Palitana Temples

Shatrunjaya is the most sacred hill in Jainism, and around nine hundred temples have been built on its two summits since the eleventh century, in marble, packed so closely they form a walled city of shrines with lanes between them. Pilgrims climb roughly 3,800 steps to reach them, a two to three hour ascent, and devout Jains aim to make the climb repeatedly; some do it many times in a day. No one, including priests, stays on the hill after dark: the temples are closed at dusk and the summit left to the gods, so all visitors must descend before nightfall.

History

Old texts call the place Padliptapur of Kathiawad, and its earliest temples go back to the 11th century; almost 900 shrines and temples have since been built along the ridges of the Shatrunjaya hills in groups called tonks, with marble the favoured stone. Jains believe that 23 of the 24 Tirthankaras - all but Neminatha - sanctified the hill with their visits, and the main temple, to Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara, is the holiest shrine of the Śvetāmbara Murtipujaka tradition. More than 400,000 pilgrims came in 2010 (Wikipedia, Palitana temples).

Highlights

• The temple city - around nine hundred marble shrines packed on the summits.
• The 3,800 steps - the stone stair climbing the hill.
• Adinath temple - the principal shrine at the top.
• The evening closure - the whole hill emptied of people at dusk.

When to go

November to February; Gujarat is very hot the rest of the year and the climb is exposed. Start at dawn to avoid heat. Kartik Purnima in November brings enormous pilgrim numbers.

Good to know

The climb is long and steep, taking hours; doli chairs carried by porters are available and expensive. Leather is prohibited. Everyone must be off the hill by dusk without exception. Food and drink are restricted on the ascent.

Nearby

Bhavnagar lies northeast; Velavadar is north.

Key facts