If it is a place where it is advisable to go in Gujarat, it is well in Palitana, site crowned of Jains. Admittedly, other pilgrimages of faithful of this religion propose extraordinary temples, like most known Mt.abu- - and RANAKPUR, both in the Rajasthan, or escarpé Girnar, in Gujarat. The ideal would be of all to visit them because each one offers its wonders and its specific environment.
In fact, Palitana indicates the agglomeration which is spread out with the foot of the hill. The crowned hill is Shatrunjaya, but by convenience, since everyone knows this name, one will continue to speak about Palitana.
Palitana, therefore, constitutes a case a little with share. Perched on high a double hill which dominates a broad landscape of cultivated plains, this complex of 863 temples is exceptional. Undoubtedly less for architectural quality (Mount Abu and Ranakpur are in this respect unsurpassable), that for the framework and the unit.
Best is to arrive at dawn in the borough of Palitana, with the foot of the hill. With this intention, the ideal solution is to spend the night in the harbour city of Bhavnagar which is only with three fifteen minutes of car. Thus, one can start the rise little after the rising of the day. Already on the road, and in spite of the early hour, one exceeds hundreds and hundreds of people on kilometers which move of an alert step towards the holy mountain. Close to the road, several campings of a multitude of multi-coloured tents were installed. One doubles two elephants which transport children in their howdah (nacelle). Many people are equipped like tous.les.jours, but of others, of pious Jains, are very of white vêtus.
Place which constitutes the terminus of the vehicles, one counts one hour and half grimpette by staircases not really malicious. But when the weather is hot, that appears hard, from where interest to leave early. The refractories with the physical effort have the possibility of renting carriers which will be delighted by propose their services. One asseoit on a kind of wood plate, suspended on the four angles by cords with a wood beam which two men carry on their shoulder. Certain tourists hesitate to use this mode of locomotion, with the reason that it is painful for the carriers of trimballer these puffing Westerners. Obviously! But if one does not call upon their services, they do not gain what to nourish their family.
The rise is pleasant in the fresh air of the morning. The carriers stop time with other to blow and discuss between them. One rises gradually above the plain and the borough, all in bottom, and the splendid landscape is revealed little by little. Many people also progress, each one at its rate/rhythm. Families climb with the children and the large parents. Others, sitted legs crossed on their small seat, enjoy their comfort (relative). Patients or handicapped people require four carriers to be convoyed. Pilgrims jains go up, very concentrated in their continuous prayer, others sing will mantras of an intense air of joy.
Then the white wall of the enclosure of the complex of the temples appears. A little later one unloads on an esplanade. It is there that one must imperatively leave, if one did not do it in bottom in the village, all objects out of leather, bag, girdles, shoes, etc..., which are prohibited in the Jains temples.
One remains mouth bée in front of this multitude of temples of all sizes, on each side of the paved alley. But the pilgrims and other visitors go generally a little further with the principal temple, the temple of Adinath.
All this crowd quietly awaits her turn to enter the temple to make her prayers there, but it is not interdict to play naive to penetrate in the holy place without having patience more... Flowers are sold in the large court for the offerings to the divinity. In the sanctuary, a large marble statue of Tirthankara Adinath throne majestueusement.
Once that one will be again out of the temple, one will make the turn of it, admiring the many statues which decorate will shikhara it. A quadrangular peripheral gallery is punctuated tens of niches, each one containing a statue of marble of Tirthankara. One wonders about the significance of an enormous carved marble cylinder of sheets of lotus, decorated planks of animals and at the top of which another statue is still held of Tirthankara. It is possible to climb by a staircase on a terrace from where one enjoys a splendid sight on the large temple and the small surrounding temples. From there, one realizes of the existence of another series of temples on a close hill, even higher.
It is advised to go there by a beautiful flight of quite stiff steps which make somewhat perspire. But arrived at the goal, one is rewarded by an extraordinary general sight. The temples of the second hill are fewer and less old; they seem also less attended.
It is time to take the way of the return, which one will be able to carry out much more quickly than the rise, either with carrier, or without, because it is not essential any more, except if there are the fragile knees...