Girnar Ropeway: Asia’s 2nd Largest – Tickets, Timings & My Take

From 10,000 Steps to a 10-Minute Soar: Welcome to Girnar Ropeway

Let’s be honest — climbing Girnar the traditional way is a test of both faith and stamina. With over 10,000 steps waiting to humble you, the Girnar Ropeway comes as a blessing (and a thigh-saver). Whether you’re here for the temples, the views, or just to skip leg day, this ride promises drama in the skies and peace at the top. In this blog, I’m sharing everything you need to know about the Girnar Ropeway — from ticket prices and timings to the actual distance you’ll still walk after the ride (spoiler: it’s not zero). Plus, my own experience sprinkled in, of course!

🕒 Girnar Ropeway Timings & Ticket Prices

If you’re planning a trip to Girnar, timing is everything — and no, I don’t just mean spiritual alignment. The Girnar Ropeway runs like clockwork (well, mostly), and knowing the schedule can save you from long queues, especially on weekends or during temple rush.

📍Ropeway Timings:

• Opening Time: 8:00 AM
• Last Ride Up: 5:00 PM
• Girnar Ropeway Closing Time: Around 6:00 PM (but better reach early to avoid missing the last ride!)

👉 Pro Tip: Avoid weekends and public holidays if you don’t want to stand in a queue longer than the ride itself.

🎟️ Girnar Ropeway Ticket Price (as of 2024):

• Adults (Round Trip): ₹700
• Children (Round Trip): ₹350 (For kids between 5–10 years; below 5 years usually free)
• One-way Ticket (Adult): ₹400
• Camera Charges: ₹100 extra (yes, they’ll spot it if you try to sneak it in 😄)

💻 Girnar Ropeway Booking:

You can book your tickets online via the Udan Khatola official website or buy them on the spot at the counter. During peak season or festivals, online booking is a lifesaver — unless you enjoy crowds.

🚗 How to Reach Girnar Ropeway

Getting to the Girnar Ropeway is pretty simple — whether you’re coming in for a spiritual journey, a mini mountain escape, or just curious about Asia’s second-largest ropeway (and skipping those legendary steps).

📍Ropeway Location:

The ropeway is located at the base of Girnar Hill in Junagadh, Gujarat — about 5 km from the city center.

🛤️ By Train:

• The nearest station is Junagadh Junction.
• From there, it’s a 10–15 minute auto/taxi ride to the Girnar Taleti (the base point).
• Trains from Rajkot, Ahmedabad, and Somnath are frequent and budget-friendly.

✈️ By Air:

• The closest airport is Rajkot Airport (~100 km away).
• Porbandar and Keshod also have small airports nearby with limited connectivity.
• From Rajkot, you can hire a cab or take a train to Junagadh.

🚌 By Road:

• Junagadh is well-connected via highways.
• You can take GSRTC buses, private cabs, or self-drive.
• If you’re coming from Gir, Somnath, or Dwarka, this is an easy stop to add to your itinerary.

🚖 Last Mile Tip: From Taleti, autos and e-rickshaws drop you right at the ropeway boarding gate — it’s walkable, but if you’re already saving steps, why not go all in?

🚠 Things to Know About the Girnar Ropeway

The Girnar Ropeway connects Bhavnath Taleti to the Ambaji Temple on Girnar hill. It started in October 2020 and is now a big help for pilgrims and tourists. With a length of 2.3 km, it’s the second-longest ropeway in Asia (the longest is in Genting Highlands, Malaysia). The total cost to build it was around ₹130 crore.

This ropeway runs on mono-cable detachable cabins, also called cable cars. There are 9 towers between the base and the top. Each cable car can carry 7–8 people, and about 25 cars run at a time. That means around 800 people per hour and more than 8,000 people in a day can now reach Ambaji Temple.

Earlier, it used to take 6–7 hours to climb over 5000 steps to reach the temple. Now, it just takes 7–8 minutes by ropeway! The ropeway starts from Bhavnath Taleti and takes you to the top, which is about 2,800 feet above sea level.

During the ride, you get to enjoy amazing views of green forests, Jain temples, Sudarshan Lake, Datar Hill, Willingdon Dam, and the city of Junagadh from above. It’s peaceful, quiet, and gives you a totally different experience—away from all the usual noise.

This ropeway has made darshan easier for elderly people, families, and tourists who may not be able to climb. It’s also bringing in more visitors to Junagadh, which helps with local jobs and tourism growth too.

🌿 Best Time to Visit Girnar

If you ask me when Girnar truly shows off — it’s during the monsoon months of July to September. The hills turn lush green, clouds float right beside you, and the view from the ropeway? Straight out of a wallpaper-worthy scene.

🌧️ Monsoon (July to September) – Best Time!

