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Palitana |
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Palitana
General Information
Population:
45000
Altitude: 182 metres
Area:
13 square km
Climate: 24 to 46 Degree Celsius in Summers and
17 to 38 degree Celsius in Winters
Annual Rainfall: 580 mm
Best season:
November to March
Information about
Palitana
Palitana is a sacred city of the Jains located about
215 km. from Ahmedabad and 51 kms southwest of
Bhavnagar. It was the capital of a small princely
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state founded by Shahji, a
Gohel Rajput who belonged to the same clan as the Maharaja
of Bhavnagar. Palitana is situated at an altitude of 182
metres and covers an area of 13 square km. Palitana is one
of Jainism's holiest pilgrimage sites and gateway to the
Shatrunjaya hill. Besides being a pilgrimage centre,
Paliatana is also knowm for the horse-breeding. The best
season to visit Palitana is from November to March. |
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Tourist Attractions in Palitana |
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The main tourist attraction in Palitana is
the Shatrunjaya Hill. |
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Shatrunjaya Hill, Palitana
The Shatrunjaya Hill is located at a height of 591
metres. The Shatrunjaya Temple is the most sacred
temple of the Jains and one of the largest of its kind
in India. One has to climb up the hill for about 4 kms
(600 meters) on a stepped path to Shatrunjaya (place
of victory over worldliness). You can reach this place
either in Doli or lift chairs or by walking. The rich
persons visit this place on richly caparisoned
elephants. There are about 863 white marble Jain
temples, built over 900 years on the hilltop, each
with its own enclosure. There is a stunning view from
the top of the hill and the air is filled with the
scent of |
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the jasmine trees. On a
clear day, you can also see the Gulf of Cambay. All the
temples are enriched with gold, silver and jewels donated by
rich merchants. According to local tradition, Adinatha, the
first Jain Tirthankara, visited the hill several times and
the first temple was erected by his son. Thereafter the
emple builders could not stop. Jains believe that Pundarika,
the chief disciple of Adinatha attained nirvana there. There
are two series of temples strung along the two ridges of the
hill with further temples in the hollow between linking
them. All are surrounded by a tall battlement, erected for
the defence. These fortifications |
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are called tuks and
have created a series of nine enclosures, each with a
central temple and various other minor temples. Most
of the temples are named after their founders, nearly
all the structures dating from the 16th century. Many
of these temples were built in the 11th century but
were destroyed by the Muslims in the 14th and 15th
centuries. Later, Jains obtained religious toleration
and began rebuilding. Approaching from the right, the
first and finest temple that you will visit is
dedicated to Shri Adishwar, one of the most important
Jain Tirthankars. This temple is one of the most
magnificent and sacred temple of the Jains community.
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The Khartaravasi Tuk is
the largest and highest of the temples along the north ridge
and includes the Adinath or Chaumukh or four-faced temple.
The Adinath temple is the biggest temple located on the
hill. This temple was built by a wealthy merchant in 1618 to
save his soul. This temple has an image of Adinath which
face out in the four cardinal directions. There are
quadruple Tirthankara images inside the sanctuary over which
rises a slender tower. The Vallabhai temple with its finely
clustered spires and the large Motisah temple occupy the
middle ground between the ridges. The Vimalavasi Tuk
occupies the west end of the sssssouth ridge. In it is the
Adishvara Temple which dominates the site. It is similar in |
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layout to the
Adinatha temple and has a double storey mandapa inside
which is a large image of Rishabhanatha with crystal
eyes and a gold crown of jewels. Other temples in the
southern group are the Temples of Ramaji Gandharia and
the Bhulavani which is a series of crypt like chambers
each surmounted with a dome. The Hathiapol (Elephant
gate) faces south east. On the top of the hill a
Muslim shrine of Angar Pir is also located where the
childless women offer tiny cradles in the hope of
conceiving. Besides these, there are various other
temples like Kumar Pal, Vimal Shah and Sampriti Raj,
named after the wealthy Jain merchants. |
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Shopping in Palitana
The local handicrafts are embroidery on sarees, dresses,
purses, bags, wall hangings, metal engraving and diamond
cutting. Local industries manufacture harmonium reeds and
weighing scales.
How to reach Palitana
By Air:
The nearest airport is located at Bhavnagar, about 56 kms
from Palitana and has daily flights with Mumbai.
By Rail:
Palitana is on the metre gauge of the Western Railway and
has a connection only with Bhavnagar. The nearest railway
station connected with all parts of India is Ahmedabad.
By Road:
Palitana is connected by good motorable roads with Bhavnagar,
Junagadh, Ahmedabad, Porbandar, Dwaraka, Gandhidham, Mumbai
and Delhi. |
