Girnar Lili Parikrama: The 36 km Sacred Circuit of Mount Girnar

Each year around the full moon of Kartik, over a million pilgrims gather at the foot of the sacred mountain of Girnar for one of Gujarat's greatest spiritual journeys, the Lili Parikrama. This guide, from the team behind Somnath Dwarka Tour Package, a unit of Experience My India, covers the Girnar Parikrama route and distance, the dates, the four stages and how it differs from the climb to the Girnar peak.

What is the Girnar Lili Parikrama?

The Girnar Lili Parikrama, meaning the Green Parikrama or Green Pradakshina, is a sacred circumambulation on foot around the base of Mount Girnar, the holy mountain near Junagadh in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. To walk the full circle around the mountain, believed to be the abode of Lord Dattatreya and many sages and Jain Tirthankaras, is considered a deeply meritorious act of devotion and penance. The parikrama is called Lili or green, because the route winds through the lush green forest of the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, a landscape of dense woods, hills, streams and shrines. It is held just once a year, drawing over a million pilgrims, sadhus and seekers from across India, who walk the circuit together in a vast moving tide of faith, making it one of the most atmospheric and spiritually powerful events in all of Gujarat. The word parikrama means to walk around a sacred object or place in reverence, keeping it to one's right and here the object of reverence is the whole mountain of Girnar itself, so the entire 36 km walk is one great act of worship.

Girnar Parikrama at a glance

The Girnar Parikrama route and distance

The total distance of the Girnar Parikrama is approximately 36 kilometres, circling the base of Mount Girnar. The sacred route begins and ends at the Dudheshwar temple at Bhavnath Taleti and is walked in four main stages:

From Bhavnath, the path climbs through dense forest over the Intwa Ni Ghodi, a mountain pass, to reach Zina Bava Ni Madhi, near the Hasnapur Dam, a common first night halt. From there, pilgrims continue to Malvela, with an option to go via the Sarkhadiya Hanuman temple deep in the forest and then on to Bordevi, descending the steep and difficult Nal-Pani Ghodi on the way. From Bordevi, the final stage returns to Bhavnath, completing the circle around the holy mountain. Along the way the route passes many small shrines, temples and sacred spots, including the Bhavani Mata temple, the Sarkhadiya Hanuman temple and various kunds, so the walk is dotted with places to pause, pray and rest.

When is the Girnar Parikrama held?

The Girnar Lili Parikrama is held just once a year, for a few days around the full moon of the Hindu month of Kartik, in November, coinciding with Dev Diwali and Kartik Purnima. It traditionally runs from Kartik Sud Ekadashi, the Devuthni Ekadashi, to Kartik Purnima, a period of about five days, when the forest route, which lies within the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary and is otherwise closed, is specially opened by the administration for the pilgrimage. The exact dates change each year with the lunar calendar, so it is important to check the current dates with the Junagadh Municipal Corporation or the district administration before planning to join, as the route is open only for this short window.

How long does the Parikrama take?

Most pilgrims take three to four days to complete the full 36 km circuit, walking from stage to stage and halting overnight at the camps along the way, at Zina Bava Ni Madhi, Malvela and Bordevi. Some fast and fit walkers complete the whole parikrama in a single long day or night of continuous walking, in around ten to twelve hours, though this is demanding. The terrain is mostly a flat to undulating forest and dirt trail, with a few steep passes like the Intwa Ni Ghodi and the Nal-Pani Ghodi, so it is a walkable pilgrimage rather than a hard climb, though the distance and the crowds make stamina and an early start important. Many devotees walk it barefoot as an act of devotion.

The Parikrama is not the Girnar peak climb

It is important to understand that the Lili Parikrama is quite different from the famous climb to the Girnar peak. The Parikrama is a roughly 36 km walk around the base of the mountain, on forest trails, held only once a year. The Girnar peak climb, by contrast, is a steep ascent up nearly 9,999 stone-cut steps to the summit temples, including the Dattatreya temple at the very top, which can be done at any time of year and is a completely separate experience. Many pilgrims do both, the circuit around the mountain during the Parikrama season and the climb to the summit on another visit, but they should not be confused: one goes around the mountain, the other goes up it.

The spirit of the Parikrama

Beyond the walking, the Girnar Parikrama is a profound social and spiritual experience. As over a million people of every caste, community and background walk the circuit together, sharing the trail, the food and the hardship, old differences dissolve and a remarkable sense of equality and togetherness takes hold. Along the route, countless Annakshetras or community kitchens, run by volunteers and local groups serve free food to the pilgrims and Parabs or water stations, provide water, so that no one walks hungry or thirsty. The forest echoes with bhajans and the chanting of the lord's name, camps glow with lights at night and the shared devotion of the great crowd creates an atmosphere of joy and faith that pilgrims remember for a lifetime. It is as much a celebration of community as a pilgrimage. For many, walking the Parikrama once in a lifetime is a cherished aspiration and those who complete it speak of it as one of the most moving and humbling experiences of their lives, a rare chance to leave the everyday world behind and walk, quite literally, in the footsteps of saints around a sacred mountain.

Tips for the Girnar Parikrama

A few pointers for this great pilgrimage:

• Check the exact dates each year with the Junagadh Municipal Corporation, as the route opens only for a few days.

• Start early and pace yourself over the 36 km, carrying water, electrolytes and light snacks.

• Be prepared for huge crowds, basic forest camping and simple conditions along the route.

• Wear comfortable footwear or walk barefoot as many devotees do and carry a torch for the night stretches.

• Rely on the Annakshetras and Parabs for food and water, but carry your own essentials too.

• Stay alert and stay with the crowd on the forest stretches, as the route passes through the Gir lion sanctuary.

How to reach the Girnar Parikrama

The Girnar Parikrama starts and ends at Bhavnath Taleti, at the foot of Girnar, about 5 to 6 km from Junagadh city, easily reached by auto or taxi. Junagadh itself is well connected: the nearest major railway station is Junagadh Junction and the city is reachable by road from across Saurashtra, including from Somnath, about 100 km away and Gir, about 60 km away. Our Junagadh to Girnar and Somnath to Girnar distance guides cover the routes and a Somnath Dwarka taxi service can bring you to Junagadh for the Parikrama as part of a wider tour.

Plan your Junagadh trip

Experience My India can plan a Saurashtra trip around the Girnar Parikrama or a Junagadh visit, along with the temples and the safari. Combine Girnar with Uparkot Fort and Mahabat Maqbara, add a Gir lion safari and the Somnath temple, book Somnath Dwarka hotels and let the Experience My India Somnath Dwarka tour packages or the wider Gujarat tour packages include Junagadh and the region in your itinerary. You can also extend the trip up the coast to Dwarka for a fuller journey.

Related guides

To plan the rest of your Saurashtra trip, these related guides help:

Plan your visit

Experience My India can arrange your Junagadh and Girnar Parikrama trip. Browse more travel guides, message us on WhatsApp or call +91 73006 20809.