India

Girnar Lili Parikrama will start from November 9 & will finish at 13 November.

Around one million Hindus will participate in Girnar’s anual Lili Parikrama(Green pradakshina or circumambulation).

The 36-km parikrama will start from 9th of November and end on 13th. According to Gujarati Hindu calendar Parikrama starts from Kartik 11 to 15 every year.

Girnar (Junagadh- Saurastra) the tallest mountain of Gujarat is 6 km. from Junagadh City.

On an average, about 7 lakh devotees attend the function but as Gir forest has a lush green look after good monsoon this year, it may attract one million devotees.

In year 2003 Parikrama had attracted 1.2 million devotees.

According to popular belief, after winning the war at Kurukshetra, Pandavas had done the parikarma to seek God’s blessings.

As the stretch of the Parikrama passes through the forest, it is an adventurous trip for the youngsters. After the rainfall, the ponds and rivers are full of water adding to the scenic beauty of the forest and hills, so this year many more youngsters will participate in the Parikrama. Youngsters see it as solving a dual purpose. They complete a ritual as they enjoy the beauty of Gir forest.

Necessary arrangements have been made by Junagadh District Collectorate, police, forest department, health and water supplies department and other voluntary organisations to ensure smooth celebrations of the five-day Girnar Parikrama.

The Parikrama will commence from Girnar Taleti, night halt at Jinabava Madhi, and MarvellaBordevi and return to the starting point on the fifth day.

The forest department has put a ban on plastic bags and gutkha. Anyone found violating the ban will be fined, said forest department officials.Many voluntary organisations have also come forward to ensure uninterrupted water and food supply at regular intervals.

Medical camps have also been arranged by the health department at various points.

The forest department has finished patching up roads on the 36-km stretch. Some 7 km (1/5 of the total route) of the parikrama route is more or less damaged due to heavy rains in late monsoon this year. The ground has been leveled and cactus and other wild plants have been removed from the roads.