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GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH ANDHRA PRADESH TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BIDDING DOCUMENT Name of the work : Design, construct with supply, installation, testing , commissioning, operation, maintenance and run cable car for 1 year(jig back system – mono cable ropeway) at Ahobilam , Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh.- on EPC turnkey system . OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER APTDC LTD, VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH INDIA GOAP – APTDC is inviting Bids for the above work in response to this bid document. The Bid document can be down loaded from the web site www.aptourism.gov.in. From 23rd May 2018 till 05.06.2018. AHOBILAM ROPEWAY PROPOSAL Ahobilam Among the great shrines dedicated to Sri Narasimhaswamy, Ahobilam occupies a pre-eminent place. This religious centre of great antiquity also known as Singavel Kunram in ancient Tamil classics mentioned in many puranas like Kurma, Padma and Vishnu. According to Brahmanda purana , this place was once haunt of Hiranyakasipa who was slain by Sriman Narayan in his Narasimha avatara aspect for the sake of his devotee Prahlada. The cave shrines of Narasimha at ahobilam belongs to the Sri Vaishnava tradition. It is one of the 108 sacred centres (Divya Kshetras) of Sri Vaishnavaism. This is a temple whose origins go back to almost 2000 years. Ahobilam is the place, which exhibits nine distinct iconographical forms of Narasimha. In addition to this, this place is intimately associated with Vansatagopa Jiyar , the first jiyar of the Ahobila Math. It is being popularly believed that God Narasimha himself came in the form of an old man and offered sanyasa to the Jiyar. Despite such a holy punyakshetra, spectacular setting of the cave shrines on the Nallamala hill ranges, pillared mandapas, maths and other structures at this hill, Ahobilam has not attracted sufficient attention of historians, archaeologists and pilgrims tourists. Peak hills, difficult terrain, forest location, and hill ranges have kept them away. To facilitate pilgrim tourists and others to reach these inaccessible cave shrines, Govt. has taken initiative to establish a ropeway facility for the purpose of pilgrim’s convenience. This facility will trigger off increase in pilgrim tourist flow to this “Punya kshetram” of historical and religious importance. Lower Ahobilam Upper Ahobilam The temple situated on the upper Ahobilam, at a distance of eight kilometre from the lower Ahobilam , is the main temple and the earliest of all the nine shrines. The lord in the sanctum sanctorum here appears in his fierce aspect. Hence, he is called “Ugra Narasimha” . it is firmly believed that Narasimha swamy was “Swaymbhu” (self-manifest) here. Location : Ahobilam is situated in the Nallamala hills, and is about 24 kms from Allagadda taluq head quaters, 112 kms from Cuddapah , and 65 kms from Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh. it can be reached by bus from there. Now cuddapah is having airport also. The whole complex is composed of two parts – one called Yeguva Ahobilam (upper Ahobilam) which contains shrines devoted to Nava Narasimha (nine Narasimhas) and the other called Diguva Ahobilam (lower Ahobilam) with a single shrine for Lakshmi Narasimha. Both are connected by a road, covering a distance of about 8 kms from the lower ahobilam to the upper Ahobilam. From the upper Ahobilam, the other shrines are to be reached only by trekking and negotiating the difficult terrain of flowing streams and slippery rocks. Nature is bounteous. It affords plenty of water by way of ponds, brooks and also some resting places in the form of shady trees. One can witness several cave like rocks on the way. Wild animals dwell in the forest. If one undertakes a strenuous traverse of 8 kms, from the upper ahobilam, one can see the Ugra stambham on the mountain side to be the one from which Lord Narasimha emerged in his ferocious form in response to Prahlada’s prayers. At a distance of 8 kms from the upper Ahobilam , a cleft of the mountain is seen, dividing mountain into two visible parts. It is a long held view that from the cleft, the lord appeared in the form of Narasimha and this cleft is known as “Ugra Stambham” . This Jwala Narasimha swamy shrine and “Ugra Stambham” location is the place, every pilgrim tourist wish to visit though it is very difficult terrain to reach. The ropeway facility will be a great relief to pilgrim tourists to reach this location to fulfil their lifetime wish. Names of the place : The place is variously referred to in the inscriptions as Vobula1, Ahobila 2 , Ahobila 3, Ahobilagiri 4 , Vedadri 5 Diguva Tirupathi 6, Garudadri 7, Virakshetra 8, Achalachaya Meru 9, Singavel kunram 10, Nidhi 11 and Nagari 12. The popular name of the place is Ahobila and all the other names appear as terms connoting its mythology, sanctity, and glory. Ahobala is the ancient form of the present name Ahobila. The earliest inscription naming this place and Ahobala belongs to 1124A.D According to Sthala purana, there are two popular legends, explaining the derivation of the word “Ahobilam”. It is stated that the Devas (gods) , while witnessing the ferocious aspect (ugra kala)the lord took on in order to tear Hiranyakasipu to pieces, exclaimed in wonder “ Ahobala” ( literally , LO! The stupendous strength !). Hence, this place has come to be known subsequently as Ahobilam. 