Devotees welcome the resumption of cable car services at the Sri Lakshminarasimhar Temple in Sholinghur

Devotees said the resumption of cable car services would be helpful as the temple witnesses a huge rush on festive days. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Devotees on Thursday welcomed the resumption of cable car services at the Sri Lakshminarasimhar temple in Sholinghur town near Ranipet.

Officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE), which manages the temple and ropes course, said services were suspended on August 19 for annual maintenance. Since then, devotees, including women and the elderly, had to climb over 1,000 steps to reach the hilltop temple. “As the temple will witness a huge rush on Vinayagar Chaturthi (September 14) and other festive days, the resumption of cable car services will be helpful for the devotees,” said an HR&CE official.

The ropeway facility, initially approved in 2010, was built in 2024 at a cost of ₹8.26 crore by a Kolkata-based company, with five years of maintenance included in the contract. “The cable car facility helps senior citizens to reach the temple safely. Better facilities should be made in the waiting room at the foot of the mountains,” said R. Sampath, a devotee.

A total of 16 people can go up and 16 can get off at once, with four people per car. You can reach the 202-meter-high hill, which can be reached by climbing 1,305 steps, in three to four minutes. On average, around 400 people can travel in the facility per hour.

The temple, which houses the Sri Yoga Narasimhar idol at the top of the hill and Sri Bhakthochitha Perumal, the utsava idol, at the foot of the hill, witnesses large crowds on weekends and during the annual Brahmotsavam.

Published – 11 Sep 2026 0:35 AM IST