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.

Unforgettable Journey For Asiatic Lions Junagadh District Gujarat India

In India, Cities like Rajkot, Jamnagar, Amreli, and Bhavnagar are famous for their tourist attractions. But Here I want to share about one another city from Gujarat State is Junagadh-Saurashtra.

Junagadh, one of the well-known city for its history background, lots of tourist attraction places like Girnar Mountains, Temples, Uperkot, and Sakkarbaug Zoo etc.

So if I am talk about Gir National Park which is also known as Sasan Gir locally lies in western Gujarat, established in 1965. It serves as a reserve forest for preserving the Asiatic lion. The vast terrain—forests, grasslands, rivers and swamps—supports the full Animal Planet menagerie including the antelope, leopard, deer, hyena, jackal and crocodile. The watering holes dotting the region attract myriad bird species—and these areas are jewels in Gujarat’s richly studded safari crown.

There were only a total of 15 tigers when the rehabilitation started. In 2001, the population grew to 338. In April of 2005 the numbers increased to 359. Visit national parks, especially the lions of Gir National Park to learn more about wildlife preservation. Bring along your children so that they can appreciate the beauty of nature at an early age. Teach and educate them about the importance of preserving nature.

Now if I am talk about Girnar Parvat at Junagadh City which is famous all over in Gujarat for Girnar Lili Parikrma which was lastly held at 29th October-2009 for 5 days.

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

Authorities like Junagadh Municipal Corporation, health care department, state transport, forest, water supply, police, in addition to social and religious organizations, are on the job of helping about one million pilgrims expected this year.

Mine Personal Touring experience at Junagadh City said that, “There are lots of trustable services available like “Various Nationalize Banks in different areas in city easily available. Rental Car, Bikes are also very cheap. E-commerce cousulting services, Food Zone, Restaurants with Various Menu available.””

May be after few years, with the help of Gujarat Tourism Department, sure Junagadh City can become main historical tourism hub in Gujarat.

Shatrunjay Tirth Palitana Jain Temples Kartik Poornima Yatra Gujarat India

Pilgrims flock Palitana for Kartik Poornima yatra 2009.

Thousands of Jain pilgrims flocked to the foothills of Shatrunjay hills of Palitana taluka here on Monday, the day of Kartik Poornima (full moon of the Kartik month of Hindu calendar) to undertake the auspicious yatra (journey).

Known as the Shri Shantrunjay Teerth Yatra, this walk is an important religious event in the life of a Jain devotee, who covers 216 km of rough mountainous terrain by foot to worship the Lord Adinath temple atop the hill.

Considered as a very auspicious day for Jains, the day also assumes significance for the walk as the hills, which are closed for public during the four months of monsoon, are thrown open for the devotees on Kartik Poornima. This age-old tradition has been followed down the years.

Although similar to the three-day Girnar Parikrama, which ends on this very day in neighboring Junagadh, the Palitana yatra can be done all around the year except for monsoon months, a district official explained. However, as the day of Kartik Poornima holds significance in Jain religion and devotees are kept away from worshipping their lord for four months of monsoon, the first day attracts the maximum number of devotees.

Shatrunjay hills are, next to Sammet Shikhar in Bihar, the most sacred mountain for Jains. Mythology has it that it was Lord Adinath, the first tirthankara, who sanctified the hills by visiting it to deliver his first sermon. Down the years, crores of Sadhus and sadhvis have attained salvation on these hills.

"It's said that if we undertake the yatra of the pious hills on this particular day, the three-and-a-half crore Sadhus who have already attained salvation over the years also walk with us," said a Jain devotee here. "This day is also the birth anniversary of our great religious leader Shri Hemchandrachayaji," he added.

Considering the rush of pilgrims, the civic administration had set up all facilities to facilitate the yatra.

Girnar Lili Parikrama Shivratri Mela Junagadh City News Gujarat India

Girnar Parikrama draws thousands in Rajkot City.

Junagadh City, one of the most important Historical Places in Gujarat, draws the attention of thousands of travelers from across the state during Shivratri Mela, Girnar parikrama and Girnar climbing competition. Like every year, this year too, a large number of people across the state have come to the city for performing the 36-km 'Lili Parikrama' (spiritual walk) around the Girnar Parvat.