1. Malola Narasimha Malola shrine is situated, nearly two kms . from the main temple of the upper Ahobilam. The deity here appears in “Soumya” (peaceful) form. As Narasimha is seen with his consort, Lakshmi , he is known as Malola Narasimha. The word “ Malaola “ means beloved of Lakshmi. The shrine is on a level surface of a peak of the Vedadri mountain. This place is also called Markonda Lakshmi Kshetra. 2. Jwala Narasimha The temple of Jwala Narasimha, lies higher up the Malola temple, on a hill called “Achalachaya Meru”. This is about four kms, from the upper Ahobilam temple. This place is said to be the actual spot where the ferocity or anger of the Lord reached its acme when he tore Hiranyaksipu. It is somewhat difficult to reach this place as we have to pass through a narrow passage made by cutting and chiselling the rocks of the peak on one side, while to the other side of this passage there is a very deep valley. One has to walk very carefully. It is told that the spot where Jwala Narasimha is sitting with Hiranya Kasipu on his lap, is threshold of the main entrance door of the spacious palace of Hiranyakasipu. Cleaving one of the pillars of the demon”s palace, Narasimha manifested himself. The part of this pillar standing erect has the space of a lofty hill. This vertical hilly pillar is called Achalachayameru. The cleaven side of the standing part is straight and at right angles to the foot part of it. The pilgrims got firm faith that with Jwala Narasimha swamy Darshan, one will get rid of all grahadoshas, gruhadoshas. As such this became very important shrine for pilgrims. Out of 9 shrines 5 are motorable shrines: Ahobila, Karanji, Bhargava, Yogananda and Chatravata. Pavana Narasimha shrine is very difficult route of 16 kms,jeeps only can negotiate. This shrine is having forest route also of 6 kms which is passing through dense forest and hilly terrain. The jeep operator is charging about Rs.3,500 for 6 persons. As such total 6 shrines are motorable and reachable for the pilgrim tourists and other 3 important shrines i.e. Malola, Krodha and Jwala Narsimhaswamy are reachable by trekking only through serpentine forest route of boulders and rubble. 13 AHOBILAM ROPEWAY PROPOSAL As a part of providing facility to pilgrim tourist of “Divya Punya Kshetram Ahobilam” a rope way proposal is considered. Nava narasimha shrines inter spread inside the forest with hillocks and great hills. As such the route to this hill terrain is very difficult to negotiate by walk for almost all the tourists. Young and fit piligrims only can reach the important shrine 3.of “Jwala Narasimha”. Out of Nava narasimha, “Jwala Narasimha” temple is the one, everyone wants to have Darshan. It is situated on a very difficult terrain at the top of the hill range near Ugra stambha. To see this place, pilgrim tourists are using “Doli” arrangement by paying Rs 3000/- per person. Such an important shrine “Jwala Narasimha”. Every pilgrim wish to see this shrine. Interaction with tourists and pilgrims’ revealed that piligrims mainly thrive to reach “Jwala Narasimha” shrine, and this is the ultimate wish for all the pilgrim tourists visiting Ahobilam. As such proposal for ropeway up to “Jwala Narasimha” is the ultimate goal for this ropeway proposal project at this location. As it is seen from the site plan, 4 shrines are located at very difficult terrain and not inline and inter spread on the hillocks and through forest. In view of this single ropeway alignment doesn’t cover the shrines. Minimum 2 routes to be covered by ropeways and rest of the temples are motor- able locations and pilgrims will be visiting these temples without much difficulty. Since there is no single alignment for covering all the 4 difficult shrines from upper Ahobilam, two options are proposed. “Providing Ropeway Facility” to pilgrim tourists to reach the topmost shrine (Jwala Narasimha) is to be taken up in 2 or 3 phases in view of the straight alignment requirement and the hill terrain. As such it is proposed a ropeway up to “ Malola Narasimha swamy temple “ from upper ahobilam temple area (ie near Brahmana satram) initially in the first phase. In the second phase, from Malola to the steel bridge near “Jwala Narasimha” shrine. From there, pilgrims need to walk upto the shrine through steps which is also very difficult to negotiate for middle aged and elderly pilgrims.

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