The face of Telangana's famous Bhuvanagiri Fort is about to change for good. The state government has begun work in earnest to transform the historic fort into an international-grade tourist destination, and the effort is moving fast. The entire project is being built with a budget of around ₹56.81 crore under the central government's Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme. The biggest highlight of this complete makeover is a modern passenger ropeway system that will change the whole experience of reaching the fort.
State Tourism and Culture Minister Jupally Krishna Rao reviewed this ambitious project and gave officials clear instructions that all work must be finished by 2 October without fail. The minister also said that if needed, the number of workers should be increased and the work carried out in round-the-clock shifts, so the deadline is not missed under any circumstances.
Why the Ropeway Is the Heart of the Project
Reaching Bhuvanagiri Fort means climbing a steep hill, which is exactly why getting to the top has long been exhausting and difficult for the elderly, the differently abled and small children. To remove this very problem, a 1.02 kilometre long ropeway is being built at a cost of around ₹17.91 crore.
The ropeway is based on a monocable jig back system and will run a total of 6 cabins. Each cabin can carry 6 passengers at a time, and they will cover the journey from the bottom to the top of the fort in just 3 to 4 minutes. Notably, the system will be able to move 250 to 300 passengers every hour, keeping movement smooth even when crowds are large.
More Than Just a Ropeway
Inside the fort complex, it is not only the ropeway being built for visitors' convenience but several other facilities as well. A new cafeteria, a food court, an interpretation centre, a children's play area and a beautiful viewing gallery are being prepared here. At the same time, the ancient structure of the fort is being restored under archaeological rules while preserving its historic grandeur. To make the fort look even more stunning at night, special decorative lighting is also being installed.
Tourists to Be Welcomed From October
The state government is working steadily to make Telangana the country's leading tourism hub. As part of this, Bhuvanagiri Fort, Yadadri and the Kolanupaka Someshwar temple are being linked together to develop an integrated spiritual and heritage tourism circuit. Officials believe that once the ropeway and the other new facilities open in October, the number of tourists arriving from within the country and abroad will see a record rise. This, in turn, will create fresh employment opportunities at the local level.
