Best Places to Visit in Girnar: Peaks, Temples and Sacred Ponds

The Best Places to Visit in Girnar

Girnar is not a single temple but a whole sacred mountain, with shrines scattered up its peaks and important sites clustered at its base near Junagadh. I am Harsh Rawat, guiding this region for more than 8 years and I send many guests on the Somnath Dwarka Tour Package onward to Girnar for the climb of a lifetime. Here are the places I rate most on and around the hill, in the order you meet them as you go up.

1. Bhavnath Mahadev Temple

At the very foot of Girnar stands the Bhavnath Mahadev temple, an ancient Shiva shrine and the starting point for the climb. It is most famous for the great Bhavnath fair held around Mahashivratri, when sadhus and Naga ascetics gather in huge numbers. Even on an ordinary day it is a serene, atmospheric place to begin and worth a quiet darshan before you take the first step.

2. Damodar Kund

Near the base lies Damodar Kund, a sacred water tank linked to Lord Damodar or Krishna and to the saint-poet Narsinh Mehta. Pilgrims take a holy dip here and the ashes of the departed are sometimes immersed in its waters. It is a peaceful, deeply revered spot that many visitors pass without realising its importance.

3. The Girnar Ropeway

For those who cannot face all the steps, the Girnar ropeway is a destination in itself. The cabins glide up the forested hillside towards the Ambaji temple with spectacular views over the peaks and the plains below. Whether you ride it up and climb on from there or simply enjoy the views, it is one of the most memorable experiences on the hill.

4. Amba Mata Temple

The Amba Mata temple is the first great shrine on the climb, reached after around 5,000 steps or by the ropeway. Dedicated to the goddess Amba, it is especially revered by newlyweds, who come to seek blessings for their marriage. The views from here are already magnificent and for many pilgrims this is the heart of the Girnar yatra.

5. Gorakhnath Peak

Higher up stands Gorakhnath peak, the highest point of Girnar and indeed the highest peak in Gujarat, at around 1,117 metres. It holds a shrine to the sage Gorakhnath and the panorama from the top, out over the ranges and the plains, is the reward for the hardest part of the climb. Standing on the roof of Gujarat is a feeling you do not forget.

6. Guru Dattatreya Peak

The furthest and loftiest of the main shrines, the Guru Dattatreya peak is believed to bear the footprints of Lord Dattatreya. Reaching it means descending and climbing again across a saddle between peaks, so it is the most demanding stretch, but for devotees of Dattatreya it is the spiritual summit of the whole pilgrimage.

7. The Girnar Jain Temples

Partway up the hill sits one of India's great Jain temple complexes, centred on the shrine of Neminath, the 22nd Tirthankara, who is believed to have attained nirvana on Girnar. The carved marble temples here are serene and beautiful, a world apart from the effort of the steps. You can read more in our dedicated guide to the Girnar Jain temples.

8. Ashokan Rock Edicts

On the road from Junagadh towards Girnar stands a great boulder carved with the rock edicts of Emperor Ashoka, dating back over two thousand years, with later inscriptions from the Kshatrapa and Gupta periods. It is an extraordinary piece of living history and an easy, flat stop to make on your way to the hill, especially for anyone interested in ancient India.

Girnar Places at a Glance

How to See the Places of Girnar

Give Girnar a full day. Start before dawn at Bhavnath, climb through the Jain temples to Amba Mata, then push on to Gorakhnath and, if you have the legs, Dattatreya, before descending by late morning. Save Damodar Kund and the Ashokan edicts for the flat road near the base. Plan your dates for the cool season, which our guide to the best time to visit Somnath explains for the wider region, since Girnar shares the same winter window.

For where to stay near Junagadh and the coast, our hotels overview helps you plan a base and because Girnar is a major Jain pilgrimage, it also features on our 7 Days Gujarat Jain Temple Tour, with the climb, transport and stays arranged.

What I Tell Every Guest About Girnar's Places

After 8 years and more than fifty thousand travellers, here is my honest advice. Do not set out to conquer every peak on your first visit. Girnar is a mountain of around 9,999 steps and the pilgrims who enjoy it most are the ones who set a realistic target: Amba Mata for many, Gorakhnath for the fit, Dattatreya for the truly determined. There is no shame in turning back at a shrine and soaking in the view.

If you only have energy for a few places, make them Bhavnath at the base, the Jain temples and Amba Mata on the way up and the view from Gorakhnath if you can reach it. Take the ropeway to save your knees, carry water and go slowly. Girnar is as much about the climb and the company of pilgrims as about any single shrine and that is exactly what makes it unforgettable.

Plan Your Girnar Visit