Girnar Mountain | Everything You Need to Know about the History

Girnar Mountain | Everything You Need to Know about the History

Girnar Mountain isn't just a mountain; it holds deep emotional significance for many. Girnar is a fascinating place in the city of Junagadh in Gujarat, India. It is rich in history, spirituality, and natural beauty. Girnar is home to the Guru Dattatray Temple, dedicated to Lord Datta Guru, and sits at 3200 feet. To reach the mountain's peak, one must climb 10000 steps or take the option of a ropeway to the midpoint and then proceed on foot for the rest of the way. Many devotees visit the mountain, especially on Poornima day. Junagadh is the closest city to Girnar Mountain in Gujarat.

How to Reach Girnar Mountain in Gujarat

Reaching Girnar, a sacred mountain located in the Junagadh district of Gujarat, India, involves a mix of travel by road, rail, or air depending on your starting point.

By Air

Rajkot Airport is the nearest airport which is located at a distance of 100 km from the destination. From there one can hire a personal cab or can also option to choose a private bus to reach Junagadh.

By Train

Junagadh junction is well connected by train to major cities like Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Mumbai. From the station, you can take a direct auto rickshaw to reach the base of Girnar called Girnar Taleti. The distance is not more than 10 km.

By Road

Regular state transport and private buses operate between these cities and Junagadh. The journey from Rajkot takes about 2-3 hours; from Ahmedabad, it takes around 7-8 hours. You can also opt to take your private vehicle directly to the Girnar.

History of Girnar

The Girnar Temple is dedicated to Dattatreya, also known as the Guru Dattatraya temple, and it holds both mythological and historical significance. In Hinduism, Dattatreya is considered a combined incarnation of the Trimurti - Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Dattatreya performed severe penance on the Girnar mountain for 12000 years, standing on one leg at the peak. This place is believed to be where he attained enlightenment, making it sacred to his followers.

The temple is located at the highest peak of the Girnar range, which is considered the holiest spot where Guru Dattatreya meditated. The temple is not only religiously important but also serves as a symbol of endurance, devotion, and the pursuit of spiritual knowledge.

The history of Girnar doesn't stop there. It holds great importance and deep historical significance in Jainism. According to Jainism, Lord Neminath, also known as Arishtanemi, renounced worldly pleasures and went to Mount Girnar to attain salvation after witnessing the slaughter of animals at his wedding. He is said to have lived for 1000 years, spending 300 years as a bachelor, 54 days as an ascetic monk, and 700 years as an omniscient being.

My Experience of visiting Girnar Mountain

I had heard that one's desire to trek to Girnar Peak will only be fulfilled with the help of Guru Dattatray. Finally, I was about to fulfill my long-time dream of trekking to Girnar Mountain, a place of Shree Datta Guru. My wife and I planned to trek to Girnar Hill and explore other places in Junagadh. We made a 3-day itinerary to make the most of our time in Junagadh.

We began our day at 7 am at Vishala Hotel near the Junagadh bus stop, where we were staying. Although the auto stand was next to our hotel, we wasted 30 minutes bargaining with the auto driver. It seems that you always have to haggle with the auto drivers when you go to any tourist place.

We reached the entry gate of the ropeway at 9 am. I initially wanted to trek the 10000 stairs of Girnar, but my wife insisted on trying the ropeway, so that's what we ended up doing. To catch the ropeway, we had to reach Udan Khatola Point. Upon entry, I had to give up my trekking stick as outside sticks were not allowed, but I was given a wooden stick in return.

Udan Khatola is the base point to catch Ropeway and it is 1km from the Girnar trek starting point.

After getting the ropeway ticket, we went to a small restaurant for breakfast inside Udan Khatola. Although the food was quite expensive, the quality was good.

The cost for the ropeway was 400 INR per person for a one-way ticket. If you showed the ticket while returning, the return ticket would cost 230 INR per person.

The Girnar Udan Khatola is Gujarat’s longest ropeway connecting Ambaji temples at 5500 steps. The journey that used to take 4 hours by trek is now completed in just 10 minutes.

This was our first ropeway ride. At first, we were taking selfies and videos, but as soon as we reached a certain height, we got a bit scared as the ropeway started shaking due to the high wind, but it was common because of the wind speed. The last 3 minutes were tough to endure. I started wondering if I would be able to complete my dreams of bungee jumping and sky diving. My wife also started screaming after looking down from the ropeway.

Girnar Taleti and Gir forest view from Ropeway

When we reached Ambaji temple, the vibes were beautiful. Let me tell you, the Ambaji Temple is one of the temples known as Shaktee Pith. The weather was completely foggy. After spending 30 minutes here, we took a wooden stick and headed to our main destination - the Guru Dattatray Temple.

