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TEMPLE · JAIN TIRTHGirnar Jain Temples
A spectacular cluster of carved temples high on Girnar — a supreme Jain pilgrimage centred on Neminath, the 22nd Tirthankara, who attained liberation here.
A holy city of temples in the sky
About 3,800 steps up the sacred mountain of Girnar — now far easier to reach via the ropeway and a shorter climb — lies one of Jainism’s holiest and most beautiful pilgrimage sites: a dense cluster of carved temples clinging to the mountainside. The grandest is the temple of Neminath (Lord Aristanemi), the 22nd Tirthankara, who according to Jain tradition renounced the world and attained enlightenment and liberation on Girnar.
Around it rise the temples of Mallinath, the celebrated Vastupala-Tejpala temples and many more — sixteen and more shrines of intricately carved marble and stone, some dating from the 12th century. Set against soaring peaks and plunging valleys, austere yet exquisite, the Girnar Jain temples reward the long ascent with a rare union of art, devotion and dizzying mountain views.
The Jain temple cluster on Girnar.
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
Carved shrines of a great tirth.
Neminath, the 22nd Tirthankara, attains liberation on Girnar.
Wealthy patrons build the great marble temples.
The famed minister-brothers endow shrines here.
A supreme living Jain pilgrimage (tirth).
Reasons to make the time
Neminath tirth
A holiest Jain pilgrimage site.
Carved marble
Exquisite 12th-century shrines.
16+ temples
A whole cluster on the ridge.
Sky setting
Temples amid soaring peaks.
Vastupala art
The minister-brothers' temples.
Mountain views
Vast vistas over Saurashtra.
What to look for inside
Temple city
Shrines across the ridge.
Main shrine
The great Tirthankara temple.
Minister temples
The famed Vastupala-Tejpala shrines.
Carved domes
Finely sculpted ceilings and pillars.
Temple terraces
Shrines terraced across the saddle.
Mountain vistas
Soaring peaks and plunging valleys.
How to spend an hour or two
Ascend Girnar
Climb the steps or take the ropeway.
Reach the cluster
Arrive at the Jain temple level.
See Neminath
Worship at the main shrine.
Tour the temples
Explore Mallinath and the Vastupala shrines.
Study the carving
Admire the marble artistry.
Soak the views
Gaze over the peaks and plains.
Carved temples terraced in stone.
Marble shrines on a ridge
The Girnar Jain temples form a fortified-looking complex of shrines terraced across a high saddle of the mountain. Built largely of marble and local stone from the 12th century onward, they range from the towering Neminath temple to the elegant Vastupala-Tejpala temples, each with carved pillars, domed mandapas and finely sculpted ceilings.
Clustered tightly against the rock, walled and interlinked by lanes and courtyards, they create the impression of a small sacred city perched in the sky — austere on the outside, intricately wrought within.
Marble Tirthankara shrines
12th-century Neminath temple
Vastupala-Tejpala temples
Carved domes & ceilings
When to go
Cool and clear — ideal for the long Girnar climb.
Lush, misty peaks; steps can be slippery.
Hot — climb before dawn with plenty of water.
⏰ Start before dawn (or take the first ropeway); carry water, and allow a full day to reach the temples and back.
Timings & entry
- Reached by ~3,800 steps or ropeway + climb
- Start very early, especially in summer
- Remove footwear; observe Jain customs
- Allow a full day for the round trip
- Temple darshan is free
- Leather items are not allowed inside
- Carry water and snacks for the climb
- The ropeway (to Amba Mata) is ticketed
Getting there
By Air
Keshod Airport (~45 km) is nearest.
By Rail
Junagadh, then road to the Girnar base.
By Ropeway
Ride to Amba Mata, then climb to the temples.
At the temples
MARBLE & MOUNTAIN
Carved shrines against soaring peaks
What to shoot
The temple cluster on the ridge.
Detail
Carved pillars and ceilings.
Setting
Shrines against the peaks.
Respect rules
Interior photography may be limited.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Uparkot Fort
◐ Stepwells & ramparts
Sakkarbaug Zoo
India's third-oldest zoo, home to Asiatic lions
Ashokan Rock Edicts
Emperor Ashoka's edicts carved ~250 BCE
Narsinh Mehta no Choro
Where Gujarat's poet-saint sang his bhajans
Navghan Kuvo
Birdlife and still water below the massif
Girnar
~9,999 steps to cliff-top Jain & Hindu temples
Where to eat around the ashram
Kathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
Ganthiya & farsan
Saurashtra's beloved fried snacks.
Chaat & kachori
Bustling old-city bazaar bites.
Kesar mangoes
Junagadh's Girnar-grown Kesar mango is famed (summer).
Girnar Jain Temples FAQ
What are the Girnar Jain temples?
A cluster of carved marble Jain temples high on Girnar, a supreme Jain pilgrimage (tirth).
Who is the main deity?
Neminath, the 22nd Tirthankara, said to have attained liberation on Girnar.
How do I reach them?
By ~3,800 steps, or the ropeway to Amba Mata followed by a climb.
How old are they?
Many date from the 12th century onward.
Is there an entry fee?
No, darshan is free; the ropeway is ticketed.
How long does it take?
A full day, including the ascent and descent.
What should I carry?
Water, snacks, good shoes; no leather items inside.
When should I go?
Winter, starting before dawn.
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