Girnar is a massif of ancient volcanic rock that rises abruptly from the plain east of Junagadh to a little over 1,000 metres, the highest point in Gujarat. It has been a place of pilgrimage for well over two thousand years. For Jains it is where Neminath, the twenty-second Tirthankara, attained liberation; for Hindus its peaks are sacred to Amba, Gorakhnath and Dattatreya.
A stone stairway of nearly 10,000 steps climbs from Bhavnath at the foot to the last summit. About two-thirds of the way up is the plateau of Jain temples, above it the Ambaji temple, and beyond that a switchback of ridges to Gorakhnath — the highest peak — and Dattatreya. Since 2020 a ropeway has carried visitors from Bhavnath to Ambaji in a few minutes.
What to see and do at Mount Girnar
Climb the steps
Pilgrims begin in the dark, typically around four or five in the morning, to reach the Jain temples soon after sunrise. Allow four to five hours up to Ambaji at a steady pace and most of a day for the full climb to Dattatreya and back.
Ride the ropeway
The cable car runs from Bhavnath to just below the Ambaji temple, covering in under ten minutes what takes hours on foot. It stops in high wind. The Jain temples are a walk of several hundred steps down from the top station.
See the Jain temples
A walled group of marble and stone temples on a ledge of the mountain, the largest and oldest dedicated to Neminath and dating in its present form from around the twelfth century.
Continue to Gorakhnath and Dattatreya
From Ambaji the path drops and climbs along the ridge to the highest summit and then to the dramatic final pinnacle crowned with Dattatreya’s footprints.
Pause at Damodar Kund and Bhavnath
At the foot of the hill, the sacred tank of Damodar Kund and the Bhavnath Mahadev temple are the setting for a great fair of sadhus at Mahashivratri.
How to get to Mount Girnar
- The stairway and the ropeway both start at Bhavnath Taleti, about 5–6 km east of Junagadh city, reached by auto-rickshaw. From Sasan Gir allow around two hours by road.
- Ropeway tickets are sold online and at the lower station; queues are long on weekends and festival days.
Practical tips
- Start the climb before dawn to avoid the heat, and carry water — stalls sell drinks along the way, at rising prices.
- The steps are hard on the knees coming down; a stick helps. Porters carrying dolis (chairs) are available for those who cannot walk.
- Dress modestly for the temples. Leather is not permitted in Jain temples.
- The Girnar Parikrama, a multi-day walk around the hill held in the month of Kartik, draws huge numbers.
Best tours for Mount Girnar
These packages are the easiest way to see Mount Girnar with transport and a guide sorted:
Guided hike from US$83 Junagadh: Girnar Hills Guided Hike
A guided ascent of Girnar’s pilgrim stairway as far as the Ambaji temple — a serious day on foot. Good shoes, water and an early start matter more than anything else. Unreviewed.
- The stone stairway up Girnar with a guide
- About 5,000 steps to the Ambaji temple
- Pilgrims, temples and wide views on the way
Private day trip from US$191 From Rajkot: Gondal, Junagadh & Girnar Hill Day Trip
A private day from Rajkot through the old princely town of Gondal to Junagadh and the foot of Girnar. It does not leave time for the full climb. No reviews yet.
- The Naulakha Palace in Gondal
- Uparkot fort in Junagadh
- Views of Girnar hill
Private day trip from US$183 From Rajkot: Junagadh Private Day Trip with Guide & Entry
A full day in Junagadh with a guide, covering the fort, the mausoleum and the Nawabs’ museum, with entry fees included according to the listing. Unreviewed.
- The ancient Uparkot fort
- The Mahabat Maqbara
- The Durbar Hall Museum
