Board the Jakhu Ropeway for an Adventurous Journey to the Jakhu Temple

Shimla is a popular tourist destination in India located in the wonderful state of Himachal Pradesh. The city is surrounded by mountains and forests, creating a stunning landscape. Amidst this vita, Shimla offers a variety of attractions to enjoy. The city is laden with numerous scenic spots inside and around it. It offers a certain tranquility that instills you with peace and happiness. The Britishers especially visited to enjoy the pleasant weather of summers and gave Shimla the title of “The Summer Capital of British India.” Every year, tourists travel to the place to escape from the summer heat or experience the amazing snowfall of Shimla winters. The fun and serenity of the city is available all round the year. Immersed in the natural beauty, this place seems like a paradise perfect for refreshing yourself. The Jakhu Ropeway project elevates the overall experience of this paradise.

The Jakhu Ropeway Project

Jakhu Temple is a famous religious site in Shimla. Devotees of Lord Hanuman flock to the temple every year. One can travel on foot or by car to the temple. The temple rests at the highest peak of Shimla. Therefore, even for a short distance of only 2-4 km, people have to take a steep uphill trek of 1-2 hrs that can be tiresome. In 2017, the government of Shimla inaugurated the Jakhu Ropeway Shimla. This serves as an alternate mode of transportation that is easy and fast. It was developed by Jagson International Limited. It carries individuals in a gondola, an aerial lift or cable car, to the temple. The one-way ride requires a minimum of 6-8 minutes and offers the enthralling view of the city and its towering mountains with forests present beneath. This thrilling ride has been even enlisted as a popular adventure sport.

The Jakhu Temple

The temple worships Lord Hanuman and has ties to the Ramayana. The legend states that during the war with Ravana, Lord Laxmana lost consciousness, and Lord Hanuman began his search for Sanjeevani booti, the herb that could revive Lord Laxmana. It is on this very hilltop, that Lord Hanuman met the sage Yaaku and learned the details of the herb to identify it. Although Lord Hanuman promised the sage to meet him on his way back, an encounter with demon Kalnemi changed Lord Hanuman’s plans. Due to the time crunch, he changed the route and failed to meet the sage. But after the war of the Ramayana, he returned and explained his decision to sage Yaaku. He departed after making the necessary amends with the sage. But upon his departure, an idol appeared on the hilltop, encouraging sage Yaaku to build a temple around it.

The Views

The ropeway gondola is present at a height of 8100 ft. and offers incredible sights of the city. In November 2010, the government of Shimla unveiled a statue of Lord Hanuman with a height of 108 ft. The ropeway provides a phenomenal view of this statue, especially its upper part. The lush green forests comprising oak, pine, and deodar trees expand beneath your feet in the gondola. The fierce mountains of the Shivalik ranges stand majestically in front of you. The city spreads out in the midst of these mountains. The ride is especially beautiful in winters, enabling the visuals of snow-clad mountains. The serenity of nature mixed with the thrill of the ride creates an unparalleled experience. The grandeur that stretches around you in the gondola enchants you, making a memorable experience worth taking once.

The Details

The ropeway is just a 0.5 km walk from the Ridge. One can also take a taxi for the same. On reaching the ropeway, one has to go to the 11th floor via lift. From there one can board the gondola with a capacity of 6 passengers. The tickets cost Rs. 470 and Rs. 400 for adults and children (3-12 years), respectively with no charges for children below 3 years. There is another option available to take a one-way journey for Rs. 250 for adults and Rs. 200 for children. The tickets are available for booking at the ropeway counter and also in online mode. The gondola ride stays functional for the whole week. It opens at 9:30 am and closes at sunset, which depends entirely on the weather. It also assures the safety and security of the passengers with 48 safety devices and continuous CCTV monitoring.

The Reviews

The passengers who rode the ropeway described the whole experience as exhilarating. The passengers enjoyed the clean and spacious gondola ride, deeming it of international standards in terms of safety and security measures. The people admired the ride for cutting the 1-2 hr ride on foot or by car into a 6-8 min ride. It has also been appreciated for neat and clean washroom facilities. People have been in total awe of the picturesque view of the city visible from the gondola. The locked car instills the feeling of safety among passengers while the clean glass provides a panoramic view rendering the photography possible. The rides have been especially convenient during winters when snow blocks most of the roads, leaving all other travel modes non-functional. In brief, the people who experienced the fun-filled ropeway ride agreed that it’s a must to experience the gondola ride for tourists visiting Shimla.

Conclusion

Shimla is a city of numerous tourist spots, with each place incorporating its own uniqueness and charm. Among these many locations, exists the Jakhu ropeway. The aerial cable car or gondola carries tourists from the Ridge to the Jakhu temple. It reduced the normal 1-2 hr journey on foot or via car dramatically to a 6-8 min ride. The remarkable sights seen at the height of 8100 ft. add to the exciting journey. Jagson International Limited has integrated safety devices with international standards, guaranteeing passenger safety. The tickets are available for nominal charges. The passengers relished the journey, deeming it as an experience worth cherishing. The ride has even been included in the list of popular adventure sports of Shimla. It can be stated that one would definitely regret missing the gondola ride while visiting Shimla.