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Palitana Travel Guide
Commanding a special place on the Gujarat travelers' map, Palitana is a `must visit' destination for the Jains and all those who would like to witness what the subtle combination of human enterprise, architectural skills, philanthropy and channelised religious fervour can achieve. The entire summit of majestic mount Shatrunjaya is crowned with about 900 temples, each rivaling the other for beauty and magnificence, presenting an awe-inspiring spectacle to devotees and visitors.
The town was an imperial Thana during the Mughal era, which grew into the capital of Palitana State of the princely Kathiawad. The feuds and the rivalries culminating into the battles during the reign of Rajput king Unadji reminds us of the sacrificial chivalry of that age. Taking advantage of the occupation of Bhavnagar army with Maratha forces, Unadji had attacked Sihor. In retaliation Gohil Wakhatsinhji, the then ruler of Bhavnagar, laid siege on Palitana. Unadji's stubborn resistance, which compelled the Bhavnagar forces to retire, is even today, many generations later remembered by the residents of this temple town.
Visitors naturally wonder how such a mammoth task of covering the entire summit with temples has been achieved. The answer is simple. Generations after generation of Jain devotees have spent money on some construction or the other on the Shatrunjaya. This is aptly described in Ras Mala thus: There is hardly a city in India, through its length and breadth, that has not supplied at one time or other, contributions of wealth to the edifices which crown the hill of Palitana.
How to Reach :
Palitana is on the Western Railway metre gauge line and is well connected to Ahmedabad, 277 kms. by rail and 215 kms. by road.Nearest airport at Bhavnagar is 62 kms.S.T. & luxury buses ply regularly.
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