About Neminath Temple
Neminath temple is situated on Mount Girnar (also known as Girinagar or Revatak Pravata), a collection of mountains in the Junagadh district of Gujarat. An important religious centre, Girnar is an abode to 16 Jain temples.
Around 4 km from the city of Junagadh, Neminath temple is considered to be one of the oldest temples in the world dating back to around 84785 years. Built from 1128 AD to 1159 AD, it is also one of the largest temples dedicated to Lord Neminath, the 22nd Jain Tirthankar. The followers of Jainism believe that Lord Neminath became a yogi after he saw animals being slaughtered for food in his wedding. Soon after that he decided to leave all the worldly affairs and came to Girnar.
It was here that after a lot of difficulty and hardships, he attained enlightenment. Lord Neminath died at Mount Girnar after 700 years of meditation. The temple is rectangular in shape beholding the idol of Lord Neminath made out of black granite with jewelled eyes, sitting in the lotus posture.
The architecture of the temple is symbolic of a bygone era. The corridors, the pillars are designed with intricate carvings depicting the history of Jains. The ceilings are decorated with sculptures of dancing goddesses.
Devotees need to cover around 9999 steps to reach the temple. It takes nearly four to five hours to reach the top. There are various waiting spots, water places where you can rest for a while and then continue with your journey.
Location
The Neminath temple is situated on Mount Girnar, which is which is situated around 4 km from the main town of Junagadh.
How to reach
The nearest place to Girnar is Junagadh, and the nearest airport to Junagadh is Keshod at a distance of 35 km. There are various domestic flights which are available between Keshod and Mumbai. The other airport, which connects to Junagadh, is at Rajkot at a distance of 100 km. Another airport which would be a convenient option is at Ahmedabad at a distance of 300 km.
Girnar does not have a railway station. The nearest station is at Junagadh at a distance of 4 km. Various express and intercity trains are available to make your journey smoother. From Junagadh, you can connect with major cities across the state as well other parts of India.
The city of Junagadh is also well connected with roadways. It has well-maintained roads which connect you to different cities across the state of Gujarat as well as with other major metro cities. The State Transport Corporation also runs regular bus service to Junagadh, and other cities within Gujarat. Taxis are also available which makes the trip to Girnar easier.
Best Time to Visit
One cannot climb the hills and cover each temple in Gujarat's hot weather. But if you are here during this time, the best thing to do is to start your journey early in the morning so that you can reach the place before the heat prevails. The months of April till June are best to avoid.
The best time to visit Mount Girnar is between the months of September to February, when the winters are just beginning. There are many festivals and major events which are held during this time. The climb becomes much easier and soothing, and you can enjoy each and every moment there.
Major Attractions
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