palitana - india?

Question

would like to know more about this place in india

Answer 1

Palitana pronunciation (help·info), a city and former princely state, located 50 km South-West of Bhavnagar city in India's state Gujarat, is a major pilgrimage centre for Jains.


City


The Palitana temples, are considered the most sacred pilgrimage place (tirtha) by the Jain community. There are a total of 1250 temples located on the Shetrunjaya hills, exquisitely carved in marble. The main temple on top of the hill, is dedicated to 1st tirthankar lord Adinath (Rishabdeva).

No one is allowed to sleep overnight including the priest, because the temple city has been built as an abode for the Gods. The town is considered by many Jains to be more important than the temple covered hills of Jharkhand, Mt Abu and Girnar. Palitana was the capital of a princely state of the Gohil Rajput clan. It is also one of the greatest tourist attractions in Gujarat for foreign tourists.

There are hundreds of other temples (besides those on the Shetrunjaya hills) and guest houses (dharmashalas) in Palitana city. It is believed that every Jain should visit Palitana at least once in his lifetime to get "Bhavya" status (fit to attain nirvan or salvation).


Getting there

* By Air

Bhavnagar, the nearest airport lies at a distance of 51 kilometer from Palitana, but it is only connected to Mumbai. For people coming from other places, a more convenient airport would be Ahmedabad which has an international airport or Vadodara a.k.a Baroda as it is connected through regular flights to many important cities of the country like Mumbai and Delhi.

* By Rail: Palitana is a small railway station and has connection only with Bhavnagar.
* By Road: There are busses for Bhavnagar from Palitana. Regular buses are also available from Ahmedabad, Talaja, Una, and Diu. Taxis are also available on hire for Palitana from Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad or Vadodra. The bus stand is situated 800 meters away from the Palitana railway station


History- Former princely state

As a "Second Class" princely state, founded in 1194 (one of the major states in Saurashtra, where there were many smaller states), Palitana covered 777 km² and had 58,000 inhabitants (in 1921) in 91 villages, generating a 744,416 Rs revenue.

It was ruled by a Thakore sahib (also spelled Thakur Saheb), enjoying a 9-guns salute, of the Hindu Gohil dynasty, which received a privy purse of 180,000 Rupees at the state's accession to independent India on 15th February 1948.

Answer 2

Palitana is a living sacred symbol of Jainism situated in Gujarat. Jainism, with emphasis on non-violence and non-acquisitiveness is a popular religion in the western/central/northern parts of India.

The architectural appeal of Palitana transcends religious boundaries and attracts tourists of all faiths.

A 56 Kms. drive from Bhavnagar, Palitana lies at the foot of the Shatrunjaya Hill, with the Shatrunjaya river flowing to its south.
The sacred hill rises in a crescendo of magnificent temples - 863 in all - that soar in marble splendour to the top of the hill. The temples were built over an impressive span of 900 years with each generation of pilgrims making its contribution to the shrines of Shatrunjaya.
The 600-metre climb to Shatrunjaya is usually made on foot. Dolis or lift-chairs are also available for the ascent.

The hilltops are bounded by sturdy walls and the temples are grouped into nine enclosures or tunks - each with a central major temple and many minor ones clustered around. The hilltop affords a very fine view in all directions; on a clear day you can see the Gulf of Cambay beyond Bhavnagar.

Some of the earliest temples here were built in the 11th century but, in the 14th and 15th centuries, the Muslims destroyed them, so the current temples date from the 16th century onwards.

The most notable of the temples is dedicated to Shri Adishwara, the first Jain tirthankar. Note the frieze of dragons around the temple.
Adjacent to this temple is the Muslim shrine of Angar Pir. Women who want to have children make offerings of miniature cradles at this shrine. Built in 1618 by a wealthy Jain merchant, the Chaumukh, or ‘four-faced’ shrine, has images of Adinath facing out in the four cardinal directions.
Other important temples are those to Kumar Pal, Sampriti Raj and Vimal Shah. There are so many marble temples on the hill summit that, from a distance, it looks like a giant, glistening white wedding cake.

The temples are open from 7 am to 7 pm ; temple jewels are shown between 9 am and 3 pm. Image washing is at 9.45 am, puja at 10.45 am.

You’ll need a photography permit to take a camera up the hill - enquire at your hotel. You will be asked for the permit at the main entrance.

How to get there: Various domestic airlines connecting Mumbai (Bombay) and Surat.

It is on the Western Railway line. It is 761 Kms. from Mumbai (Bombay) via Ahmedabad and 788 Kms. via Viramgam.

State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect various centres of Gujarat. It is situated 791 Kms. from Mumbai (Bombay) via Ahmedabad, 200 Kms from Ahmedabad via Sihor.