Palani Murugan Temple - Winch
The old, the sick, the weak and the handicapped persons
used to be carried to the hill-top by human beings in 'dholi' (palanquins or
chairs). For this type of lifting people up, the pandarams worked in two sets;
the first set (of two persons) carrying the dholi up to a central point 225
feet high and the second set relieving them at that stage.
This mode of human beings helping to transport the
devotees is no longer in vogue, thanks to modern technology. In 1966, the
Devasthanam commissioned a haulage winch (weight 22 tons) with a carrying
capacity of 36 persons. It is hauled up over a railway line running to a length
of 290 metres (960 ft.) as against the hill height of 450 ft or 136 metres. The
travel time is 480 seconds.
A special steel rope is wound during the ascent and
unwound during the descent by an electrically rotated drum. The rope is
frequently lubricated and periodically examined for safety. The Devasthanam has
arrangements with the Kundah Project in the Nilgiris for regular servicing of
the winch by competent engineers. At the quarterly inspection, the rope is
examined for wear and tear, cuts, corrosion and other defects. The diameter at
every 50 ft. of the rope is taken and compared with the previous readings.
Once in six months, the holder is removed and a new one
jointed. The rope is tested for tension. Annually the rope is replaced. During
such occasions for a day or two, only one winch is operated. A generator has
been purchased and so power failure does not affect the working of the winch.
The winch service operates from 5 am to 9 pm. On Karthikai and festival days,
the service starts at 4 am and goes on till 10 pm. A nominal fare is charged
for one way and for return trips.
In 1981, a second winch was put up at a cost of Rs. 18.5
lakhs and since then, one winch is hauled up and the other hauled down.
The capacity of winch is 36 seats and length of the way
is 290 meters from base station to hill temple and travel time is only 8
minutes. The cost of winch is cheap and it operates from 5.20 A.M to 9 P.M. On
festival days Winch will be operated from 3.20 A.M to 9.00 P.M.
Three Man Riding Haulage Winches are operated. The 36
seater 1st Winch was installed in the year 1966, the 32 Seater 2nd
Winch was installed in the year 1981 and the 36 seater 3rd Winch was installed
in the year 1988.
The cost of journey of the winch for upward and
downward:
|
Adults
|
Rs. 10/-
|
|
Childrens
|
Rs.5/-
|
|
Special way
|
Rs.25/-
|
Along the winch tracks beautiful Greenish garden is
maintained, waterfalls and Lily ponds are maintained at the lower winch station.
