Palitana

• • Palitana Jain temples on Mount Shatrunjaya hill — Palitana has over 850 temples atop sacred Mount Satrunjaya (the “hill that conquers enemies”), which makes it most of any temple city. Many of these temples date to 15-16th centuries while some of them date to even earlier periods. The top is reached by climbing (or by being carried up) 3,572 steps—a stiff 2-hour ascent. Amid the massive warren of white marble shrines and temples, you’ll encounter many devotees dressed in white, some wearing gauze masks to filter innocent microbes from the air that they breathe. Some of the devotees attain ecstatic heights, practicing their faith with devotional singing, clapping, and humming. Others create devotional patterns on the ground using rice and nuts, or are seen gently waving fly-whisks over the idols as a gesture of respect. — Price: Photography ₹40. Seek permission to photograph inside temples
• • Shri Vishal Jain Museum — Exhibits ancient manuscripts, idols, history of Jainism, life of Jain Tirthankara Mahavira, models of incidents and legends from Jain universal history. Some information is in English. — Address: Opposite Kesariyaji Jain Dharmshala, Taleti Road, Taleti — Hours: 11:00-15:00, 16:00-18:00 — Price: ₹6 — Phone: +91 98983 61126
• • Jain Cosmic View Show at Jambudweep Temple — The temple has a large model of Jain cosmic world. Large number of explanatory notes in Gujarati is there with art explaining Jain view of the world. A show is held in evening explaining views like the earth is no round and the Apollo mission to Moon was hoax. — Address: Taleti — Directions: Near foothill — Hours: 1800 — Price: Free

• Tirthankar Adishwar Bhagwan (god) is the "Mul-nayak" (main) bhagwan (god) on the top of Palitana and the most holy thing to do in life is to do puja (nine places on body of god). You can take help of any Jain tourist if you do not know the process of Puja. By performing puja you internal soul will get enlightenment.

Palitana is famous for its Bhel with Pomegranate seeds.

Indian desi soda (lemon soda), sugarcane juice

You can buy very good quality Indian handicrafts in Palitana. You can buy popular local snacks like Bhel and marmalade made of rose petals: Gulkand.

There are plenty of dharmashalas where one can choose to stay. However, please ensure to abide by the religious code of conduct, while staying there.

• • Vijay Vilas Palace — It was a country retreat of the ruler of erstwhile Palitana state. Now it is a heritage hotel with view of the hills. Has six rooms. — Address: P. O. Gheti, Village Adpur — Directions: 4 km from Palitana, in Adpur — Price: Single ₹1200, double ₹2400, extra bed ₹250 — Phone: +91 22 24042211, +91 9427182809

= Bhavnagar, the nearest airport, is 51 km from Palitana, but it connects only with Mumbai.

For people coming from other places, a more convenient airport would be Ahmedabad which has an international airport, or Vadodara, which hosts many domestic flights from important cities like Mumbai and Delhi.

The autorickshaws, Chhakadas and rarely horse-carts are available to move around and in the town.