In short
We aim to make this website usable for everyone, working towards WCAG 2.2 Level AA. That is a separate matter from physical access to the shrine: the temple sits at the top of a long stone stairway, there is no confirmed assisted climb, and the route is not wheelchair accessible. An accessible website does not make the hilltop accessible — please read both sections below.
Website accessibility
We want this site to be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust for as many people as possible, including those who use screen readers, keyboard navigation or assistive technology. Our working target is conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at Level AA. We treat accessibility as ongoing work rather than a finished checkbox.
What we do
- A “Skip to content” link at the top of every page lets keyboard and screen-reader users bypass the navigation.
- Pages are built with semantic HTML and a logical heading order so structure is clear to assistive technology.
- The site is operable by keyboard, and interactive elements show a visible focus outline so you can see where you are.
- Images that carry meaning have descriptive alternative text; decorative images are marked so they are skipped.
- We aim for sufficient colour contrast on text and controls.
- We honour the “reduced motion” preference: if your device requests less animation, decorative motion is minimised.
Known limitations
Some content, such as the embedded Google map, comes from third parties whose accessibility we do not fully control. We are continuing to test and improve, and we have not had this site independently audited yet. If you meet a barrier, telling us helps us fix it.
Reporting a website accessibility issue
If any part of this website is difficult to use, please let us know what you were trying to do, which page you were on, and the device or assistive technology you were using. You can report it on the Report a Correction page, which also explains how to reach the Trust's official channels. We will do our best to respond and put things right.
Physical access to the temple
This section is about visiting the shrine in person, which is a very different question from using the website. We want to set honest expectations rather than imply the site itself.
The temple is physically demanding to reach and is not wheelchair accessible. The shrine sits on a hill above the Karla Caves and is reached by a long stone stairway of several hundred steps. We have no confirmed doli (carried chair) for hire and no operational ropeway, so the climb is on foot. The route can be steep, uneven and slippery in the monsoon, and it is hard going for elderly visitors, young children, and anyone with limited mobility, heart or breathing conditions.
If you are planning to visit, please read The Climb & Accessibility for a fuller picture of the stairway, rest points and practical tips, and the FAQ for common questions. We do not want anyone to arrive expecting step-free access that does not exist.
Conditions on the hill are reported from public sources and visitor accounts and can change. If a doli service or ropeway becomes available, we will update these pages — please confirm locally before relying on assisted access.