Dewas Ropeway: A Cable Car Ride Across City
The highlight of the day was taking in stunning vistas of the Vindhya mountains on one side and the Malwa plateau on the other while suspended 300 feet in the air. However, every time the soft breeze swayed me back and forth, I’d become all jumbled up, swinging between adrenaline surge and hopeless fear. It was a cloudy morning, and I was inside the Dewas Tekri Cable Car, which had just been launched. A four-minute, uphill, Dewas ropeway ride to be remembered for a lifetime! More so, as the brief photo stop puts life into perspective and you begin to think beyond the immediate fear of falling to Dewas’s burgeoning kingdom.
The cable car began to move uphill, plodding in slow motion, while exhibiting sweeping aloft one of Ujjain’s nine treasures. I got the impression that I was looking at a low-lying regal town tucked in the midst of blooming foliage, with its painted homes staring back at me. Who would have guessed that this historic town, which was previously separated into twin princely realms and administered by two descendants of the same royal dynasty, would one day be crowned as the district headquarters of modern-day central India?
Indore, Madhya Pradesh’s commercial centre, is only a 30-minute drive away from this town. But, before you feel the thrill of heights, let me assure you that the Ropeway Ride is as splendid as the ancient rulers would have wished. The superb arched entrance is draped in a regal maroon hue, redefining grandness while maintaining the original Maratha architectural style. For a small fare of INR 83 for a one-way ropeway excursion, take delight in determining the antiquity of this place. It’s worthwhile!
I strolled past the ticket booth and into a stunning courtyard brimming with well-kept gardens, a soaring building, and a gilded statue of Mahatama Gandhi. I had to use the elevator, which is located directly across from the tower structure to get to the Cable Cars that leave from the 3rd floor. Soon later, the elevator door opened, and there I was, recalling the Mount Titlis Rotairs in Switzerland. More so, because the Dewas cable cars have a striking colour resemblance to the Swiss cable cars, with a bright red finish that shines like a cherry. I was ecstatic at the prospect of riding it!
I quickly noticed the red cable cars approaching the station, propelled by a cable loop. Shortly, the red tramway’s ‘Whoosh’ sound, a signal of the door opening, let the adventure begin. This is not your typical ride! The portal to an old temple having a communal wellspring of holy energies stood on the other side of the car station. Maa Chamunda Temple, perched atop a hilltop, is MP’s most popular pilgrimage destination for a reason. It’s worth noting that the locals refer to it as Devi Hill!
As the cable-operated car slid closer to the summit, along a thick, moving rope wire, the thrill of abutting God’s abode unwound. I couldn’t help but think about how the magical powers of this temple, which gave Dewas its name, may influence me. Dewas is derived from two terms, Dev and Vas, and signifies “God’s home” in mythology. When you get to the hilltop station, take a stroll around the circular road that connects the temples of Tulja Bhawani (Badi Mata) and Maa Chamunda (Chhoti Mata).
Engage in a dialogue with a priest, and they will tell you everything about why this Tekri is so sacred. On the way back, I seized almost intact aerial views of Dewas from inside these massive cars. Madhya Pradesh Government installed these cable cars to allow you a 360-degree birds-eye perspective of this princely kingdom. The district is bordered on the north by the Malwa plateau and on the south by the Narmada River. Dewas, on the other hand, was allocated to Ujjain as one of its nine diamonds during the early reign of the famous King Vikramaditya and other Maratha monarchs.
Sonkatch, Khategaon, Bagli, Tonk Khurd, Kannod, Satwas, Hatpiplya, and Udaynagar are among the others. As far as the territories are concerned, nothing has changed. However, it’s worth noting that in his book “A Passage to India,” acclaimed novelist EM Forster mentions these nine gems. EM Forster returned to India in the early nineteenth century as Tukojirao III’s private secretary to finish the final chapters of his book. His book describes a time when the Puar clan had independent administrations on each side of Dewas’ streets.
These Maratha monarchs, who were all descendants of the same royal dynasty, made singular arrangements for lighting and water for their administrations. When you look down from the cable car at those streets today, it’s hard to imagine being ruled by two distinct administrators. Regardless of the diverged Monarchy, the Puar clan built Mata Ki Tekri for the union of faith, and they had no idea that this shrine would become one of the state’s most famous pilgrimage destinations. Except that now that the ropeway ride is in place, we can enjoy sights that even the royals couldn’t. I returned spiritually energised and historically enlightened!
