Location :
Palitana is the largest group of Jain temples, situated on the Shetrunjaya hills in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, which is known as a tourist spot for its abundance in temples, beaches and wildlife. Palitana is situated at a distance of 51 km from Bhavnagar and is one of the most important pilgrimage centres for the Jains. It is considered to be mandatory for the Jains to travel to this place once in their lifetime. The 863 temples located on the path to the top of the hill, present a sacred route to achieve virtue and Lord's blessings.
History:
The beautiful cluster of temples on the pathway to the top of the hill, is a collective effort of the rich businessmen who had faith in the religion, following the belief that building temples, adds to their religious merits. The temples were built in 12th Century and the 16th Century. The wealthy devotees built the series of temples, according to the resources they had.
It was a tiring job to first clear and flatten the hill surface take the huge pillars from the ground surface to the hill and carve them on site. The temples were then walled and structured. It is a strenuous task to work on the hill and come back daily before dusk. The temples that we see today are mostly of the 16th century as the 12th century temples were destroyed by the Muslim invaders.
Architecture:
The Palitana group of Jain temples seems to rise like the mountain peaks, as they are built in such a manner that the there is a successive level of temples, growing in size as we go further towards the peak. The temples stand on pillars which are carved with floral motifs, images of idols and geometrical decorations. The marble blocks were carried from Rajasthan to Gujarat and then lifted uphill, slab by slab.
The most important temple on the Shatrunjaya Hill is the temple of Jain Tirthankar, Adinath, which is the most decorative one with a perfectly symmetric shape of a square subdivided further into smaller squares, that form a cross. The pillars and domes made up of finely cut marbles in the shape of dragons, is really impressive for the traveler.
Major Attractions:
The stunning carvings and sculptures on the marble spires holding the temples. The view of sunset down the hill as a backdrop to the series of temples rising from the altitude.
The Chaumukh Temple, dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar, Lord Adinath, in which the Lord is shown facing to the four sides. The temple is a 17th century creation. The challenging journey to the top of the hill, going through all the ancient temples enroute, is the prime attraction of the place. The journey includes a steep fleet of 3950 steps covering a distance of 3.5 km of the hill. One is not supposed to eat or sleep during the journey uphill, since the hill is considered to be God's abode.
Nearby Sightseeing Tour:
Bhavnagar:
Bhavnagar is the main industrial hub of Gujarat and is the true representer of the vibrant state. It acts as a base for the travelers visiting the Jain temples of Palitana in Saurashtra and offers a wide range of interesting places to unveil the culture and history of the state. Takhteshwar temple, Gaurishankar Lake, Barton Library, Gandhi Smriti Museum and the Nilambag Palace are some of the attractions of the city.
Lothal:
The main attraction of the place is the ruins of the Indus Valley Civilization dating back to the second millenium B.C. The important archaeological site consists of the magnificent town planning of the Harappan era including the baths, granaries, drainage, etc. A multitude of items are preserved in the museum including potteries, jeweleries, seals, etc of that era.
Aparana Chauhan
