Datar Hills

Datar Hill is a sacred location in Gujarat's Junagadh city. It is located opposite the Girnar Hills and is one of Junagadh's most famous places.

At 2,779 feet, Datar Hill is one of Mount Girnar's five principal peaks. It is also famous as Guru Dattatray or Dattatri and holds the shrine of Jamiyal Shah Datar. It makes it a prominent religious destination in the Saurashtra region. 

The dargah at the bottom of the hill houses the tomb of Muslim saint Jamal Shah Datar. It is ornately carved and capped with a giant onion dome and little minarets in the style of Junagadh's Maqbara, or Nawabi mausoleums. Leprosy sufferers visit the shrine in the hope of finding a cure.

The shrine is also known as Upla Datar. It is famous for its annual five-day Urs celebration, which happens with tremendous fanfare. During these five days, at least 3 lakh Muslim and Hindu devotees attend the Datar shrine, representing authentic Indian secular culture and traditions. 

Muslims offer chadar at the shrine, and Hindus perform puja. The shrine's ornaments are stored in a cave throughout the year. During the first night of Urs, all of the shrine's decorations and embellishments are brought out for public display for 'darshan' for one night only. Datar Hills is a must visit place during the Junagadh tour package.

How many steps are there in Datar Hill?

A modest shrine is also dedicated to the saint at the top of the hill. The shrine lies 3,000 steps up from Wellington Dam, which the British erected over the Kalwa River. Little waterfalls cascade down the mountains during the monsoon season, making for a picturesque setting. 

On the climb to the summit, visitors can also stop by the Koyala Vajir Temple and the Digambar Jain Bhagwan Neminath Temple. The top offers a beautiful perspective of the town below.

The best time to visit 

The best time to visit Datar Hill in Junagadh, Gujarat, is in the winter, from November to February. The best months to visit are October, November, December, and January. Others believe the most incredible time to visit is during the rainy season.