Shatrunjaya Hill

Shatrunjaya Hill is in Palitana town in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat. The hills are one of the holiest places for the "Svetambara" Jains. The hill is a place where most of the tirthankaras, also popular as Jina's, come for nirvana. From the top of the hill, visitors can see the beautiful views of the surroundings. Visitors can also see the Shetrunji River from the top of the hill. Shatrunjaya Hill is one of the best places to visit in Palitana.

Shatrunjaya Hill is also famous as a place of victory over inner enemies. To reach the top, people need to climb 3,500 steps. The hill has 863 temples. It is a must-visit during the Palitana tour package. 

History of Shatrunjaya Hill

The temple complex was built in 900 years. The first Tirthankara, Rishabha, gave a speech on Jainism here.

The temples are in two different phases. The first phase was built during the 11th to 12th century. The second phase came into existence in the 16th to the 17th century. In the 12th century, the Mughal rulers damaged the temples. 

Temples at Shatrunjaya Hill

The Adinatha temple was built in the 6th century on Shatrunjaya Hill. It is a grand temple. In the 12th century, it was rebuilt in honour of the first tirthankara, Rishabha. His 7-foot-long statue is in a sitting position in the temple. From far away, the temple looks like a fort with a wall surrounding it. 

The visitors mostly visit the southern part, the Adinatha shrine of the temple complex. People walk all the way around the shrine covering the other temples as well. The southern side of the complex is the highest point of the Shatrunjaya Hill.

What is Shatrunjaya famous for?

Shatrunjaya is one of Jainism's greatest pilgrimage places. It is a beautiful hill with so many temples. It is a belief that Jainism's founder, Adinath (also famous as Rishabha), meditated beneath the Rayan tree at the peak.

Are Palitana and Shatrunjaya the same?

The Palitana Jain temples are located on top of Shatrunjaya near the city of Palitana in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, India. The city of the same name, once known as Padliptapur, has earned the nickname of "City of Temples".