The parikrama, as usual, began on Thursday night, the day of Tulsi Vivah, also known as Dev Diwali, from the foot of the mountain, where the pilgrims spent the night. On Friday morning, the parikrama was started from Dudheshwar Mahadev temple.

They would spend the night at the Saint Jinabava's hut(Jinabava ni Madhi). The next day they would reach Malvela, the place surrounded by high climbers located in the midst of Girnar forest.

The next morning, they leave for southern forest and reach to Bordevi, temple of Goddess Ambika. On Tuesday morning, the pilgrims would return to Bhavnath Mandir Taleti at the foot of the mountain.

Authorities like Junagadh Municipal Corporation, health department, state transport, forest, water supply, police, in addition to social and religious organizations, are on the job of helping about one million pilgrims expected this year.

The event also attracts a large number of youngsters cutting across religious lines and regions. According to a popular belief, the Pandavas, after winning the war at Kurukshetra, did the 'parikrama' to seek God's blessings.

Though the event began on Thursday, about 68,000 piece-loving people had already completed their journey to avoid heavy traffic, sources said.

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 Parvat Temples Hill Mountain Lili Parikrama Junagadh City News Gujarat India

Forest dept to keep strict vigil on Girnar Parvat Lili Parikrama.

No plastics allowed. Gas cylinders to be used for cooking - no wood to be used. The forest department has laid down these guidelines to minimize environmental damage that the Girnar Lili Parikrama may cause.

More than 90,000 yatris have started the parikrama which is officially scheduled to begin on Thursday, said Junagadh collector Ashwani Kumar. Lili Parikrama, as it's known in Saurashtra Kathiyavad, is an annual circular religious tour of Girnar by devotees.

Due to the efforts of the administration, police and forest department, yatris are now more conscious about the environment and understand why it's vital to save trees and protect the jungle. In the past, there have been incidents of forest fires and complaints of pollution.

Moreover, the Nalpani Ghodi forest department has set up counting points. Because of heavy rains this year, many roads were washed away and mud slides were reported.

Forest department has cleared and repaired roads on a war footing. Chlorinated water and milk are being provided on the way. Hawkers are not permitted. Police force is also on alert to provide security.

Girnar Temples Parvat Mountain Lili Parikrama Junagadh News Gujarat India

Enthusiasts begin Girnar Parvat Lili Parikrama ahead of schedule.

Two days before the 36-km historic Girnar Parikrama - the amazing annual religious walk when devotees tread mountainous terrain to worship at temples located in the dense forest area – will officially commence, over 50,000 enthusiasts have already started their walk uphill.

Packed trains and buses are arriving at Bhavnath, the starting point of the walk every hour. Over one lakh people have already reached Bhavnath, sources said.

"The official walk will be flagged off at 12 pm on October 29. However, eager participants have already started the walk on their own," a source at Bhavnath said. Some wish to avoid the rush of Lakhs of devotees and enjoy the three nights and four days of nature peacefully at their own pace," the source added.

Meanwhile, anticipating this, the district administration too had made arrangements by Tuesday morning. "Medical camps, water points, complete police security have all been put in place from Tuesday itself so that even early birds will get all the facilities," a district official said.

On its part, the forest department, which becomes the official host of the event, has also made all arrangements. District forest officer at Girnar Anita Karne said, "All arrangements are in place along the route from Bhavnath to Zina Bava ni Madhi to Malvela, Bordevi and back to Bhavnath.

It's the forest department's responsibility to see that the roads are made and security is maintained. We have done our best to ensure that the event goes off smoothly."

Appealing to people to conserve natural surroundings, Karne said, "We have repeatedly appealed to people to maintain cleanliness along the route. Special bins have been put up and people are requested to dispose of all solid waste in them. It's our collective responsibility to preserve the environment."

Uses of microphones by cultural groups who come to the parikrama have also been banned. "We have banned all loudspeakers since the last two years and have done our best to see that there's no noise pollution," Karne added.

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 Mountain Parvat (Temples) Junagadh City Gujarat India News Samachar

City NGOs to join vulture awareness day celebrations

September 5 will be celebrated as International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD-09) worldwide. Several NGOs, including some based here plan to celebrate the event by creating awareness about vulture conservation in the region.

According to Junagadh-based NGO, Mudra Ecological, Cultural and Heritage Ovation Society, several peaks and ranges in Girnar Mountains near Junagadh are considered among the few nesting sites of vultures.

