It should be among the numerous sacred places of worship for Jain communities worldwide. The Palitana Jain Temple on the Shatrunjaya Hills has a collection of 863 temples dedicated to the Jain deities. Palitana Jain Temple Timings are from 05:00 AM to 08:30 PM.
Palitana Jain Temple
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All these places of worship are pure and very prosperous, no matter the size you can reach after walking about 3,000 steps from the mountains.
The main temple at the top is dedicated to St. Tirthankar, and it is believed that the construction of these sacred portals of religion dates back to the 10th and has been completed over about 900 years.
The existing facilities have been rebuilt many times, but the authenticity and spirituality here are intact.
Construction
The temples in Palitana exhibit magnificent architecture and are heavily and very richly decorated and ornate.
The mandir architecture’s brilliance lies uniquely in sunlight, transforming marble structures into a kind of ivory shield.
Of the 863 temples, the most sacred is the temple of Adishwar. The shrine Palitana Jain Temple for Jains was made of marble with tall and huge pillars and many openings, which looked like a normal Hindu temple.
The interiors had finished with intricate and neat geometric lace designs, elaborately carved ceilings, and clustered canopy forms.
History of the Temple:
This hill holds a very special and sacred place in the hearts of the devout Jains. The sanctity of the Palitana mandir lies in that Shatrunjaya Mahatmya – the 1st Tirthankara called Rishabh – according to the holy Jain scriptures – successfully gave his first discourse here consecrated the hills.
Later, his grandson Pundarika is said to have attained NirvNirvanae in the Shatrunjaya hills (now the first name of the Shatrunjaya hills is also known as Pundarikiri.
Believing in myths and legends, they said many other Tirthankaras also visited the Palitana Jain Temple hills. The Shatrunjaya hills make it even more sacred and sacred.
Religious practice
The crowded temples are called tanks, and it is as important for the Jains to undertake this travel at least once in their life as the Char Dham pilgrimage undertaken by the Hindus.
Most people on the journey cover their entire feet barefoot and close their mouths while worshipping the Tirthankaras inside the temple so that no insects have accidentally swallowed.
It is also why they do not light lanterns and do with an Aarti-covered lantern. Some even make this pilgrimage while fasting simultaneously.
Eating anything on the hill is considered a sin. People had expected to maintain the sanctity of the place by keeping silent and praying while climbing the stairs. Pilgrims will fast until they return to the auditorium at the foot of the Anandji Kalyanji Trust.
How many steps are there at Palitana Jain Temple?
The temples were grouped into tanks (enclosures), each with a central temple surrounded by smaller ones. The peak is 7,288 feet (2,221 m) high. Reaching it involves climbing 3,750 stone stairs. It adds an extraordinary experience to temples.
Routes:
Palitana Jain Temple takes about two hours to reach 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles). There are many ways.
The peer, which encircles the outer walls of the temples on the small hill and crosses the Angar, is reported to have guarded the shrine of a Muslim saint during the Muslim invasions of the temples.
The second route goes about the foot of the mountain. Elderly travellers who cannot climb stairs are carried by a doli (swing chair) porters and are charged based on the weight of the travellers.
This month, many pilgrims take the third route to Phalguna (February/March), which crosses five holy shrines at a distance of 45 km (28 miles).
Festivals
Sunday Phalguna Day is celebrated as the 6th Gaon or Chha Gaw Pilgrimage, which falls between February/March. Thousands of Jain devotees make this pilgrimage for their Nirvana Salvation at Palitana Jain Temple.
More than three times as many Jain devotees visit this temple complex during this time.
Another significant festival here is Purnima, or the full moon day, which many Jains visit. This marks the opening of the Palitana Jain Temple complex gates after being closed for four months during the monsoon season.
Pilgrims trek the entire Shatrunjaya Hill for a distance of 21.6 km and offer their prayers to Adinath Swami at the top.
Mahavir Jayanti, or Lord Mahavir’s birthday, is another popular festival in Palitana.
Its rituals include fasting and donating to the less fortunate while praying for a huge procession carrying images of the Tirthankaras in huge ornate chariots.
Nearby places to visit
Bhavnagar: The temple town is located at a distance of 51 km from Palitana, and there are places you can visit with your family – Victoria Park, Khodia Mandir, Nishkalank Mahadev Temple etc.
Vallabhipur: This tourist attraction was located north of Palitana, once the capital of Palitana. You can see the ruins and the museum here, which is very informative.
Lothal: Connected with a network of good roads, it is the site of a prehistoric Indus Valley Civilization.
Lothal is one of the numerous crucial ruins depicting the life and times of a bygone era, and the tour here makes you feel like you are back in time.
The best time to visit
Being in a spacious open space on hilly terrain, the temperature here is pleasant throughout the year.
Summertime, when the daytime temperature is at 40 degrees Celsius, is a good time to visit Palitana Jain Temple if the heat does not bother you much.
The complex is closed for viewing during the rainy season. The beginning of winter is one of the best times to visit, from October to February when temperatures are between 10 and 24 degrees Celsius.
The beauty of the surroundings was further enhanced with greenery at this time rather than clearing the atmosphere.
Palitana Jain Temple Timings
Below are the Palitana Jain temple timings:
| Day | Timings |
| Monday | 05:00 AM – 08:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 05:00 AM – 08:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 05:00 AM – 08:30 PM |
| Thursday | 05:00 AM – 08:30 PM |
| Friday | 05:00 AM – 08:30 PM |
| Saturday | 05:00 AM – 08:30 PM |
| Sunday | 05:00 AM – 08:30 PM |
How to Reach
By Air:
The nearest airport to Palitana is in Bhavnagar, about 51 km away. The airport serves many flights from all major and minor cities in India, such as Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad.
Taxi services for Palitana are available here.
By Train:
The nearest railway line is also 55 – 56 km from Bhavnagar. It is well connected to various trains from Ahmedabad, and many trains plying in Gujarat stop here.
By Road:
The road was well-connected to the temple complex. Public transport services are available from Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Una and Talaja.
Address
Address: Palitana, Gujarat 364270, India