Girnar Jain temples

Girnar Jain temples form a complex of religious structures on a hill in Junagadh district in Gujarat, India, standing at 722 meters above sea level. The stonework displays geometric patterns and human figures across columns, doorways, and ceilings of the main halls and surrounding shrines.

The temples were established from 250 BCE under Emperor Ashoka when the site was still called Ujjayanta and began as a Buddhist location. Later expansions introduced Jain architectural forms and turned the mountain into an important pilgrimage destination for the Jain community.

The central shrine holds a black statue of Neminath seated in lotus position, a meditation theme echoed in many smaller figures around the hall. Pilgrims walk around the main chamber and pause at marble-decorated side shrines for personal prayers and offerings.

Visitors must climb 3,800 steps to the first plateau of Mount Girnar where the complex sits. Starting early in the morning helps avoid heat, and sturdy footwear is needed for the ascent on steep sections.

The complex includes 60 smaller shrines, each marked by embedded marble tablets with inscriptions that divide the site into clearly defined zones. These tablets serve as historical records and show names of donors and builders from different eras.