During the 2025-26 period, Gujarat witnessed a significant volume of religious tourism supported by modern infrastructure. According to a report by The News Mill, more than 47.32 lakh pilgrims opted to use the Udan Khatola ropeway services to reach prominent religious destinations across the state.
Key Pilgrimage Destinations Served
The ropeway network, commonly referred to as Udan Khatola, serves as a vital mode of transport for devotees visiting some of Gujarat's most significant spiritual sites. The report highlights that these services were primarily utilized for travel to the following locations:
- Girnar
- Pavagadh
- Ambaji
These ropeways provide an essential alternative to traditional trekking paths, allowing pilgrims to reach these hilly shrines with greater ease. By streamlining access to these high-altitude temples, the ropeway systems have become an integral part of the infrastructure facilitating large-scale religious gatherings and daily visits.
Pavagadh Leads in Visitor Numbers
Among the destinations mentioned, Pavagadh emerged as the most frequented site for ropeway users during the 2025-26 timeframe. Data shared by The News Mill indicates that this location alone accounted for 23.43 lakh visitors who utilized the Udan Khatola service.
This high volume of transit at Pavagadh underscores the popularity of the site among devotees and the role of aerial ropeway transport in managing the influx of visitors to the shrine throughout the year.
Understanding Udan Khatola
The term Udan Khatola is widely used in India to describe aerial ropeway or cable car systems. These systems are specifically engineered to navigate steep or difficult terrains, such as the mountain slopes found at Girnar and Pavagadh. By providing a mechanical transport option, these ropeways significantly reduce the physical strain on pilgrims, making the journey to these elevated religious sites more accessible to a broader demographic of travelers.
Summary of Transit Data
The figures reported for the 2025-26 period reflect the continued reliance on these transport systems for pilgrimage travel in Gujarat. The key takeaways from the data include:
- Total Pilgrims: Over 47.32 lakh people utilized the ropeways.
- Primary Period: The data covers the 2025-26 operational year.
- Concentration of Traffic: Pavagadh attracted 23.43 lakh of the total users.
These statistics, as reported by The News Mill, highlight the scale of infrastructure usage for religious tourism in the state, demonstrating the importance of efficient connectivity to Gujarat's major spiritual landmarks.
