India /Gujarat /Bhavnagar /Palitana

Palitana is an important religious city located in the state of Gujarat in the district of Bhavnagar. It is one of the most important pilgrimage centers for believers of Jainism in the country. Many pilgrims and devotees can be seen in the city throughout the year. Jains believe that many of their spiritual leaders attained salvation at this place. There are many temples that are located in the place in a hill called the Shatrunjaya. In total there are around 1300 temples and many are made from marble with exquisite carvings and sculptors. This is a place that one must visit to witness the beauty of the temple architecture. The temples on the hill have been built over a period of 900 years by various generations of Jains and construction was first started in the 11th century. One has to climb a total of 3800 steps that have been cut out of the rock to reach the temples. Some of the temples have been built with sandstone and some with marble and different hues and colors can be seen on top of the hill. There are many guest houses that can be found in the city of Palitana and it is believed that every Jain must visit the place at least once to attain salvation.

Quick Facts-Edit

Category : Pilgrim

Time Zone: UTC + 5:30 Hours

Pincode: 364270

STD Code: 2848

Info Website: N.A

Best Time to Visit:  Oct – Mar

HistoryEdit

The Palitana temples of Jainism are located on Mount Shatrunjaya, by the city of Palitana, in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, India. The city of the same name, known previously as Padliptapur, has been nicknamed “City of Temples”. Along with Shikharji in Jharkhand state, the two sites are considered the holiest of all pilgrimage places by the Jain community. As the temple-city was built to be an abode for the divine, no one is allowed to stay overnight, including the priests. Every Jain believes that a visit to this group of temples is essential once in a life time to achieve nirvana or salvation.This site on Shetrunjay hill is considered sacred by Jains and have hundreds of temples. There are approximately 863 marble-carved temples on the hills. It is said that 23 Tirthankara (a human being who helps in achieving liberation and enlightenment), except Neminath (a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma), sanctified the hill by their visits. The main temple is dedicated to the Rishabha, the first Tirthankara; it is the holiest shrine for the Svetambara Murtipujaka Jain sect who are worshipers of images of gods. The Digambara sect of Jainism has only one temple here.

Places to VisitAdd

Palitana Sightseeing

How to ReachEdit

By Air : The closest airport is located at Bhavnagar, which is around 51 km from the town of Palitana. The airport is connected by regular flights to places such as Delhi and Mumbai and this is the most suitable option for those who are arriving by air. Taxis are available from the airport and they charge around Rs 500 for the short trip which takes around one hour.

By Train : Palitana has a small railway station that is connected to the town of Bhavnagar. The better option is to take a train to the town of Sihor which has good connectivity to places such as Gandhinagar and Ahmadabad. Sihor is located nearby and you can reach the town of Palitana easily from the station.

By Bus : State Government buses are available from Bhavnagar on a regular basis and tickets are inexpensive. There are daily buses from places such as Ahmadabad, Diu, Una and Talaja. Government buses are generally not comfortable and can be crowded. Most buses are not well maintained as well.

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Top HotelsAdd

Economy – Up to Rs. 801 to Rs. 1200

Hotel Sumeru ; Vadiya Rd, Bhairav Para, Palitana, Gujarat 364270 ; Ph – N.A ; Facilities – Doctor-on-call, laundry, room service , telephone, TV, travel desk, 24hours H/C running water.

Top RestaurantsAdd

• Luniya Bhojanshala ;  Jeshar, Palitana, Gujarat 364270 ; M –  N.A ; Food Serve :  Indian

• Sankalp-the taste of south ;  Jeshar, Palitana, Gujarat 364270 ; M –  N.A ; Food Serve :  Indian

Must Eat FoodAdd

Must Do ActivitiesAdd

Must ShopAdd

Nightlife (Pub / Disc / BAR)Add

SpaAdd

FestivalAdd

Safety / WarningEdit

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HelplineEdit

• Police : 100
• Fire : 101
• Ambulance : 102

ItineraryEdit

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Gallery