The Palitana temples sit on Shatrunjaya hill, 51 km southwest of Bhavnagar in Gujarat. You climb on foot or by doli, about 3,501 steps by the trust’s count, and the ascent takes two to three hours.
Two facts decide if your day works. The Ram Pole gate at the top closes at 5:00 or 5:30 PM, and the hill is closed to climbers from Ashadh Sud 14 until Kartik Purnima, which falls on 24 November 2026.
Palitana Temples at a Glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Location | Palitana, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat |
| Main deity | Rishabhanatha (Adinath), the first Tirthankara |
| Height | About 600 m (roughly 2,000 ft) above sea level |
| Path | About 3.6 km and 3,501 steps, by the trust’s count |
| Time needed | 2 to 3 hours up; 5 to 6 hours for the full visit |
| Temples | About 865 shrines in commonly cited counts; the trust speaks of about 100 marble temples |
| Gate | Ram Pole opens at sunrise and closes at 5:00 or 5:30 PM |
| Closed to climbers | After Ashadh Sud 14 until Kartik Purnima (24 November 2026) |
| Entry fee | None reported for the climb |
The Climb: Route, Steps and Rest Stops
The path starts at Jay Taleti, about 2 km from the railway station and bus stand along a road of dharamshalas and shops. The trust counts 3,303 steps to Ram Pole and 198 more to the Adinath temple, which makes 3,501. Other sources quote up to 3,860, and the gap most likely comes from where counting starts.
The trust describes six rest stops (vishamo) before Ram Pole, with water points and benches. Hingalaj no Hado is the steepest stretch.
Rules at the Palitana Temples
- The yatra is made barefoot. Cloth shoes and socks are sold for those who need them, and leather is not allowed.
- Carrying any food or drink up the hill is strictly forbidden, and many pilgrims put nothing in their mouths until they are back down.
- Photography rules vary by temple, so ask before you use a camera.
Doli and the Information Centre
Doli carriers are arranged at the information centre near Jay Taleti. The trust lists a plain doli, a chair doli and a four-bearer doli. Fares rise with crowds and on festival days, so no fixed price is published; agree it first. Anyone who cannot climb at all can visit the Dhanvasahi tunk just above Jay Taleti instead.
Gate Timings and the Monsoon Break
The trust publishes Ram Pole times by season. The gate opens at sunrise all year.
| Period (Gujarati calendar) | Ram Pole closes | Angi darshan until | Evening aarti |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kartik Sud 15 to Maha Vad Amas | 5:00 PM | 9:30 AM | 4:00 PM |
| Falgun Sud 1 to Chaitra Vad Amas | 5:30 PM | 9:00 AM | 4:30 PM |
| Vaishakh Sud 1 to Ashadh Sud 14 | 5:30 PM | 8:30 AM | 4:30 PM |
The trust warns that times can shift with pilgrim numbers. Gujarat Tourism lists 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM as general hours. The trust does not state when you may leave Jay Taleti, so call the information centre on 02848 253348 before planning a pre-dawn start.
Ashadh Sud 14 is the last climbing day before the monsoon break. The trust says earlier acharyas barred the climb after it to avoid harm to living beings, and the Sangh still follows the rule. Pilgrims spend Chaturmas in Palitana without going up. The first climb afterwards falls on Kartik Sud 15, which is 24 November in 2026 according to Drik Panchang. Travel portals list the closure as June to September, and the trust’s dates are the ones to plan around.
How to Reach Palitana
Palitana is 51 km from Bhavnagar and 225 km from Ahmedabad, according to the trust. Gujarat Tourism puts the road time at about two hours from Bhavnagar and five from Ahmedabad.
- By road: buses and taxis run from Bhavnagar and Ahmedabad.
- By train: Palitana has its own station with a connection to Bhavnagar, so check IRCTC for your date.
- By air: Bhavnagar airport is the nearest, roughly 51 to 55 km away depending on the source.
Main Temples and Tunks to See
Jay Taleti holds eleven small shrines with the footprints of Adinath and other Tirthankaras, and most pilgrims perform the first chaityavandan here. Above it stands the Dhanvasahi tunk.
The Adinath temple, rebuilt as the Nandivardhan Prasad, stands behind Ratan Pol, and the trust dates the present building to the restoration of Vikram Samvat 1650 (1594 CE). The Chaumukhji tunk, built in Vikram Samvat 1675 (1619 CE), has a spire the trust says is visible from about 15 km.
