Udaipur’s lakes, and palaces attract a lot of tourists from all around the world. But one of the underrated things to do at this lake city is the Karni Mata ropeway.
The first thing tourists do at Udaipur is to visit the stunning palaces and take a calm boat ride at Lake Pichola. But believe me, this ropeway was the best thing I did in this city.
The hilltop offered a 360° view of Udaipur city similar to the Dajti Ekspres in Tirana, Albania.
Though a cable car takes you to the hilltop, the ride is popularly known as Ropeway. So when you try to reach this place, specify the driver, ‘Take me to Ropeway point’
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How to reach the Karni Mata ropeway point
Udaipur city palace is the city’s main point. Tuk-tuks calculate the distance to any attraction from this point. Ropeway’s point is a km away from the city palace. Tuk-tuks charge you about 50 Indian Rupees (₹) and the ride takes 5 -10 minutes.
This Rajasthan cable car is just 387 meters long. Having paid only 110 rupees I wouldn’t complain either.
1€ ~ 79₹ and 1$ ~ 71₹
Opening times: 9 am – 8.15 pm
Where to buy Karni Mata ropeway tickets?
The entry fee is 110 ₹ per person (two-way) as of 2019. Buy them on the shop’s first floor.
Post-purchase, don’t forget to mark a number on your ticket. It is similar to a ‘First come first serve’ token.
Note: For foreigners, the ticket costs about 300 ₹. Every attraction in India has a separate price for them. This is insane according to me.
Waiting hall before the ropeway ascend
The ground floor is the entry point to the ropeway. Upon entering, there is a waiting hall. Once your number pops up in the display, proceed to the gate.
The whole building is a shop with a lot of eatables. So feel free to buy food. The standard waiting time is 20 minutes. So we had a cup of coffee in the meantime.
Proper organizing
Our number flashed, and we proceeded through the gate. There were toilets on the way. Again there was a line with 30 – 40 people waiting.
The most painful thing in India is to wait in these queues. But in the Karni Mata ropeway, I would appreciate the Udaipur aerial transport.
The queues were properly arranged and organized. We waited for our turn patiently. The cable car arrived. It had 3 small cubes with a seating capacity of 6 per cube.
Once the ropeway was full, the ascend began. The Udaipur scenic ride lasted for 6-8 minutes. But I felt like the ride was over before I could admire it.
Tip: In the direction of travel, sit on the left side. This gives the city a view while ascending.
Karni Mata Temple
At the top, there is nothing to see other than the Karni Mata temple. Built-in the 17th century, the idol is said to be the incarnation of Goddess Durga.
Bring your camera as photography is allowed. The temple is small hence 10 – 15 minutes should be enough to pray and go around the premises.
Temple timings: 4 am – 7.30 pm. Tripnetra gives further insight into temple timings.
Sunset point
Adjacent to the temple, the Rajasthan hillside views attract you. Tourists set up their tripods to capture the Udaipur city view. We planned for sunset and it turned out to be the best time.
A perfect place to relax and watch the sun slowly dipping below the Horizon. Bring all your photography skills here, play with the sun, and enjoy nature’s beauty
Karni Mata ropeway descend
Again on our way back, we had to pick a number using the Token system. The waiting time was around 30 minutes.
There are enough food options to keep you busy. By now, the sun had set and the whole city was lit with lights. We were lucky enough to watch this too.
Personally, this attraction was more for the experience than the actual temple. I enjoyed it a lot as it was my first experience of its kind, a Cultural heritage ropeway.
Along with lakes and palaces, add this hidden gem to your bucket list.
FAQ
1. Can I buy ropeway tickets online?
No, the tickets have to be purchased only at the counter
2. Are the foods allowed?
Yes, you can buy near the ticket counter
3. Can I climb to the top?
Yes, there is a dedicated staircase. But the entrance to this route is from Manikylal Verma Park.
4. Are there monkeys at the top?
Yes, there are quite a few. So be careful with your belongings.
5. Does the ticket allow multiple entries?
No, you can’t do multiple trips.
Time of visit: January 2020
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all” – Helen Keller