Munish Sood
Kullu:
Contrary to widespread media reports and social media claims suggesting that the Bijli Mahadev Temple in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh had been shut down following “orders from the deity” to oppose the ropeway project, a ground investigation by The Newz Radar confirms that the temple is open for devotees.
While some restrictions are in place near the sanctum sanctorum, devotees are continuing to visit, pray and express both reverence and resistance atop the sacred peak.
This development directly challenges the narrative that the deity’s supposed displeasure had halted all temple activity in protest. On the ground, the reality is different — faith continues to flow even as fury brews around the Rs 226 crore Bijli Mahadev Ropeway Project, which is one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship tourism initiatives.
Devotion continues despite discontent
TNR team reached the temple on foot, undertaking the traditional three-hour uphill trek, and found a steady stream of pilgrims arriving from across the region. Devotees lit incense sticks, circled the temple grounds and offered prayers amid growing uncertainty over the future of the site.
“There’s tension, yes. But the temple is not closed,” said mahant Hari Singh, a senior priest associated with the temple trust. “People are still coming here, chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’. We will continue our spiritual duties, even as this fight goes on.”
Protests shakes Kullu, thousands march through town
Thousands have been marching through the streets of Kullu, demanding an immediate halt to ropeway construction. From Shangribagh to the DC office in Ramshila, locals, including women, students, elders and priests, raised slogans like “Ropeway Company Go Back” and held placards reading “We Will Stop the Ropeway”.
The protest, peaceful but emotionally charged, was accompanied by heavy police presence. Shops remained open, but the mood in town was electric. The presence of veteran BJP leader Maheshwar Singh at the rally further amplified the message that the resistance transcends politics.
Locals claim that hundreds of trees have been felled without proper public consultation and cracks have reportedly emerged near the temple complex, raising fears of land destabilisation. Activist groups and temple trustees allege that this fragile Himalayan terrain is being pushed to the brink under the guise of “development”.
The ropeway, which promises to cut the arduous three-hour trek to just seven minutes, is being pitched as a tourist-friendly innovation capable of transporting 36,000 pilgrims daily in all weather. But to the villagers of Kullu, it threatens the very essence of what the yatra to Bijli Mahadev means — spiritual endurance, ecological harmony and quiet reverence.
“The trek is a part of our devotion. Turning this into a picnic spot would be a betrayal of everything this temple stands for,” said Savitri Devi, a protester from the nearby Lag valley.
Big Budget, Bigger Questions
Funded entirely by the central government, the Rs 226 crore project has become a lightning rod for public debate. Even actor-turned-BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has spoken out, warning of “irreversible damage to nature and heritage” if the ropeway proceeds unchecked.
The movement is now gaining momentum across Himachal and beyond, with environmentalists, local panchayats, religious boards and NGOs all rallying under the banner of #SaveBijliMahadev.
