Girnar Hill: A Sacred and Scenic Destination in Gujarat That You Must Visit

Girnar Hill is not only a religious destination for Hindus and Jains, but also a natural wonder that offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Whether you are a devout pilgrim, a thrill-seeking trekker, or a nature lover, Girnar Hill has something for everyone.

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about Girnar Hill, such as its history, attractions, activities, best time to visit, how to reach, and nearby places.

Trek to Girnar Hill

Photo of Girnar Hill 1/2 by — (c) Holidify.com

One of the main attractions of Girnar Hill is the trek to the hilltop, which is considered to be one of the most challenging and rewarding treks in India. The trek involves climbing up more than 10,000 steps that lead to various temples and shrines along the way.

The trek starts from the base of the hill at Domdar Kund, a sacred pond where pilgrims take a dip before embarking on the journey. From there, you will encounter several Jain temples that are dedicated to different Tirthankars, such as Neminath, Mallinath, Parshvanath, etc. The trek culminates at the summit of the hill, where you can witness a panoramic view of the entire Junagadh city and the nearby Gir forest.

The trek to Girnar Hill is not for the faint-hearted, as it requires a lot of stamina, endurance, and determination. The trek can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours depending on your pace and fitness level.

The best time to start the trek is early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the scorching heat of the sun.

Hindu Pilgrimage Sites on Girnar Hill

Girnar Hill is one of the most sacred places for Hindus, as it is believed to be associated with many gods and sages. Some of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites on Girnar Hill are Dattatreya Paduka, a temple dedicated to Lord Dattatreya, Gorakshanath Temple a temple dedicated to Guru Gorakshanathand Amba Mata Temple a temple dedicated to Goddess Amba Mata.

The Hindu pilgrimage sites on Girnar Hill are visited by thousands of devotees every year who seek blessings and salvation from their respective deities. The temples are also the venues for various festivals and fairs that are celebrated with great fervour and devotion.

Some of the major festivals that are celebrated on Girnar Hill are:

Girnar Parikrama: This is a festival that is celebrated in the month of Kartik (October-November) every year. It involves circumambulating the entire Girnar Hill on foot, covering a distance of about 36 km.

Girnar Mahashivaratri Mela: This is a fair that is held in the month of Magh (January-February) every year. It coincides with the festival of Mahashivaratri, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The fair attracts lakhs of pilgrims who come to worship Lord Shiva at the various temples on Girnar Hill.

Girnar Lili Pariksha: This is a festival that is celebrated in the month of Chaitra (March-April) every year. It involves climbing up and down the Girnar Hill in one day, starting from sunrise and ending at sunset.

Girnar Ropeway

A new attraction that will soon be added to Girnar Hill is the Girnar Ropeway, which is a cable car project that will offer a new way of reaching the hilltop. The Girnar Ropeway project is expected to be completed by 2023 and will be the longest and highest ropeway in Asia.

The ropeway will have a length of 2.3 km and a height of 900 m and will connect the base of the hill to the Amba Mata Temple.

Best Time to Visit Girnar Hill

The best time to visit Girnar Hill is from October to March, when the weather is pleasant and suitable for trekking and sightseeing. The temperature during this period ranges from 15°C to 30°C and the humidity is low. The sky is clear and the visibility is high, which makes the views of the hill and the surroundings more beautiful.

How to Reach Girnar Hill

Girnar Hill is located in Junagadh district of Gujarat, which is well-connected by air, road, and rail to other parts of India. Here are some of the ways to reach Girnar Hill:

By Flight: The nearest airport to Junagadh is Rajkot Airport, which is about 100 km away. Rajkot Airport has regular flights from major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, etc. From Rajkot Airport, you can take a taxi or a bus to Junagadh, which will take about 2 hours.

By Road: Junagadh is connected by road to other cities in Gujarat like Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, etc. You can take a state or private bus or a taxi or a self-drive car to Junagadh, which will take about 4 to 6 hours depending on the traffic and road conditions. From Junagadh, you can take a local bus or a rickshaw or a taxi to Girnar Hill, which will take about 15 minutes.

