Tourists and devotees visiting Bodh Gaya during the upcoming tourist season of 2026-27 are likely to benefit from a new ropeway facility that will transport them to at least the middle of the Dhungeshwari hills. This location houses the ancient Mahakala cave temple, which contains a statue of Buddha. The construction work on one section of the ropeway project is nearing completion, and a trial run is expected to take place before the tourist season begins in Bodh Gaya.
Second Ropeway on Buddhist Circuit
Once fully operational, this ropeway will be only the second of its kind on the Buddhist circuit in southern Bihar, following the one at Rajgir. Work on two additional ropeways, including those at Pretshila and the Brahmayoni hills in Gaya district, is also in progress. The project aims to improve access to the cave temple, a prominent Buddhist pilgrimage site near Bodh Gaya.
Enhanced Accessibility
Previously, 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. The ropeway is expected to further enhance connectivity and provide a more convenient journey to the cave temple. The project is being developed at an estimated cost of around Rs 16 crore.
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, a 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 the second section will be expedited.”
Historical and Religious Significance
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 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.”
