Pavagadh

Pavagadh lies in the state of Gujarat, about 26 km from the city of Vadodra (formerly Baroda). It is a hill station which is also well known for a Mahakali Temple, which attracts a lot of pilgrims every year. The Pavagadh-Champaner Archaeological Park has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

Pavagadh lies in the Panchmahal district, which is primarily a tribal area with Bhils being the dominant community. The region has received many special subsidies from the Government to encourage the development of the area. As a result, the towns of Halol and Kalol, which lie close to Pavagadh, have seen the setting up of many industrial units.

The Mahakali Temple is the main attraction of the region and holds special importance for both Hindus and Muslims. According to folklore, the temple was established after Goddess Sati’s right toe fell here. The temple is divided into two parts. The ground floor has the idol of Goddess Kali while the top floor has a Mazar, which holds religious significance for Muslims.

Not much is known is about the history of the town of Champaner, where Pavagadh lies. The Chauda Dynasty is said to have established the town in the 8th century AD. It was also Gujarat’s capital till 1536. The region is typical of stones which are yellowish in colour. Their colour resembles that of the Champaka flower, which gives the town its name.

The temple lies at the top of a hill and is connected by a ropeway, which is called the Maha Kali Udan Khatola. The journey by ropeway takes about 6 minutes. The temple can also be accessed on foot, which makes the journey an hour long.

Pavagadh lies at a height of 822 meters above sea level and has many trekking trails. It has many seasonal waterfalls which can be seen in full flow during the monsoon season.

The closest city to Pavagadh which has a railway station is Vadodra. It can be reached by road only and is served by buses from Vadodra which run at regular intervals.