The ambitious ropeway project is also being considered a possible threat towards the conservation of these birds. According to sources, some nature clubs and environmentalists have raised the issue with the Centre, even as public agitation for the early commencement of the ropeway project gathers momentum.

J Nimish, a member of Mudra society, said: “We are not opposing the ropeway project, but believe at the same time that vulture conservation should not be sidelined. Both the ropeway project and vulture conservation are equally serious issues. We will approach education institutions and provide them with information about the importance of vultures and their conservation.”

Ankit Shukala and Mitesh Dave, other members of the NGO, who favor development of tourism here, echo the same view.

Some nature clubs and environmentalists have expressed doubts that the ropeway project will threaten the vulture habitat and nesting site on Girnar Mountains.

According to environmentalists, at present, Girnar Mountain houses around 30 vultures.

The bird is considered shy and has a habit of taking shelter in isolated areas far away from human population.

During the last one decade, vulture population has drastically reduced in the Indian Sub- Continent.

Incidentally, Gujarat Minister of State for Environment and Forest Kiritsinh Rana, had also said in his reply to a question on February 20, 2009 during Question Hour in the Gujarat Assembly, that vulture population in the state has reduced from 2,647 to 1431 in two years from 2005-07.

Historical Girnar Temples Mountain Ropeway Project Junagadh Gujarat India

Girnar Ropeway Project - Sadhus to take to streets over delay in project.

Junagadh-based All India Sadhu Samaj has decided to take to the streets over the delay in the implementation of the aerial Ropeway project at Mount Girnar. Some 45 renowned Sadhus, Mahants and temple heads of the region will lead the ‘Rasta-Roko’ (road block) agitation at Vanthali Gate area of the city on Friday.

Political parties, including BJP, Congress, CPM and BSP, various youth organizations and NGOs will also take part in the protest to register their support. Remove Formatting from selection

All India Sadhu Samaj (Gujarat Chapter) president Mahant Gopalanand said: “Despite being cleared at various stages, the Ropeway project is being delayed for some reason or the other. Moreover, no political leader is coming forward to take up the issue. So, we have decided to raise the issue with the support of all sections of the society.”

He added: “After the agitation, office bearers of our New Delhi head office will take up the issue with the concerned minister and department.”

While supporting the move of the All India Sadhu Samaj, Satish Captain, Mayor, Junagadh Municipal Corporation, said: “We have already taken up the issue with the concerned authorities. We have written letters asking them to speed up the project.”

City BJP president, Karsan Dhadook, said: “The BJP is supporting the agitation. We will give them full support as joint efforts are needed for the realization of this project.”

Dhadook, however, accused the Congress of politicizing the issue. “The ball is now in the Center court.

If Congressmen put pressure on the party, there is a chance of the project being implemented soon,” he said. A meeting, presided over by the Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh, will be held in New Delhi on September 10 to discuss the pros and cons of the project.

“If we fail to submit our case, the ropeway project will never see light of the day,” Dhadook said, adding that the BJP is planning to start a signature movement in support of the project.

Meanwhile, leaflets bearing the names of the mahants,

Organizations and individuals participating in the agitation were distributed in Junagadh on Wednesday, asking the general public to support Friday’s agitation.

Junagadh City Gujarat India News- Girnar Temple Ropeway Project

Delegation presses for early start of Girnar Ropeway Project.

A delegation led by Junagadh legislator, Mahendra Mashru, arrived at Gandhinagar on Tuesday to press for the early commencement of ground work for the ambitious Ropeway project at Girnar Mountain near Junagadh City.

They will make their submission before the consultant of the National Wildlife Board of India.

The delegation comprises representatives of the Junagadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, BJP office bearers, Sadhu Samaj and other NGOs supporting the Ropeway project.

Mashru said: “Tuesday’s meeting was scheduled between the local delegation and consulting members of the National Wildlife Board of India. It was aimed at discussing the obstacles in the ropeway project and to clear the doubts raised by some NGOs working in the field of environment and wildlife.”

According to Mahendra Mashru, few nature clubs and environmentalists have raised objections to the project, pointing at the possible damage to wildlife and environment.

“We have made our submissions and cleared the doubts raised during our meeting with the consultant of the National Wildlife Board of India.”