If you’re a fan of greenery and don’t mind a little rain, monsoon in Girnar can be magical. The entire hill turns lush, waterfalls appear, and the ride feels like flying through a green, misty wonderland. Just be prepared for slippery trails if you plan to walk after the ropeway ride. If you love monsoon vibes, check out my blog on Lonavala in Monsoon.

✅ October to March:

Winter is calm and pleasant — ideal if you prefer clearer skies and minimal humidity. Expect peaceful rides, cleaner views, and great photo ops.

🔥 Summer (April to June):

Unless you’re part camel, avoid summer afternoons. It gets hot — like frying-pan-on-forehead hot. If summer’s your only option, go early in the morning and stay hydrated.

💡 Bonus Tip: Avoid weekends and Ekadashi if you’re not fond of crowds. Festival days bring in heavy pilgrim traffic — spiritual, yes, but also a bit chaotic.

🎢 Is Girnar Ropeway Worth It?

Short answer? Yes — 100% yes.
If you’re not up for climbing 10,000+ steps (or don’t have the knees for it like me 😅), the Girnar Ropeway is a total game changer. It saves time, energy, and honestly, lets you soak in some incredible aerial views you’d miss otherwise.

Here’s why it’s worth it:

• ✅ You get to experience Asia’s 2nd largest ropeway — a smooth, scenic ride above ancient hills.
• ✅ It cuts down the steep climb to the Ambaji Temple, giving you more time to explore at the top.
• ✅ The Girnar ropeway distance covered is around 2.3 km — and it takes just about 7–10 minutes.
• ✅ It’s clean, safe, well-managed, and surprisingly budget-friendly for the experience it offers.

That said — this isn’t a “ride-and-done” deal. After the ropeway drops you off, you still have to climb around 500–600 steps to reach the main temple (Ambaji). So wear comfy shoes, hydrate, and be ready for a little cardio. 🙈

🎥 My Girnar Ropeway Experience

We reached early in the morning (pro tip!), and since we had already booked our tickets online, we skipped the long queue — total win. As the cable car took off, I’ll admit I felt a tiny jolt of fear for the first 10–15 seconds (classic me), but once we gained height… wow. Everything below turned green and dreamy — we could see the Jain temples tucked into the cliffs, the city slowly fading behind, and a few brave trekkers still climbing the stairs below us.

The cabin was super silent, with zero noise — just the soft hum of the cable and the occasional gasp from me clicking away. My camera was on nonstop; I just couldn’t resist.
📹 I even uploaded the video on YouTube – you can check it out here!

Whether you’re spiritual, scenic, or just slightly lazy (like me on Sundays), the Junagadh Ropeway offers the best of both worlds — adventure and convenience.

🏞️ Other Places to Visit in Junagadh

If you’ve made it all the way to Girnar, don’t just ropeway-and-run! Junagadh has a surprising mix of spirituality, greenery, and old-world charm — perfect for a relaxed weekend or a slow travel escape.

Here are some lovely spots to check out nearby:

• 🏛️ Uperkot Fort: One of the oldest forts in India, Uperkot gives you a peek into Junagadh’s layered past. You’ll find stepwells, ancient Buddhist caves, and some stunning views from the top.
• 🌿 Jatashankar Mahadev Temple: This is a peaceful little Shiva temple at the base of Girnar hills. There’s a short trail to reach it — not too tiring — and if you go during monsoon, you’ll even spot a small waterfall on the way. It’s quiet, green, and a nice mix of nature and spirituality. A great stop before or after your ropeway ride.
• 🕉️ Aatmeshwar Mahadev Temple: A quiet Shiva temple surrounded by trees and peaceful vibes. Not many tourists know about it, so it’s a nice spot if you want some calm time or just stop by for a quick prayer.
• 🌳 Indreshwar Park: A small, well-maintained garden near Taleti that’s great for a breather. It’s simple but peaceful — perfect if you’re with family or just want to unwind.
• 💧 Willingdon Dam: Located close to Uperkot Fort, this dam offers calm waters, scenic walking paths, and a little escape into nature. Visit during monsoon or winter for the best views.
• 🐾 Gir National Park (If You’re Extending Your Trip): Just a short drive away, Gir is the only place in Asia where you can see Asiatic lions in the wild. You’ll need a separate day, but it’s totally worth it if you love wildlife and nature safaris.

💡 Tip: You can easily cover most of these places in a day or two, especially if you start early. Junagadh has a chill pace — perfect if you want to mix a bit of spirituality with nature and heritage.

If you’re planning a longer Gujarat trip, you can also combine Junagadh with Somnath and explore my detailed Dwarka travel guide for a complete temple trail experience.

🙋‍♀️ Girnar Ropeway FAQs

Been to Girnar or planning to go soon? Tell me about your experience in the comments — or drop your questions if you’re still figuring it out.