The Palitana Shetrunjaya Temple is a significant Jain pilgrimage site located on Shetrunjaya Hill in Gujarat. The Jain devotees visit this place in large numbers every year. The Palitana temple timings and pooja timing of the Shetrunjaya hills are given in this article, with every detail one must know about the Shetrunjaya temple while visiting there.
Shatrunjaya Palitana Temple Timings
The Shetrunjaya temple is open throughout the year except in the months of monsoon. (June to September) The temple remains closed for these months. The temple reopens after this month; devotees in large numbers visit this temple as the Paryushana festival of the Jain starts after this season. You can even check the temple timing given below.
| Temple opening time | 4:00 AM |
| Temple closing time | 6:00 PM |
The temple is closed soon before darkness and the hill is closed after 6:00 PM when even the deities of the temple leave the hill and close the temple. Thus, you have to climb down the temple by evening.
Shatrunjaya Aarti Timing
The aarti takes place twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. The timing is given below.
| Morning Aarti Time | Nearby 8:00 AM |
| Evening Aarti Time | Between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM |
The Nadi aarti and other special aartis are carried out during special times; these aartis are mostly performed in the evening. Thus, aarti can be scheduled by contacting directly the office near the temple.
Shatrunjaya Giriraj Pooja
There is regular worship and offerings made to the Tirthankaras in the main temples. Even a special pooja is carried out in the Adinath Temple to the Adinath Dada. The special poojas may be conducted during festivals, auspicious days, or on personal request.
The pooja booking can be done easily; one should pre-book the poojas to arrange the best as the times of peak pilgrimage sessions cannot be booked on time you decide. Thus, pooja booking must be done well in advance.
The pooja booking can be done through the temple management and by directly inquiring the local priest of the temple. Thus, one can book the pooja at the temple and carry out their rituals.
Shatrunjaya Tirth History
The temples date back to the 11th century, with many being built in subsequent centuries. There is a belief that these hills are blessed by Lord Mahavira in the 24th Tirthankara, which is associated with many religious legends.
The Palitana Tirth features over 900 temples, with the main temple dedicated to Lord Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara. The pilgrimage is historically significant, as many Tirthankaras are said to have attained liberation here, making it a focal point for Jain devotion and tradition.
Palitana Shetrunjaya Hill Details
Entry Fees: There are no entry fees for climbing the mountain.
Number of Steps: There are approximately 3863 steps to climb the mountain.
Time taken to reach the top: The hill can be easily climbed in 2-3 hours.
Best time to climb: The person climbing must start climbing in the early morning, which makes it easy for them to reach during aarti times.
Other options to reach the top: There are doli, palkhi and other chair services to reach the top. This is available at a bargain price for the devotees who want to reach the temple.
Main Events and Pilgrim Practices
99 Yatra Palitana temple
The 99 yatra is one of the important things carried out by Jain devotees; they do the parikrama of the temple 99 times. Which is a part of the pilgrimage visit, as many devotees complete this once during their life.
Paryushana
Many Jain devotees undertake a pilgrimage to Shetrunjaya during the Paryushana festival. It is carried out during the times of August or September. During this, the Jain devotees are engaged in prayers for penance and seeking forgiveness for past sins. The ritual of samvatsari is carried out for forgiveness.
How to Reach Palitana
The pilgrimage is very well connected by different modes of transport. One can easily reach the temple by some of the frequently used given ways.
By Rail
The place being a major pilgrimage place has its railway station, Palitana Railway Station (PIT). Thus, one can book the direct trains available from the various major cities to this temple. Even you can take the local public transport to reach the temple.
By Road
The temple is well connected with the roadway. The devotees reach this temple by taking public transport from the nearby major cities like Bhavnagar Talaja and many more. You can even hire a direct taxi to the pilgrimage place.
By Air
The nearest airport is Bhavnagar Airport, at a distance of 60-65 km from the temple. One can take a taxi or public transport to reach the temple from the airport. There are some flights to this temple from major cities.
For more details, check out our blog on How to Reach Palitana and accommodation.
Best time to Visit Shatrunjaya Temple
The best time to visit this temple is from November to April in the winter months when devotees visit this temple. During these months, the person can easily climb the stairs to the temple and explore the temple easily.
Accommodation in Palitana
There are many comfortable stay options provided near the temple in Taleti. Accommodations like Dharamshala, hotels and guest houses are provided. One can easily confirm the stay near the temple. Some stay options are given below.
- Parmar Bhavan Palitana
- Kanak Ratan Vihar Palitana
- Gajbhawar Dharamshala Palitana
- Daksh Vihar Dharamshala Palitana
Thus, the temple can be easily reached and the temple timing, pooja with aarti timing, is provided in the article given above. The person can get complete information about the visit to the temple.
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