Girnar is a group of rocky peaks rising above the city of Junagadh in Saurashtra, Gujarat. For Jains it is the hill of Neminatha, the twenty-second Tirthankara, who is held to have taken renunciation, attained omniscience and been liberated on its heights. The Neminatha page tells his life and explains why three of his five kalyanakas make Girnar a tirtha.
The old names for the hill are Raivataka, which appears in the Uttaradhyayana, and Ujjinta, which the Kalpasutra uses. Both are still used in Jain writing.
Why it is sacred
Jain tradition places Neminatha’s renunciation at a grove on the hill, where he gave up the world after turning back from his wedding, and places his liberation on the summit. Pilgrims climb to see both the temple of the Tirthankara and the footprints that mark these places. The hill is also revered by other traditions, which have their own shrines on its upper peaks, and the sharing of the mountain is a long-standing fact of the place.
History where scholars agree
The Jain temple complex on the hill is a medieval one. The main Neminatha temple is dated to the twelfth century, and the rebuilding is attributed to a governor of Saurashtra under the Solanki dynasty; later patrons added to it. Scholars agree that the temple is of that period and that the hill’s association with Neminatha is far older than any surviving building. Junagadh itself is an ancient site: an inscribed rock bearing edicts of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka stands near the foot of the hill, which shows the region’s long importance.
The Digambara and Shvetambara communities both honour the hill, and there is a record of dispute over management between them, which is the business of the courts and the trusts and not of this page.
How to reach it
- Nearest airport: Rajkot is the usual air gateway, about two hours by road. Ahmedabad is farther.
- Nearest railway station: Junagadh Junction, from where local transport runs to the foot of the hill.
- The base of the climb is on the edge of the city, where there are dharamshalas for pilgrims.
The climb
The route is a long flight of stone steps, commonly given as around ten thousand, and many pilgrims begin before dawn so that the climb is cool and the descent is complete in daylight. Resting places and water points are set along the way. A palanquin can be hired by those who cannot walk. The Jain temples sit on a lower plateau, and the further peaks, where the footprints of Neminatha and others are kept, need more climbing.
This is a long and tiring ascent. Those with heart, joint or breathing conditions should ask a doctor first.
Etiquette
- Leave leather and anything made from animal products at the base.
- Dress modestly, and walk quietly past the shrines of other traditions as you would past your own.
- Do not eat on the hill. Many pilgrims fast for the day and eat at the bottom before sunset.
- Photography is limited inside the temples, so follow the notices.
- Carry your rubbish down. The hill is steep and its upkeep depends on visitors.
- Remember the footprints at the higher shrines are objects of worship, and keep a respectful distance unless a priest invites you closer.
We have not given timings or fees, as the trust sets and changes them.
Related
- Tirth guides: eight pilgrim places
- Neminatha: the 22nd Tirthankara
- The 24 Tirthankaras
- Dilwara
- Sammed Shikharji
Frequently asked questions
↳ Why is Girnar a Jain tirth?
Tradition holds that Neminatha took renunciation, attained omniscience and was liberated there. Three of his five kalyanakas happened on the hill, which is the reason pilgrims climb it.
↳ What are the old names of Girnar?
Raivataka and Ujjinta. The Uttaradhyayana uses the first and the Kalpasutra the second.
↳ Are the Girnar temples old?
The main Neminatha temple is medieval, dated to the twelfth century. The sacredness of the hill is older than the building.
↳ Is the hill only a Jain site?
No. Other traditions also have shrines on its peaks, and the hill is shared. Visitors are asked to respect each.