Second Buddhist circuit ropeway afterRajgir nears launch at Dhungeshwari

Gaya: The tourists and devotees visiting Bodh Gaya during the upcoming tourist season 2026-27 are likely to get a ropeway facility to reach at least the middle of the Dhungeshwari hills, where the ancient Mahakala cave temple housing a statue of Buddha is located.

Construction work on one section of the ropeway project is nearing completion and its trial is expected to take place before the onset of the upcoming tourist season in Bodh Gaya. Once completed, it will be only the second ropeway after Rajgir to become operational at a site on the Buddhist circuit in southern Bihar. Work on two more ropeways, including those at Pretshila and the Brahmayoni hills in Gaya district, is also in progress.

Earlier, visitors had to climb steep steps to reach the cave temple at Dhungeshwari. A recently constructed motorable road close to the cave temple has already made access easier for visitors. The ropeway is expected to further enhance connectivity and provide a more convenient journey to the cave temple. The project, being developed at an estimated cost of around Rs 16 crore, aims to improve access to the cave temple, a prominent Buddhist pilgrimage site near Bodh Gaya.

Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) junior engineer Shashi Bhushan Kumar, who is supervising the ropeway project, said, “The one section ropeway, which is nearing completion is 309 metres long. Once trial becomes successful and the ropeway becomes fully operational for the tourists, there will be facility of 12 persons going uphill and coming downhill at a time. Two trolleys having capacity of six persons each will be made operational in the first section.

However, before opening the first section for normal operation, nearly month-long trial will be conducted to ensure proper safety norms. The second section from cave temple up to the top of hill is around 200 metres. A survey of the second section too has been done. After the first section gets operational, work on second section will be expedited.”

Tourist Guide Association of Bihar president Rakesh Kumar said, “Dhungeshwari hills, also known as Pragbodhi hills, have two ancient caves, also known as the Mahakala caves, where Buddha is believed to have practiced meditation for nearly six years before attaining enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya. A golden statue of Buddha has been installed in the cave, where the Buddhist devotees offer prayers. The caves fall at the centre of bottom and top of the hill. There are some ancient brick stupas on the top”.