Near the top the path forks. Ram Pole is to the left, and the right-hand route gives views toward the Gulf of Khambhat on clear days. Local tradition links the Angar Pir shrine near the Nav Tonk gate to the protection of the temples during a Mughal attack.
A Realistic one Day Plan
These are planning estimates, not official timings.
| Time of day | What to do |
|---|---|
| Early morning | Reach Jay Taleti and confirm your start time at the information centre. Take no food or drink up. |
| Morning | Climb for two to three hours, using the six rest stops. |
| Late morning | Darshan at the Adinath temple, then a walk through the tunks. |
| Early afternoon | Start down well before the gate closes at 5:00 or 5:30 PM. |
| After the descent | Collect the bhatu the trust serves at the base (snacks, tea and sugar water), then rest at your dharamshala. |
Best Time and Crowd Days
Gujarat Tourism recommends November to February. The trust names Kartik Sud 15, Chaitra Sud 15 and Ashadh Sud 14 as the big yatra days, with 25,000 to 50,000 pilgrims each. Falgun Sud 13 draws more than a lakh, and about a lakh come to Palitana for Akshaya Tritiya. If you want room to walk at the Palitana temples, avoid those five dates.
Where to Stay and Eat
The trust lists more than 125 Jain dharamshalas and about 50 bhojanshalas serving Jain food in Palitana. Each sets its own rent and rules, so book directly. Rooms fill around Kartik Purnima.
Why Shatrunjaya Matters to Jains
The trust calls Shatrunjaya the foremost of Jain tirths, and the temples belong to the Shwetambara tradition. The main temple is for Rishabhanatha, the first of the 24 Tirthankaras. A Tirthankara is a human teacher who reached liberation and shows others the way, which differs from a Hindu avatar. Mahavira, the 24th, did not found the faith and renounced worldly life at 30.
Shatrunjaya is a Siddha Kshetra, a place where souls attained liberation. It counts among the five major Jain mountain pilgrimages with Girnar, Mount Abu, Sammed Shikharji and Ashtapad, though lists vary.
History of the Palitana Temples
Building began around the 11th century. The trust records an attack in Vikram Samvat 1369 (about 1313 CE), a restoration by Samarshah two years later, and the restoration by Karmashah in Vikram Samvat 1587 (about 1531 CE), the latest major one. Much of what stands is later work. The complex is run by Sheth Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi, not by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Planning Your Visit to the Palitana Temples
Pick a date after Kartik Purnima, reach Ram Pole well before 5:00 PM, and keep a doli in reserve if the climb proves too much. Call the information centre on 02848 253348 for current access arrangements. Last reviewed on 15 October 2026.
FAQs
How many steps does the Shatrunjaya climb have?
The trust counts 3,501 steps over about 3.6 km. Other sources give up to 3,860.
What time does the Ram Pole gate open and close?
It opens at sunrise and closes at 5:00 or 5:30 PM, depending on the season. Times can change with crowds.
Is the hill open during the monsoon?
No. Climbing stops after Ashadh Sud 14 and resumes on Kartik Sud 15, which is 24 November in 2026.
Can I carry food or water up?
No. The trust forbids it. Water points and rest stops are provided on the way.
Is there a doli, and what does it cost?
Yes, from the information centre near Jay Taleti. Fares change with crowds and festival days, so ask for the current rate.
Can non-Jains visit?
Yes. The trust notes that Jains and non-Jains, Indian and foreign, come for darshan.
Which days are the most crowded?
Kartik Sud 15, Chaitra Sud 15 and Ashadh Sud 14, with 25,000 to 50,000 pilgrims each, and Falgun Sud 13 with more than a lakh.
Is there an entry fee?
None is reported for the climb. Doli fares and puja bookings are separate, so ask at the base.
How far is Palitana from Bhavnagar and Ahmedabad?
51 km from Bhavnagar and 225 km from Ahmedabad, according to the trust.
Sources and related reading
Facts come first from the Sheth Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi’s Shatrunjaya page, then Gujarat Tourism, Outlook Traveller and Wikipedia, with the Kartik Purnima date from Drik Panchang. The trust is at Taleti Road, Palitana 364270.
For more Jain pilgrimage sites in the state, read our guide to 17 Jain temples of Gujarat.
Excellent . Even other religions can understand. Khub Khub anumodana 🙏