Palitana Jain Temples, Bhavnagar District in Gujarat

Perched on the Shatrunjaya Hill in the city of Palitana, these Jain temples are considered holiest along with Shikharji in Jharkhand. Originally the construction of the Palitana temples started in the 11th century during the reign of King Kumarapala and it took 900 years to complete. It was destroyed by the Muslim invaders between the 14th and 15th century. As Jain pilgrimage is mostly taken on foot, the temple was constructed in clusters to minimize the distance to a bare minimum.

The complex is vast and comprises of 863 Palitana Jain Temples entirely made up of marbles. The main temple is set at an elevation and can be reached after climbing 3500 stairs. It is dedicated to Adinath, the first Tirthankara of Jainism. The main shrine is made from marbles and adorned in gold and precious stones. The sculptural splendour makes it one of the most exquisite in the country. Other noteworthy religious landmarks include the Vimal Shah, Kesharji and the Samavasaran Temple. The followers of Jainism visiting the Palitana Temple believe that it offers a lifetime opportunity to achieve nirvana. During the monsoon months, the temple remains closed.

Palitana has 823 temples all together!!!