In Junagadh (Girnar), Gujarat, Girnar Temples is dedicated to A cluster of Jain temples (notably to Neminath, the 22nd Tirthankara) and Hindu shrines to Amba Mata, Gorakhnath, Dattatreya and Kalika. It is also known as Girnar Hill, Revatak Parvata.
A major pilgrimage destination for both Jains and Hindus. The Neminath temple is one of the most important Jain shrines, while the Amba Mata temple at the first peak is visited by newly-weds seeking a happy marriage, and the Dattatreya and Gorakhnath shrines crown the highest peaks. Girnar (also known as Revatak Parvata) is believed to be the Nirvana bhumi of the 22nd Jain Tirthankara, Lord Neminatha, and a temple commemorating him was built in the 11th century.
Gujarat carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Gujarat's sacred coast and hills hold the first Jyotirlinga at Somnath, Krishna's kingdom at Dwarka, a Shakti Peeth at Ambaji and the temple-crowned heights of Girnar.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | Open from dawn; the climb is best begun at dawn |
| Evening | Open until dusk |
Visiting hours are dawn to dusk. Many temples on the hill are locked from around 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, though the Neminath temple stays open all day. Reaching the uppermost temples can take a full day. A ropeway (Girnar Ropeway) is available.
Poojas and daily rituals
Regular Jain and Hindu worship at the respective shrines; details vary by temple
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Bhavnath Mela | Magha month (January/February) | A five-day fair at Bhavnath Mahadev Temple at Girnar Taleti with folk music, dancing and gatherings of naga sadhus, marking Shiva's cosmic dance. |
| Girnar Parikrama (Lili Parikrama) | November (Kartik) | A circumambulation festival around Girnar Hill drawing large numbers of pilgrims. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Temples ascend the mountain along roughly 10,000 stone steps. The Jain temples form a cluster of mosaic-decorated domes and elaborate stupas about two-thirds of the way up; the 12th-century Temple of Neminath is the largest and oldest. Higher peaks hold the shrines of Amba Mata, Gorakhnath (on Gujarat's highest peak at 1,117 m), the three-faced Dattatreya and Kalika.
History
Girnar (also known as Revatak Parvata) is believed to be the Nirvana bhumi of the 22nd Jain Tirthankara, Lord Neminatha, and a temple commemorating him was built in the 11th century. The nearby triple Temple of Mallinath, dedicated to the ninth Tirthankara, was built in 1177 by two brothers. Over the centuries the mountain became a shared pilgrimage site for Jains and Hindus.
Planning your visit
How to reach
At Junagadh, reached by ST and private buses from across Gujarat. Two express trains run on the Ahmedabad-Veraval line to Junagadh. The nearest airport is Rajkot, about 103 km away.
Girnar Temples in photographs
5 freely-licensed photographs of this temple, from Wikimedia Commons. Each is credited to its photographer.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Overview, history and visiting window (dawn to dusk) from Gujarat Tourism; individual temple worship timings on the hill vary and are not centrally published