Palitana

Palitana

Palitana, Bhavnagar Overview

• A small town located in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat, Palitana is noted as a popular pilgrimage site among the Jains. Another famous thing about Palitana is that the town strictly follows vegetarianism which makes it the first city in the world to abide by the vegetarian diet legally. It is no surprise that the town has listed selling of animal products (Fish, meat and eggs) or activities that involve the killing of animals to be illegal.

Attractions In and Around Palitana

• Palitana is the world-renowned place which houses over 900 temples. Shatrunjaya Hill which translates to the victory ground receives Jain pilgrims in large numbers because this is considered to be the most pious for them. This Hill alone has more than 3000 temples. 

 

• The Jain temples in Palitana worship Jain Tirthankars, and the topmost temple is dedicated to the first Tirthankara Rishabhanatha, also known as Rishabhadeva. The temples on the Shatrunjaya Hills have been constructed by generation after generation for close to 900 years. The first temple is believed to have been built in the 11th century. Starting from the foot of the hill till the peak, the way to the temples have been carved out of more than 3800 stone steps.