THE GREAT MOUNTAIN : GIRNAR
The Great Girnar
Girnar, also known as Girinagar or Revatak Pravata, is a group of mountains in the Junagadh District of Gujarat, India, The base of the mountain, known as Girnar Taleti, is just 5 km east of the center of Junagadh. As my home is in Junagadh, i got many chances to visit Girnar. Let me share my experience.
First of all when we plan to visit any place ,first question that comes in our mind is how to reach??
How To Reach Girnar:
One can get the bus or train to reach Junagadh.After that one can go for rickshaws / taxis that are avilable to reach girnar taleti , which is at a distance of around 5 km from junagadh bus station.
Let me describe about Girnar Mountain and its relevance.
It is an important pilgrimage site for both Jains and Hindus, who gather here during the Girnar Parikrama festival.For Hindus this place is considered holy as Guru Dattatreya stayed there.There is also a hill nearby about ( 3500 feets ) 2,779 feet high stepway is built for going up shrine of Jamiyalshah Dataar. Both Hindus and Muslims share the same faith in this shrine.Apart from this there is a mosque which also attracts Muslim pilgrims making it a perfect example of diversity.
The first peak of Girnar has a collection of beautifully carved Jain temples. Higher up, there are temples of `Jatashanker Mahadev' and `Gaumukhi Ganga'. Famous places like `Sheshavan', `Bharanvan' and `Hanumandhara' are nearer to the temple of `Gaumukhi Ganga'.
Girinar means a group of mountains and they bear various temples on their peaks. The highest peak of the entire range is of almost 1000 mtrs above ground level. This stands erect and high with a temple of lord Dattatreya on its top most point (THE SIKHARA).
In our jain religion we all gather for diksha ceremony at girnar .Me and my mom decided to attend it.We reached taleti at 5:15 am.In taleti there is one derasar.After praying over there we stared to climb at 5:30 am.Visitors who are unable to climb the mountain on their own can prefer swing doli , which is available at taleti.One can buy a walking stick (Rs 15/-) to make climbing easy. If you return the stick back, you will get Rs. 10/- back. Doli is quite uncomfortable and risky sometimes because it is carried by only 2 peoples. I salute those people who are doing this job because it's too difficult.
Doli
We started at foothills with Darshan of Shree Hanumanjee, Amba Mata and Lord Dattatreya at foothills on the start of the climb.After having darshan the actual climb started.This was not the first time for me to climb girnar but for a long time i haven't climbed so it's little hard for me.After 300 steps I started breathing hard ,i sat on one rock for some time after that i had continue. After 50 steps again i did the same and i sat down again.One thought came in my mind like "Tujse na ho payega". My mom was stopping me to sit down and told me that once you sat it's very hard to climb but i did the same again and again after that i started my 'Navkar Mantra' and prayed god to give me the energy.There are food stalls on the way of climbing.Once you are done with 3000 steps , you will enjoy the beauty of nature that will make you forget all your tensions and u will feel relaxed.It was amazing. I thought to sit over there and just feel the air and watch the beautiful mountains .I was counting the steps and was eagerly waiting for the step number 5000. I finally reached @ Neminath Dada's Temple on 8:30 AM.
Jain Temples
After climbing 1000 steps from Jain temple one reaches at Amba mata's temple.
The presiding deity at this Hindu temple is Goddess Amba, an incarnation of the mother Goddess. Every year, thousand of pilgrims visit this temple to offer their prayers and seek divine blessings. This temple is especially a place frequented by the newly married couples who arrive at this place to be blessed by the Goddess. It is believed that the blessings of Goddess Amba would ensure eternal conjugal bliss to the couple.
Route Towards Amba Mata Temple
Dattatraya:
Coming up again and resuming the step way southward one now reaches at vertical peak of Dattatraya . On the top of the peak there is a small temple on the Padukas of Guru Dattatrays.
Dattatreya or Datta is a Hindu Deity encompassing the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, collectively known as "Trimurti".
Dattatraya Temple
Unfortunately i did not get a chance to visit Ambaji and Dattatraya but it was a great experience visiting this amazing intresting historical places.
We had snacks and attended the huge 'diksha' function.Enjoyed a lot.At 11:00 am we started climbing down.It was very easy If u are careful its very easy to get back down at initial point.At 12:30 pm we reached taleti again with great feelings.It was a adventurous yupiee finally i climbed it .
Where To Stay :
There are some hotels and Dharmshala's near to girnar Taleti so no need stay in Junagadh city.
1. Hotel Bhagyoday Palace
2. Leo Resorts
Let’s have a short idea about minimum expenditure that may be incurred
1. Travelling
- From bus/railway station to girnar taleti :- approx 50/-
2. Accommodations
- Hotel stay :- 1000 + Food cost
Places to be Visited:
1. Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Ashoka's Rock Edicts
3. Upperkot Fort
4. Jatashankar Mahadev Temple
5. Sakkarbaug Zoo
6. Wellington Dam
7. Adi Kadi Vav
8. Somnath Temple
So what are you waiting for.. Plan a small trip to girnar and GO FOR IT and am dam'n sure that you will enjoy a lot.
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