By Train: The nearest railway station to Junagadh is Junagadh Junction Railway Station, which is about 5 km away from Girnar Hill. Junagadh Junction Railway Station has regular trains from major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, etc. From Junagadh Junction Railway Station, you can take a rickshaw or a taxi to Girnar Hill, which will take about 10 minutes.

Nearby Places and Attractions

Photo of Girnar Hill 2/2 by — (c) Holidify.com

Girnar Hill is not only a destination in itself but also a gateway to some other popular places and attractions in Gujarat and nearby states that can be combined with your trip. Some of these places are:

Gir National Park: This is a national park that is famous for being the only home of the Asiatic lions in India. The park is located about 65 km away from Girnar Hill and covers an area of about 1,400 sq km. The park also has other wildlife species like leopards, hyenas, deer, crocodiles, etc. The park offers various activities like safari tours, nature walks, birdwatching, etc.

Somnath: This is a temple town that is famous for being one of the 12 Jyotirlingas (shrines of Lord Shiva) in India. The temple is located about 90 km away from Girnar Hill and dates back to ancient times. The temple has a magnificent architecture and a rich history that attracts pilgrims and tourists alike. The temple also has a light and sound show that narrates its story.

Diu: This is an island that was once a Portuguese colony and now a union territory of India. The island is located about 150 km away from Girnar Hill and has a blend of Indian and Portuguese culture and heritage. The island has some beautiful beaches like Nagoa Beach, Ghoghla Beach, Jallandhar Beach, etc. The island also has some historical monuments like Diu Fort, St. Paul’s Church, Naida Caves, etc.

Girnar Hill is a place that offers a variety of experiences and attractions for different types of travelers. Whether you are looking for a spiritual journey, an adventurous escapade, or a cultural exploration, Girnar Hill has something for you.

So, what are you waiting for? Plan your trip to Girnar Hill today and discover its wonders for yourself.

Girnar Hill Reviews

Jayraj Khunti

79 Followers

View Trip

So, the next day starts with the early morning on 4:00 AM when we wake up to get freshen up and packed my bag with the things I needed like water,selfie stick(because I'm a vlogger). You should not carry many things which makes bag heavy which can be real problem to climb till the top end of Girnar Mountain which is having 9,999 steps to go. So, after walking 3 km from the friends house to the starting point of Girnar. We ate our breakfast but not heavy like Tea,Gathiya(A gujrati dish which everyone should try) and then we straight heads up to the Starting point. This is my 1st time to visit this holy shrine of Guru Dattatrey on top end. So with the dark morning because it is still 5 AM in the morning we have started to climb with a bunch of traffic with us who also came like us as first timer or someone to experience it more than once in a life. With the 1st six hundred steps we have taken a break because because of tiredness and at that time one friend bought a Bamboo stick to get proper help to climb. After that we have taken a rest after every 600 steps which is necessary for all the people who are having little low stamina otherwise you will be fully exhausted and can't climb 5000 steps also. So better to take rest whenever you need and take tons of photos & videos after a morning because it can't be better than that. With every steps at more higher feet's from the lands the natural scenery get better and better. Drink water whenever you feel its needed and don't give too much stress to your body without drinking water. At nearly 11-12 PM we have reached the top of mountain where a small temple of Guru dattatrey is placed. But before that last 2000 steps which is the hardest part of the journey where there will steep steps non-stop with downwards & upwards which will start after another 2 temples at beginning. The top end of Girnar mountain is like a pencil point with just a Small piece of land. Take a break after every non-stop steep steps which consists 20-30 steps. Now after reaching the top end of mountain, its time to Head back. Then there will be places like little restaurant at top but don't eat heavy food but just for the sake of energy eat some foods. At returning journey will be easier because it gives a relief that you reached the end of mountain and now coming back. But legs feels little shaky and more heavier and by meeting a new friend from Germany whose name is Rieley(hope I spelled it right) who is 65 a old man but having more stamina he has compare to us who are just 21 years old.The time passes so fast that we feels like its 4 minutes but it was 4hour. When I put last footstep on the last steps of mountain when journey from bottom to top to bottom ends. The legs started to pain too much that can't walk properly also and immediately took an auto to a place where my friends are waiting who came down earlier. I drink soda as i completed my girnar journey so as a celebration i drink but it's just a soda not an alcohol. Then we reached home with an auto with one of my friend who is also tired and then take 1 hour power nap to feel less tired. My friend relatives came home with a food for us and gives a feeling of family at the place where I never been to. After eating food, we directly went to ST bus station but after waiting a much we get to know the bus is full and no place to sit and we can't stand because of tiredness. Then we hurriedly rush through in the city of junagadh to reach for the other bus stop where bus which is going away. Then we finally got our bus and a cool breeze of air is coming through the window which gives a soothing experience on that 3 hour ride. We finally reach our home with an all new experience of travelling. Total cost :- approximately between 500 to 1500 if you stay in dharamshala which is having cheaper rates to stay instead of Hotels. How to reach Junagadh :- All the buses & trains are well connected to Junagadh For the flight,porbandar having an airport which is 90 km far from Junagadh.

