Kalika Mata Temple, Pavagadh, History, Ropeway, Aarti Timings

The oldest and most renowned temple near the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is the Kalika Mata Tempe, which was constructed in the 900s and 1000s.

The Hindu goddess Maa Kali, commonly referred to as the Great Black Mother, is honored at this hilltop temple in Kalika Mata. One of India’s 52 Shaktipeethas, the Kalila Mata Temple is included in the Champaner-Pavagadh UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kalika Mata Temple, Pavagadh History

The Kalika Mata Temple is associated with two notable legends. In one tale, Maa Kali visits a Navratri Garba party while disguised.

The goddess transformed into a young woman to join her people after being delighted by the deeply religious dance of her devotees. But the local king, Patai Jaisinh, appeared drawn to this disguise and kept holding her hand in an attempt to entice her. Maa Kali cursed his country with a catastrophic demise after cautioning him three times.

Another tale holds that the goddess Sati once lost a piece of herself after doing an amazing dance. A black-adorned idol of the Kalika Mata is claimed to have originated from a piece of Sati’s foot or toe falling here.

The sanctuary of Kalika Mata, also known as the goddess Chandi or Durga, was later relocated by Vishwamitra to the summit of Pavagadh. But in the past, only Lewa Patilidar, a villager, and Sadashiv Patel, the king, venerated this sacred spot.

Architecture of Kalika Mata Temple, Pavagadh

The Kalika Mata Temple is a two-story structure that houses two shrines. The temple has a Muslim mausoleum honoring Sadan Shah Pir, a Sufi saint, and a dome with an Islamic roof.

Alongside the three goddess pictures on the ground floor of the temple are Hindu shrines and statues. In the center lies the red-painted idol of Kalika Mata, with Kali and Bahuchara Mata on her left and right, respectively. It is believed that the marble flooring in this location dates to the 1850s.

How to Reach Kalika Mata Temple in Pavagadh

The Kalika Mata Temple is located between 23 and 25 kilometers from the heart of Pavagadh. Local transportation choices include cars and pre-arranged taxis within the city to the Pavagadh Ropeway Ground Station. Only a 5-kilometer journey through the woods or a cable car from this station will get you to the shrine. To return, there is another ropeway station atop a hill.

The closest airport to the Kalika Mata Temple is Vadodara Airport, which is between 48 and 54 kilometers distant. The nearest transit hub is the Kharsaliya Railway Station in Ladupura, which is between 38 and 44 kilometers away from the temple. The closest bus stop, the Pavagadh Bus Depot in Champaner, is roughly 6 to 7 km away from the Kalika Mata Temple.

Pavagadh Temple Darshan Opening Time

You can visit Pavagadh Temple for darshan anytime between 5:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

Opening Time	5:00 AM
Closing Time	7:00 PM

Note: The Pavagadh Temple Trust does not provide any live darshan facility.

Pavagadh Mahakali Temple Aarti Timings

Devotees can attend two daily Aartis at the Pavagadh Mahakali Temple.

Aarti Name	Time
Morning Aarti Timing	5:00 AM
Evening Aarti Timing	6:30 PM

Pavagadh Ropeway

On Pavagadh Hill, close to Maachi Haveli, is the Pavagadh Ropeway Station. The Mahakali temple is about eight hundred meters above sea level. The number of steps in the Pavagadh Temple is a query that many devotees ask. 2000 Steps is the solution.

If you have enough energy, you can ascend the temple’s 2,000 stairs; if not, you can use the ropeway. To utilize the ropeway, travel to Maachi, where it is accessible.

After purchasing the ropeway ticket, get close to the temple. You will be dropped from a cable car at a specific height. To get to the temple, you still have to ascend 250 steps. The Pavagadh Ropeway can transport 400 passengers in an hour.

In order to reduce the amount of walking required by visitors, a plan to expand the cable car’s capacity and bring it closer to the temple has recently been approved.

In order to access the Kalika Mata Temple in Pavagadh, pilgrims can either take the Udan Khatola cable cars or ascend 2000 stairs, or about 800 meters, in order to obtain blessings.

Pavagadh Ropeway Timings and Ticket Price

The ropeway ride from Maachi lets you enjoy the beautiful views and greenery of Pavagadh Hills while going to the Mahakali Temple. It’s a good option for those who can’t climb the 2,000 steps.

The ropeway operates from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The last return cable car is at 7:30 PM.

The rate for a normal ticket is – Rs. 150 for Adult and Rs. 80 for kids

It just takes about 6 minutes to reach by ropeway. The ropeway is available on all days of the week.

Ropeway Online Booking Process

You can book online ticket for ropeway by visiting the website  udankhatola.com.