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Palitana Temples, photo by Bhavyesh Acharya

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Palitana 

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 the 鈥淐ity of Temples鈥�.

Along with Sammet Shikhar, earlier in Bihar state, now of Jharkhand, 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 lifetime to achieve nirvana or salvation. 

The Jain鈥檚 sacred site of Shatrunjay contains hundreds of Palitana temples. There are approximately 863 marble-carved temples on the hills.  Some fascinating facts about the palatine temple include

1. Food in Palitana 

Palitana became the first city in the world in 2014 to be legally vegetarian. This makes complete sense as it’s a pilgrimage center for Jains who are strictly vegetarian.

2. Hike up to the Palitana Temples 

palitana, Shatrunjaya, dholis, pilgrims, and 300 steps  photo by Arian Zwegers

As you climb up the temple top, a breathtaking view emerged – temples and temples perched on the hilltop and bathed in the golden morning sunlight, with an ever-expanding blue lake blurred by the mist still hanging in the air. you can barely hear the chants of prayer and its sound was magical, it was almost like floating in the air and witnessing the events below in slow motion. one even forgot to take pictures and did that only as an afterthought.

3. Vallabhipur 

This tourist attraction is located in the northern region of Palitana which used to once be the capital of Palitana. You can check out the ruins and the museum here which is very informative.

4. Temple Architecture

Sheth Motisha Tonk, Palitana temples complex, India, photo by Bernard Gagnon

The temples of Palitana display exquisite architecture and are heavily and very richly ornamented and adorned. The brilliance of the temple architecture lies in the fact that it has been constructed in such a unique way that the sunlight transforms the marble structures into some sort of an ivory shield. Out of the 863 temples, the holiest one is the temple of Adishwar. This Tirth Sthal for Jains is primarily made out of marbles with tall and heavy pillars with a number of openings, kind of like a typical Hindu temple. The interiors are very intricately and finely carved completely with geometric lace designs, elaborately carved ceilings, and clustered forms of canopies.

5. Jain Temple Palitana

Jain_temple_in_palitana, Photo by Kuldipagravat

The most prominent temple of Palitana is the Adishwar Temple. This Tirth Sthal for Jains is made out of marble, with intricately carved interiors. The structure is like a typical Hindu temple, with tall and heavy pillars and several openings on all sides of the structure.  

The finely carved interiors are characterized by geometric lace designs, elaborately carved ceilings, and clustered forms of canopies. Also, the marble image of the deity is adorned with gold ornaments studded with precious jewels. It is considered to be a sculptural grandeur.  

6. They are 300 Temples on Shatrunjaya Hill

Palitana temples complex, Palitana, India, photo by Bernard Gagnon

Adinatha temple built in the 6th century is the grandest of the temples on Shatrunjaya Hill. This temple was rebuilt in the 12th century. Dedicated to the first Tirthankara 鈥楻ishaba鈥�, this temple houses his 7 feet marble statue in a sitting position. People make it a point to visit this temple and then the 鈥楴ine Enclosures鈥� mentioned below. From far, the temples of Shatrunjaya resemble a fortress with a wall surrounding them. 

The Adinatha shrine located on the southern summit is the most visited. People circumambulate the shrine thrice thereby covering the rest of the temples besides. The southern summit is the highest point on Shatrunjaya hill. 

7. Nine Enclosures (Nav Tunk)

The pilgrims visit nine enclosures in addition to the main shrine of Adinatha as mentioned below. Seven of the nine enclosures are in the northern summit and two in the valley. 

鈥� Narshi Keshavji 鈥� Dedicated to the fourth Tirthankara 鈥楢bhinandananatha鈥� 

鈥� Chaumukhji 鈥� Dedicated to 鈥楶undarika鈥�, the first 

鈥� disciple of the first Tirthankara Rishabha 

鈥� Chipa Vasi 鈥� Dedicated to the first Tirthankara 鈥楻ishabha鈥� 

鈥� Shakar Shah 鈥� Dedicated to the twenty-third Tirthankara 鈥楶arsvanatha鈥� 

鈥� Ujambhai 鈥� Dedicated to the Tirthankaras 

鈥� Sheth Hemabhai 鈥� Dedicated to the second Tirthankara 鈥楢jita鈥� 

鈥� Premchand Modi 鈥� Dedicated to the first Tirthankara 鈥楻ishabha鈥� and his disciple 鈥楶undarika鈥� 

鈥� Balabhai 鈥� Dedicated to the first tirthankara 鈥楻ishabha鈥� 

鈥� Sheth Moti Shah 鈥� Dedicated to the first Tirthankara 鈥楻ishabha鈥� 

8. Festivals that place in the Palitana Temples

Jain_Temples,_Palitana, photo by Cakothori

The Phagun day on Sunday is celebrated as 6 Gaon or Chha Gau Teerth Yatra which falls between February / March; Jain followers in thousands of numbers make this pilgrimage to attain their salvation or nirvana. During this time 3 times as many Jain followers make a visit to this temple complex.

Another important festival that takes place here is the Purnima or full moon day. When the Jains visit this place in large numbers since this time also marks the opening day of the temple complex gates after being closed for 4 months during the monsoon season. Pilgrims circumambulate the Shatrunjaya hill which is overall 21.6 km on foot and offer their prayer to Lord Adinath whose temple is located on top of this hill.

Mahavir Jayanti or the birthday of Lord Mahavira is another prominent festival held in Palitana. The rituals for this include fasting and giving alms to the lesser fortunate people while offering prayer to the huge procession carrying the images of Tirthankara in huge decorated chariots.

9. Visit the Lothal  in Palitana

 Lothal is connected by a good network of roads and is the site of the pre-historic Indus valley civilization. Lothal is one of the most crucial ruins that depict the life and times of the bygone era and a trip here will feel like you have stepped back in time

10. Bhavnagar 

It is located at a distance of 51 km from the temple town of Palitana there are places you could visit here with your families like 鈥� Victoria park, Khodiya Mandir, and Nishkalank Mahadev temple, etc.

The place is an important city for trade with many large and small-scale industries. It has the largest ship’s backyard. Bhavnagar is the best place in Gujarat that does produce the most subtle form of cotton embroidered Saree. Also, you can purchase diamond jewelry.

Being located in a wide-open space on a hilly terrain the temperature here remains pleasant throughout the year. The summer time which sets the day temperature to as high as 40-degree Celsius can be a good time to visit if the heat doesn鈥檛 bother you much.

The complex remains shut down for Darshan during the monsoon season. The onset of winter is probably one of the best times to visit which falls during the months of October to February when the temperature stays between 10 to 24-degree Celsius. Apart from the weather being cleared the surrounding beauty during this time is elevated even more to lush greenery.