ADISHWARA TEMPLE

ADISHWARA TEMPLE

AT

BHAVNAGAR

Adishwara temple is one of the great Jain Temples situated in city of Palitana in Bhavnagar district of the Gujarat State. It is dazzling temple with excellent architecture, situated on shetrunjaya hill, which is about six kilometer near the Palitana city.

This Adishwar Temple took 65 years for the construction and is the largest Jain temples. Temple has three storeys, 80 domes, and 29 halls.

 Visitors get surprise by seeing the pavilions of the temple which are supported by 1444 pillars. The innermost part of the temple is adorned with a four faced image of Lord Adinath or Rishabhdev.

.  It is very complex and is considered to be one of the five most important holy shrines of Jains, in India.

Devotees visiting the famous Adishwara Temple in palitana desire to climb to the mountain top at least once in their lifetime, because of the holiness associated with the temple.

 The journey is exhausting. The walk up the stone stairways comprising of around 4000 steps takes about an hour and a half. Dolis are available those who prefer to avoid the steps.

Dolis are held by two men at both ends of a stick in the middle of which are a base to sit on. Food is avoided or carried on the way. The journey must begin prior to the sunset as no one can stay stop during the night.

Adishwara temple, palitana has many beliefs associated to the temple monuments. One such belief states that if you manage to squeeze yourself through an exceptionally small opening in a particular room, you are regarded to be a person without any sins.

 Before setting your foot down to leave, don’t miss out to pamper your taste buds with masala dahi.Climbing up the hill of the palitana adishwara temple successfully and returning with the blessings of Lord Aadeshwar is believed to be a great reverence and a matter of pride.

 It is seen that at various stretches while getting down many people wash the feet of the devotees and apply a tilak on their head. And some others give out sweets to all. It is believed that by doing this deed they mean to suggest and indicate that please make us a part of the good deed you have done by worshipping the holy temple.

   

   By Air

Bhavnagar to Palitana - the nearest airport lies at a distance of 51 kilometer. But the most convenient airport is Ahmedabad to Palitana as it is connected through regular flights to many important cities of the country like Mumbai and Delhi.

By Rail

Palitana is a small railway station and has connection only with Bhavnagar. Most of the trains stop at Sihor, which is connected to Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. And also connects Palitana to Mumbai and other Indian cities.

 By Road

There are hourly buses for Bhavnagar to Palitana. Regular buses are also available for Ahmedabad, Talaja, Una, and Diu. The total journey time to Una or Diu is around 6 hours as the roads are not in a good condition. Taxis are also available on hire for Palitana from Bhavnagar.