Travo Craftical

42 Followers

View Trip

Gujarat my day start with a hot coffee and yes am in a bus yeah right it's a local bus from Gandhidham to Junagadh... It took me 12 hrs due to construction work going on the bridge which connect both these places and yes it was very adventures as I want to pee but couldn't find a single place because the high was clean... No trees No bushes 🤣and I was like ab kahan jau... But as a human being kitna control krti yr .. I was stuck between traffic our bus was 7 hrs late and this is it... I want to pee... Then finally andhere ka fayda uthaya Or free feel kiya u know that feeling ryt... After 4 hours.. But then we reached Junagadh at 7 am early morning and we have the bookings done for the Girnar rope way it was for rupees 700 for both ways ... Quit expensive but I promise it worth the single peny.. I am glad I had the most beautiful experience ever in my life Girnar rope will take you to mesmerizing views... Yes it was breathtaking I couldn't take my eyes off as I want to capture everything in my memories.. It was great ropeway covers around 6000 stairs which means 12 K bothways after that you have to cover 4000 by your own which is again 8 K... I covered them both ways in around 1 hr as I do workout daily... 🥲 But I promise it's worth single effort.. As you are climbing 2 mountains.. You will be covered with fresh air and mesmerizing views... We had a lot of fun it was amazing to be there ... We had some Maggie coffee and what not.. Bcz am a foodie too.. Then after 4 hours we were back with the ropeway.. And then we covered Junagadh.. On wheels with an old man 👴 who is an auto driver very enthusiastic very entertaining I was influenced by him I started dancing 💃in auto ..I enjoyed a lot... As I love to meet new people... I talk to him that uncle kahan se laate hain aap ye gaane kya daily sunte hai inhe... He replied "Beta mast jeene ka mast khane ka zindagi isi tarah jeene ka.. " He was a gem he played songs which I never heard before with him we covered next places.. Like Wlingdum dam, Ashok shilla, Gayatri mandir, Juna Akhada Second place we covered was the Wlingdum dam which was built at the time of Britishers.. We enjoyed the sunset but also it started raining there which turns out to be a great experience.. We had the KAVA... And tea ☕am a tea lover too.. Ab shamay tha vapsi ka to jaate jaate humne Juna akhada mandir visit kiya which is a temple of Lord Shiva we got the blessings... Then we left for Ashok shilla but bad luck it was closed in evening... Yeah this was my first day in Junagadh.... Short and beautiful I was tired... Need 😴

Nishtha Nath

17.3k Followers

View Trip

Day 4 : Girnar hill The highest hill in Gujarat, making the tourists climb around 11k steps, becomes a must visit spot in our itinerary. To much of our relief, we avoided climbing 5k steps and decided to take a rope way journey. Rest 6k steps have to be climbed as rope way is not available further. Best time to start this trek is around 7 or 8 in the morning and return back by the lunch time. Timing (Ropeway): 8.30am-5pm Entry ticket (Ropeway) :Rs.700 Distance :32kms (1hr drive)

Xplore The Earth

1216 Followers

View Trip

Head into the clouds and emerge above them! And no, you don't need to trek for hours to enjoy the view this time! They ropeway takes you straight up in 8 minutes!