Vidarbha’s most anticipated tourism project is finally within reach. The 407-metre glass skywalk at Chikhaldara — Asia’s third-largest skywalk and potentially the most spectacular — is nearing completion. Furthermore, only two final approvals now stand between this world-class attraction and its opening to the public. As a result, the hill station that has long been called the “heaven of Vidarbha” is about to become a major destination on India’s adventure tourism map.
The project has been years in the making. Moreover, it has survived pandemic-related delays, multiple clearance hurdles and construction challenges in a remote hill station location. Therefore, the news that it is almost ready represents a genuine milestone — not just for Chikhaldara and Amravati district, but for all of Vidarbha.
What the Chikhaldara Glass Skywalk Is — The Full Picture
The Chikhaldara skywalk is not simply a bridge. Furthermore, it is a world-record-level engineering achievement built in one of Maharashtra’s most ecologically sensitive and visually stunning locations.
The skywalk is 407 metres long and will have a 100-metre glass deck section in the middle. Furthermore, it will be the world’s first single-cable rope suspension bridge — a structural innovation that has never been attempted before at this scale anywhere in the world. The bridge stands 328 feet — approximately 100 metres — above the valley floor. Therefore, walking on the glass section will mean standing 100 metres above a deep valley with an unobstructed view directly below your feet.
The skywalk connects two of Chikhaldara’s most famous viewpoints — Hurricane Point and Goreghat Point. Moreover, the bridge passes over the buffer zone of the Melghat Tiger Reserve. As a result, visitors will be able to see the tiger reserve’s forests, wildlife corridors and valleys from directly above — an experience that exists nowhere else in India.
The structure is expected to be among the tallest and most impressive skywalks in Asia. Furthermore, it is Asia’s third-largest skywalk. The longest glass skywalks currently operational are in Switzerland at 397 metres and China at 360 metres. Therefore, at 407 metres, Chikhaldara’s skywalk surpasses both.
Who Is Building It and What It Costs
The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) is developing the project at a cost of Rs 34.34 crore. Furthermore, CIDCO has given the contract to Apicon Construction Company, which started work in February 2019.
The project has taken significantly longer than originally planned. Moreover, the original completion target was February 2021. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and multiple clearance delays, the timeline stretched by several years. However, the project is now in its final stage. Therefore, the end of a very long wait is genuinely in sight.
The Two Approvals That Are Still Pending
The skywalk is structurally near-complete. However, two final approvals are still awaited before it can open to the public.
The first is a structural safety certification. Furthermore, a skywalk at this height and scale — carrying hundreds of visitors at a time on a glass floor over a deep valley — requires rigorous independent safety verification. This is not a bureaucratic formality. It is a genuine engineering necessity. Moreover, the certification process involves load testing, cable tension verification and glass panel integrity assessment. Therefore, it takes time to complete properly.
The second approval involves clearances related to the Melghat Tiger Reserve. Furthermore, the skywalk passes over the reserve’s buffer zone. As a result, forest and wildlife authorities need to confirm that the structure and its operations do not adversely affect wildlife movement, noise levels in the reserve or the ecological integrity of the area.
Both approvals are expected to be received within weeks. Moreover, officials are confident that no substantive objection will arise at this late stage of the project. As a result, Chikhaldara’s glass skywalk opening is now a matter of when — not if.
Why This Project Matters for Vidarbha Tourism
Vidarbha has always had extraordinary natural tourism assets. Furthermore, Chikhaldara itself is a unique destination — the only hill station in the Vidarbha region, located at 1,088 metres above sea level, offering abundant wildlife, viewpoints, lakes and waterfalls.
However, Vidarbha’s tourism potential has historically been underutilised. Moreover, the region has always played second fiddle to western Maharashtra’s more famous hill stations — Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala, Matheran — in terms of tourist arrivals and infrastructure investment.
The glass skywalk changes this equation fundamentally. Furthermore, officials expect that the completion of the skywalk will provide international recognition to tourism in the Chikhaldara and Melghat regions. Moreover, the project is expected to attract visitors from across India and international travellers eager to walk on the world’s longest glass bridge.
As a result, Chikhaldara could shift from a niche destination for Nagpur and Amravati residents into a nationally and internationally recognised adventure tourism spot. Furthermore, the Melghat Tiger Reserve backdrop adds a wildlife dimension that no other glass skywalk in India can offer.
What the Experience Will Be Like for Visitors
Visitors will be able to walk on a suspended platform with glass floors, offering an unobstructed view of the valleys below. Furthermore, the 100-metre glass section in the centre of the bridge is where the full dramatic impact of the experience hits.
Walking on glass is psychologically intense even when the structure is completely safe. Moreover, at 100 metres above a deep forested valley, with the Melghat Tiger Reserve stretching to the horizon in every direction, the sensory experience is unlike anything available at any other tourism site in central India. Furthermore, the single-cable suspension design means the bridge has a natural flex and movement that adds to the thrill.
The experience promises to be thrilling yet safe, with expert design and engineering ensuring that the skywalk is both a secure and memorable experience for all. Moreover, the skywalk connects two specific viewpoints — Hurricane Point and Goreghat Point — that are already among Chikhaldara’s most visited scenic spots. Therefore, even visitors who choose not to walk the glass section can access spectacular views from both ends of the bridge.
How to Reach Chikhaldara from Nagpur
Chikhaldara is approximately 250 kilometres from Nagpur. Furthermore, the most convenient route is via the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway to Amravati and then northwest on NH53 toward Chikhaldara. The journey takes approximately three to four hours by road.
Moreover, Chikhaldara can also be reached from Amravati city — approximately 100 kilometres away — making it a viable day trip for Amravati residents. However, for visitors coming from Nagpur or farther, an overnight stay in Chikhaldara is recommended. Therefore, booking accommodation at the MTDC Holiday Resort near Goreghat Point or at private resorts in the area is advisable.
As a result of the skywalk’s impending opening, accommodation in Chikhaldara is expected to become significantly harder to book on weekends. Therefore, plan ahead and book early.
What Nagpur Updates Will Report Next
Nagpur Updates will report immediately when the two pending approvals are received and an official opening date is announced. Furthermore, we will publish a complete visitor guide — including ticket prices, visiting hours, booking process and travel tips — as soon as details are officially released.
