Shatrunjaya, also called Siddhachal or Giriraj, is the holiest tirth of the Shvetambara Jains: Jain tradition holds that Rishabhanatha (Adinath), the first Tirthankara, preached here and that countless souls attained moksha on the hill. Its two summits are covered with close to 900 temples grouped in walled tonks, reached by more than 3,500 stone steps. The main temple is dedicated to Adinath. The temples have been managed by the Anandji Kalyanji trust (Pedhi) since 1730, and no one, not even the priests, stays on the hill overnight.
Step 2 of 8Next: Visiting rules↓Visiting rules
Visiting with respect
- Do not eat, carry leather or spit on the hill; for Jains the whole hill is sacred, not only the temples.
- Wash and wear clean clothes, remove footwear before each temple, and keep silence in front of the murtis of the Tirthankaras.
- Give way to sadhus and sadhvis (Jain monks and nuns) on the steps; they walk barefoot and some are carried in dolis.
Hours and rules can change for festivals and services. Check the official site on the day.
Step 3 of 8Next: Getting there↓The route, stop by stop
The whole route first. Tap any stop and the map zooms to just that place.
Route
Stops
Palitana town → Jay Taleti (foot of the hill) → The climb and the Adinath temple on the summit → Samovsaran Mandir and the town temples · Directions in Google Maps ↗
- 1GSRTC bus from Bhavnagar, about 1-2 hours (booking sites list GSRTC fares from about ₹47-71); the bus stand is about 800 m from Palitana station Map ↗
- 2Auto-rickshaw or walk from town to the start of the steps; fares not published, agree first Map ↗
- 3More than 3,500 steps, about 2-3 hours up for most people; dolis (chairs carried by porters) are available at the base at a negotiated price Map ↗
- 4In Palitana town, near the Taleti road Map ↗
Travel legs add up to about ₹71 per person.
Step 4 of 8Next: Cost↓What it costs
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.
A do-it-yourself budget for the visit: local transport and any entry fee. Donations and guided tours are extra.
What to book ahead
Where to stay and eat
Stay
Palitana is full of Jain dharamshalas run by trusts, mostly near the Taleti road; they welcome pilgrims and are very cheap. One trust lists rooms at ₹300 a day for a non-AC double, ₹600 for an AC double and ₹1,000 for a family room. Dharamshalas follow Jain rules (no non-vegetarian food, quiet hours, often early meals). A few hotels and guest houses in town take bookings online. Book well ahead for Kartik Purnima and Phalgun Sud 13.
Food
Food in Palitana is vegetarian, and dharamshala bhojanshalas serve Jain meals: no onion, garlic, potatoes or other root vegetables, and many serve the last meal before sunset in line with Jain practice. In 2014 the Gujarat government announced a ban on the sale of meat and eggs and on animal slaughter in Palitana after a fast by Jain monks; its legal status was later challenged, but do not expect to find meat or eggs near the pilgrim areas. Eat before you climb, as no food is allowed on the hill.
Photos
Questions people ask
How many days do you need for Shatrunjaya Hill, Palitana?
2 days · 1 night, starting from Bhavnagar (about 42-55 km; Bhavnagar has the nearest airport, BHU, and a rail terminus; Palitana has its own small station, PIT).
What is the best time for Shatrunjaya Hill, Palitana?
The hill is closed to pilgrims during Chaturmas, the four-month monsoon retreat; in 2026 Chaturmas runs from 28 July to Kartik Purnima on 24 November, so the yatra is closed as of mid-October 2026 and reopens on 24 November. Kartik Purnima itself is the biggest day of the year, with tens of thousands climbing and many walking the Chha Gau yatra (about 21.6 km around the hills). Phalgun Sud 13 (February or March) is the other huge crowd day. December to February is the most comfortable time to climb; from April the heat makes a midday ascent hard.
How much does Shatrunjaya Hill, Palitana cost?
From about ₹300 per person doing it yourself, with the travel legs adding up to roughly ₹71.
What needs to be booked in advance?
Closed in Chaturmas (must book): The hill closes to pilgrims for the four months of Chaturmas (in 2026, 28 July to 24 November). Only temple priests perform the daily puja then. Check the reopening date with the Pedhi before you plan a trip around Kartik Purnima. Down before dark (must book): Nobody may stay on the hill overnight. Start the climb at dawn and be down well before sunset; guides give the hill as open roughly 6:00-18:00, varying by season. No food on the hill, no leather (must book): Eating on the hill is not allowed; eat in town before or after. Leather items such as belts, bags and wallets are not allowed in the temples. Carry water and check at the base whether you may drink it on the way up. Doli at the base: If you cannot climb, dolis are available at Jay Taleti. Prices quoted by different guides range widely (₹500-1,000 negotiated for one person, up to ₹2,500 for two), so agree the price and whether it is one way or return before you set off.
Where do pilgrims stay?
Palitana is full of Jain dharamshalas run by trusts, mostly near the Taleti road; they welcome pilgrims and are very cheap. One trust lists rooms at ₹300 a day for a non-AC double, ₹600 for an AC double and ₹1,000 for a family room. Dharamshalas follow Jain rules (no non-vegetarian food, quiet hours, often early meals). A few hotels and guest houses in town take bookings online. Book well ahead for Kartik Purnima and Phalgun Sud 13.
What about food?
Food in Palitana is vegetarian, and dharamshala bhojanshalas serve Jain meals: no onion, garlic, potatoes or other root vegetables, and many serve the last meal before sunset in line with Jain practice. In 2014 the Gujarat government announced a ban on the sale of meat and eggs and on animal slaughter in Palitana after a fast by Jain monks; its legal status was later challenged, but do not expect to find meat or eggs near the pilgrim areas. Eat before you climb, as no food is allowed on the hill.
Sources and last check
Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- gov.uk OfficialNo FCDO advisory covering Bhavnagar district (updated 7 Oct 2026)
- en.wikipedia.orgAbout 900 temples (863 listed), over 3,500 steps, closed in monsoon, no one stays overnight including priests, Anandji Kalyanji trust since 1730, main temple to Rishabhanatha, about 55 km from Bhavnagar, Chha Gau yatra on Kartik Purnima (about 21.6 km), Phalgun Sud 13 crowds
- jaingpt.comChaturmas 2026: 28 July - 24 November
- namamitra.comHill reopens on Kartik Purnima after Chaturmas; during Chaturmas puja restricted to priests; descend before sunset; Pedhi phone 02848-252148
- divinehindu.inKartik Purnima 2026 falls on 24 November
- trawell.inHill timings about 6:00-18:00, climb 2-3 hours, must come down before dark
- blog.yatradham.orgSeasonal timings (summer 5:30-19:00, winter 6:30-17:30), no food on the hill, leather prohibited, white clothes for puja, doli prices
- outlooktraveller.comThe climb and the pilgrim experience on Shatrunjaya
- jm.jinvani.inDharamshala rates: ₹300 non-AC double, ₹600 AC double, ₹400/₹800 triple, ₹1,000 family room per day
- ixigo.comBhavnagar-Palitana about 42 km, 1-2 hours by bus, fares from ₹47, GSRTC from ₹71
- en.wikipedia.orgPalitana station (PIT), 48 km from Bhavnagar Terminus; bus stand 800 m from the station
- thenewsminute.com2014 Gujarat government ban on sale of meat and eggs in Palitana after Jain monks' fast; status disputed and challenged in Gujarat High Court
More sacred places and routes
Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
