SUPERHEROES ON MOUNT GIRNAR

This Holy mountain’s beauty is of another level. I am ready to climb it anytime, just to see the sunrise from the Aadhya Shakti temple also called ‘Ambaji’ temple situated on mount Girnar which is also the second destination out of a total of 3. The first one is the ‘Jain temple’, the second is ‘Ambaji temple’ and the third and final one is 'Dattatreya temple'. Climbing till Ambaji takes around 5 hours. Approximately 5000 steps and a half journey is done, and the second destination is achieved. Believe me when I say, ‘You have seen nothing if you haven’t seen the sunrise from the top of this mountain’. And the amazing night view of the nearby city lights is a ‘CHERRY ON THE CAKE’. I feel it looks like a river of lights that arises from somewhere within Girnar and spreads huger as you climb higher.

Sitting on any random bench in Ambaji temple’s compound and taking the fresh air while breathing takes you to another world. That specific moment is a mixture of two things for me, firstly, a moment of celebration of achieving the target by climbing thousands of steps and another is reaching on the top of the mountain, lap of nature. There is a pin-drop of silence, no pollution, no traffic and the best part, no mobile network. One more thing I strongly felt is that our needs start decreasing automatically by the time you get closer to nature. Thus there on Girnar, you will find snacks, water, tea, mouth freshener chocolates, lemon juice, etc.

So if I have to sum up the journey till Ambaji, it is quite happening and easy-going if you are trekking with a group of people. But don’t stop for long at Ambaji because it’s just half of the journey as I said. The final destination is still 5000 steps ahead that too little harder one. There are many ups and downs to follow. Because Girnar is a range of different Hills combined together. And also make sure to carry enough water with you as there will be no water except 2 points. The journey is going to be way more difficult now. There is a steep vertical zig-zag track while climbing to and fro. I was tired of the journey and so was the group thus we took a little longer break there at Ambaji.

To my amazement, I was approached by a few gentlemen who had some strange structure with them made of thick wooden sticks and a little swing on it (one seater) while we were having tea. On knowing more about them, they were the “Doli wala” of Girnar. They asked us to take a lift in their Doli. They charge according to one’s weight and they told us some 4 thousand rupees per person, from Ambaji to Dattatreya and return. We denied the proposal because of the cost.?

After dealing with them we started our journey towards Dattatrey but we had no idea about what challenges we are going to face in the upcoming route of our journey.

The hill itself is a huge rock and because of the structure, there is no ropeway made yet. The stairs are quite big than the ones from Bhavnath to Ambaji.?We somehow managed just because of the continuous encouragement to each other by the kids and friends from the group. But we stopped for 4 times more than the past journey. And at a certain stage, I lost all the courage and hope of coming back from there.

While coming back after climbing 10000 steps, I again found that Doli walas offering the return journey. We still didn’t take the lift and saved the money. On observing them more I realized and totally believed that they are the ‘Super heroes’ out there on mount Girnar. Yes! I’m not exaggerating, but at that time for me, they were really superheroes, whom we call “Doli wala”. And this time I had no hesitation paying them 4 thousand bucks even for a half journey. (Just the return one).

Just imagine on a rocky mountain like Girnar, steep climbing, no water or food or places to rest where you cannot even lift your own self, these guys carry you on their shoulder and make you reach your destination and take you back till the ropeway (to and fro from Ambaji to Dattatrey) 1 0 0 0 0 steps, on the toughest trek of Girnar that too within no time.

While coming back we discussed with some of them just out of curiosity that how do they do this, how do they manage their health, Whereas we were almost dead in just a single visit. I still wonder how do they carry people on their shoulders and climb earlier than us!

One of them said they do almost 5-7 trips (savari) a day on weekends and there are approximately 70 Doli Wala out there. Initially, we just wondered how much money do they make in total in an entire day on weekends but we also realized that this is the only way of earning to run their families. They can achieve the earning target only on the weekends or at the festivals.

On further observation when we saw them wearing slippers, we were ashamed of ourselves looking at our exquisite sports shoes.

What would they do when there are no visitors?

As I said earlier, we cannot even lift our own selves but they carry us for pretty 10000 steps.

Ropeway had been stopped once because of a major accident but these people have been so careful with their passengers that there have been no causalities happened till day.?

They carry you happily even after you negotiate like anything with them, curse them for charging a lot of money, arguing with them for your safety. I literally saw a lady scolding on the Doli wala (My superhero) when her feet clashed a little with a sidewall of the stairs while the Doli wala was taking a turn at a crowded place.

Come on, you can’t be this rude to them.

Anyways, if you have ever been to Girnar and climbed till Dattatrey temple you will understand and if you have never been there, you won’t find the Doli walas as the superheroes.

And here my question comes ‘How much should I pay them, to the Doli wala superhero, for carrying an average person of 55-60 kgs for the entire journey? And who will earn the 'Punya' as per the Holy books, sayings, and belief?

Please tell me once you visit or if you have already visited Girnar.