Junagadh city BJP unit president, Karsan Dhadook, said: “We have made it clear that the ropeway project will not harm wildlife or environment. Besides, it will help reduce the damage presently occurring in the absence of the ropeway.”

Mahant Tansukhgiri, a member of the delegation, said: “Some NGOs are putting obstacles. Our view is that before considering their grievances, our opinion should be taken into consideration.”

Sources said the National Wildlife Board of India is scheduled to meet on September 11 in New Delhi during which the issue of the said ropeway project will be discussed.

Junagadh Fort Saurastra Samachar

Wildlife board clears sanctuary land for Power Grid, Adani Transmission line.

The state Wildlife Board will soon send a proposal to the Centre requesting it to allow some industrial houses as well as government agencies to use forestland for non-forest purposes in the four protected sanctuaries in the state.

These four include the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, the Wild Ass Sanctuary in the Little Rann of Kutch, Velavadar Blackbuck Sanctuary and the Narayan Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.

A decision to send the proposal was taken at the state Wildlife Board meeting here on Saturday under the chairmanship of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Among the main items cleared at the Board meeting were a proposal for diversion of 89.74 hectares of land in the Wild Ass Sanctuary for the power transmission line of Adani Power Limited, and another 241.59 hectares for the state-owned Power Grid Corporation’s transmission lines in the same sanctuary.

The Board also cleared a proposal for the diversion of 7.29 hectares in the for Usha Breco Limited (UBL) for power Girnar Sanctuaryropeway construction, and another 0.450 hectares each for Vodafone Gujarat Ltd and Reliance Communication Gujarat Ltd for laying fiber-optic lines in the famous Narayan Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.

It also cleared the proposal of the State Road Development Corporation, seeking the diversion of 4.40 hectares of land in the Velavadar Blackbuck Sanctuary for laying a six-lane Sarkhej-Vataman-Bhavnagar Road, and BSNL’s proposal for 0.315 hectares diversion In Balaram Ambaji Sanctuary for laying fiber-optic lines.

Pradeep Khanna, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), told News line after the meeting: “All these proposals seeking clearance under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 will now be sent to the National Wildlife Board which, in turn, will forward it to the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee for consideration.

The apex court will take a final decision on the proposals.” Khanna said the Board meeting also approved other proposals, including a 265 km-long “garland road” to be laid around the Gir Sanctuary, the setting up of Leo-genetic lab for Gir lions and other wild animals at Junagadh,

Besides creating a communication network for surveillance, management and protection of animals in the Gir Sanctuary.

Junagadh News – Girnar Mountain Temples Wildlife Sanctuary

Gujarat to denotify forest land for industrial projects

he Gujarat government will denotify 345 hectares of forest land in wildlife sanctuaries in the state and make it available for various industrial projects, utilities and fibre optic lines for private telecom operators.

The proposal was finalized at a high-level meeting presided over by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi here Sunday.

The proposal will be sent to the National Wildlife Board and the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to be forwarded to the apex court for final approval, a top official in the chief minister’s office said.

The CEC was set up to monitor and ensure the compliance of the orders of the Supreme Court on subjects relating to forests and wildlife.

The 345 hectares proposed to be denotified are in Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Wild Ass Sanctuary, Narayan Sarovar Bird Sanctuary (Kutch), Velavadar Black Buck Sanctuary and Balaram-Ambaji Sanctuary.

Junagadh News- Girnar Mountain Parvat Ropeway Project

Girnar Mountain(Temples) Ropeway gets clearance from Gujarat Govt.

Gujarat government has given final nod for setting up a ropeway parallel to the staircase on Girnar Parvat.

Chief minister Narendra Modi, in a meeting with the state wildlife board, had approved the project which was originally mooted in 1989.

"The state wildlife board and CM have approved the project and now we will recommend it for final clearance from the Central Board of Wildlife (CBW)," principal secretary environment and forest S K Nanda said.

He said that work for the proposed rope way will begin once the CBW gives its clearance as the forest department of the Central government had already cleared the proposal around 8-9 years back.

He added that Usha Braco has been given the contract to build and operate Ropeway to be built parallel to the staircase.

According to Nanda, the company will be required to make investment of around Rs 90-crore for setting up around 1.5 km ropeway line on the mountain.

The state government sources said that ropeway will boost tourism sector in Junagadh, as Girnar is the highest mountain in the state and the city is a hub of tourism activities.

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.