Haji Malang Dargah is a Holy shrine of Baba Haji Abdur Rehman Malang which is situated on a fort called Malanggad. "Malanggad Fort" is located in the Matheran region in Raigad, Maharashtra. The fort’s height is 789 m above sea level. People visit the Malanggad fort for the Haji Malang Dargah and for the trek which leads to Haji Malang Dargah and the top of the mountain
"Haji Malang Dargah" is one of the few dargahs which is 300-year-old. The holy shrine is of the Baba who travelled from the middle east to India in the 12th Century. Along with Haji Malang Baba few followers visited India, you can see their tomb named Hazrat Baqtawar Shah Dargah (Pehli Salami), Hazrat Sultan Shah Dargah (Doosri Salami) and Tomb of Panch peer around the Haji Malang Dargah
"Haji Malang Dargah is well known for the communal Harmony" around the dargah, on the Malanggad Fort and during the "Festival of Urus". It is one of the few dargahs where a Muslim mutavalli (distant kin of the Saint) and a Hindu vahivatdar (Priest from a Hindu karandekar Family) is working together to fulfil the religious rituals of the Dargah. Devotees of all culture and community visit the Dargah to pay their respect and take the blessings of the Haji Malang Baba.
Unlike other Dargahs, Haji Malang Dargah is upon a hill like other "Hindu temples" where the trail is of normal stairs to visit the dargah and the devotee visiting the dargah must climb these stairs or trek their way up to visit the Dargah.
Funicular Ropeway for Haji Malang Dargah
The state governments proposal for a funicular ropeway to Haji Malang Dargah was accepted by the National Forest Council. The Public works Department in the Kalyan City has started the construction of a two-trolley ropeway with a carrying capacity of around 60 people each which will make it easier for the devotees especially senior citizens who need to walk almost 4 kilometres to reach the Haji Malang Dargah.
In Maharashtra, this funicular ropeway is a first-of-its-kind and soon it is going to be more famous as a tourist destination in this region. It is said that the ropeway will be able to transport 390 passengers in both the direction. It will be easy for the devotees to visit the dargah using the ropeway rather than climbing 1500 steps to the "Pir Machi" where the Dargah is located.
There will be two stations on which the ropeway will be functioning, one at the Haji Malang Dargah and the other at the Base Village. The distance between the two stations will be approximately 2 km apart. Along with the Funicular ropeway, the public works department is also ready to build emergency evacuation routes and public parking spaces. In the year 2020, "The Maharashtra government sanctions an additional fund of Rs 5 crore for the funicular ropeway project" as the project cost was increased.
Once completed this funicular ropeway to Haji Malang Dargah is bound to attract a huge crowd of all group age. Also, you can enjoy the view of the mountain and its surroundings while travelling through the ropeway. This tourist destination will become lively once the ropeway is up and running along with the Dargah and adventurous trekking.
