Recently, a fellow spiritual sadhaka told me about the Girnar Parikrama. I was intrigued. You might know that earlier I have written a few posts on Girnar Mountain Pilgrimage: about the ropeway, the Jain temples, Jain tirthankar Neminath’s history on this sacred mountain

Though I haven’t had the opportunity to experience it firsthand, I enjoy researching and compiling informational points. This way, when the chance arises, I’ll be ready to embark on this exploration. 

Girnar Parikrama Distance & Route 

This is a 36 km long route through a reserve forest (oooh). Gov’s Utsav website gives good description of the places and route – hope it is accurate 😊 (Utsav Gov site link)

Bhavnath Taleti to Zina Bava Ni Madhi : 12KM 

Zina Bava Ni Madhi to Malvela (direct route or via Sarkhadiya Hanuman): 8km 

Madvela to Bordevi: 8km however the route would be very steep 

Bordevi to Bhavnath: 8km 

Many of the routes have steep climbs or descends. Add to it the reserve forest region with meagre facilities. I think this is not a pilgrimage for everyone – only the ones really prepared in mind and body.  

I found this informational vlog on this on Youtube, which helps us get a better feel of the region and situation:

Importance of Girnar Parikrama also called Lili Parikrama 

Pradakshina around sacred things is considered very auspicious and powerful for a spiritual sadhaka. Doing a parikrama around a mountain is special I feel. The Arunachala Girivalam is one such.  

This Girnar parikrama is a raw and unfiltered environment with wild forest all around. The Girnar mountain is a powerful one, no doubt. I think the parikrama would be very powerful pilgrimage. However, not something that everyone can attempt from what I understand. The route is steep and without basic facilities. So, one would need to be really prepared for it in body and mind to do this.  

The Dates to Do This Yatra: Kartik Agyaras to Dev Diwali (Kartik Poornima) 

Dev Diwali is when people undertake this yatra. From Kartik Agyaras I.e. Kartik Sud 11 to Kartik Poornima. As it happens, I started writing this blog post on a whim only 2 days before Dev Diwali. People are already on this yatra. And unfortunately, a leopard attacked and killed a young girl, who strayed off the path to urinate. Very sad to hear.  

The Girnar area is a wild one, even when we are doing the mountain pilgrimage, it is said that sometimes wild animals like Lions are seen in some places on the mountain route as well. Usually, the principle of “we don’t hurt them, they don’t hurt us” works. However, “usually” is not “always”. So, we have to be ready for anything on these kinds of journeys. Especially, pilgrimage, we have to do like it is our last one. I think that may bring good intensity into the practice.