We started at Ambaji Mata Temple and after 15 minutes of ascending the stairs, we reached the Gorakhnath Temple. From the Gorakhnath Temple, one can see the peak of Guru Dattatray. After descending 750 stairs, we reached the entrance gate of Dattaguru. The trek didn’t end here. We had to climb a further 250 stairs to reach the peak. This final climb was tough, and you needed good endurance to reach the peak. I was overwhelmed as I saw my dream come true. Since photography was prohibited inside the main temple, I kept my phone in my bag, joined my hands, and just started staring at the statue of Lord Datta Guru.

Guru Dattatreya Temple base point

Girnar Mountain view

Girnar Stairs View which is the trekking trail

Ambaji Temple view from Dattatreya Temple

My wife and I were so happy after reaching the summit of Girnar Mountain. When we reached the summit, I could see the weather was getting clearer, and the surrounding peaks were clearly visible, which was simply astonishing. We had a good time clicking the pictures of the summit.

Once you reach the summit of Guru Dattatray Temple, you must go and have the free food provided as a Prasad from the trust. You need to get down to the main entrance gate of Dattaguru Temple, and from there, head left to reach the place where Prasad is served. We spent a good amount of time feeling the positive vibes here. While returning, we decided not to take the ropeway and climbed down the 4500 stairs to the base of the first stair as it was raining at that time. We then moved to Jain Dherasar, which comes before Ambaji Temple when you trek on foot. Jain Dherasar is the temple of Jainism which also has the statue of Swami Neminath, and there is a special Aarti done there every day at 4 pm. One should witness it while returning to the base. On the way, we passed a couple of small temples, and by the time we descended from the peak, it was 8 pm. My experience of visiting here was so awesome.

Dattatreya Temple Gate

Lord Neminath temple which is on the way of trekking route

We then moved directly to the hotel, as it was too tiring for both of us. I would suggest you prepare yourself well for the trek, whether you choose to climb the 10000 steps or take the ropeway and then climb the 4500 steps to Guru Dattatray Temple.

Remember these important details when planning a trip to Girnar:

Where can I book my stay if I plan a trek to Girnar?

If you plan a trek to Girnar, there are many Dharmashalas near Girnar Taleti, the entry point of the trek. Even without prior booking, you can easily find accommodation in Dharamshala starting from 250 to 1500 INR. However, if you plan to visit during Poornima Day or Datta Jayanti Day, it is advisable to make a prior reservation due to the high number of visitors. Alternatively, you can stay near the Junagadh bus stop, which offers cheaper accommodation if you also want to explore nearby places.

I stayed at Vishala Hotel near Junagadh bus depo.

Contact for Vishala Hotel-9409109767

Stay cost range from 800 INR to 1500 INR

What are the food options at Girnar Peak?

Devotees visiting Girnar are offered free food, including Dhokla and Sweet Sheera. If you are planning to trek, it's advisable to carry your own food as there are limited food options on the trek route. Please note that Girnar is a plastic-free zone, so you won't find vendors selling cheap products. Make sure to carry extra water bottles as the ones available for purchase at the summit can be costly.

How much time is required to complete the Girnar Trek?

Girnar has a stone-carved ladder that makes the trek route easier. If you start from the base, you will have to climb 10000 steps to reach the peak. A ropeway is available to the Ambaji Temple at 5500 steps, but you will still have to climb 4500 steps on foot to reach the peak. If you are not a regular trekker, it's better to take the ropeway and walk the remaining steps. The trek from Ambaji Temple to Guru Dattatray Temple and back to Ambaji Temple will take approximately 3 to 4 hours. The trek from the base to Ambaji Temple will take around 3 hours. Again it depends on the what type of trekker you are.

Which is the ideal time to trek Girnar Mountain?

Many devotees visit Girnar throughout the year, but it's important to consider the weather. Summer here can be very humid, so many visitors start the trek at night or early morning.

The winter months from October to February are pleasant and popular for trekking, offering the lush green beauty of Gir forest. Winter is considered the ideal period to visit Girnar.

It's best to avoid heavy monsoon months, such as July and the first 15 days of August, as it can be risky due to slippery routes and the possibility of the ropeway being closed.

What are the things to remember for the Girnar Trek?

- Avoid bringing plastic-wrapped items and selfie sticks as they are not allowed.

- Pack energy bars, fruits, and plenty of water.

- Refrain from using cameras in the temples, as photography is strictly prohibited.

- Travel light and avoid carrying heavy luggage.

- Wooden sticks are available along the trekking route to help reduce pressure on your knees.

- if you plan to trek in the night then let me tell you there is no stay provision on the top so plan it accordingly.

-If you use the Ropeway on both sides then you may miss the Jain Dherasar temple.