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AKSHARDHAM
Lord Swaminarayan
was born in Chapaya in UP,
 and
took a 7 year pilgrimage to Gujarat to preach his religion. He
built 6 temples, the first being in Kalupur at Ahmedabad, and his
followers built a series of others. There are numerous important
pilgrim spots for the million followers of this faith all over
the world, including Gondal, Gadhada, Sarangpur etc.
The Swaminarayan
temple of Gandhinagar is a modern complex, built in traditional
Indian architectural style from 6000 metric tons of long lasting
pink sandstone, from Rajasthan, and carved by expert artisans from
Bansipahadpur.
The first floor
galleries are a museum portraying the 500 parahansas, a letter to
his guru, Ramanand, a piece from an old tree from Chapaya, his pure
wood shawl, recreation of his old home, a diorama of the lord on
a horse and other displays. The galleries outside, have a
state-of-the-art exhibition using Chez Integrovision shows,
audio-visuals, multi-media, dioramas of the life of lord Swaminarayan
and from the Hindu epics, fibre optics etc to introduce readers
to the concept of the Akshardham movement, founded in 1907 Ad to
promote the preachings of Lord Swaminarayan and a number of
charitable causes.
The temple is
set in the multi-acre garden, called Sahajanand van, with intricate
sculpture of Hindu Gods, beautifully landscaped garden, cafeteria and
amusements. Gold leaf copper sculpture of lord Swaminarayan faced by
similar gold leaf sculpture of Gunatinand Swami and Gopalanand
Swami. The interiors have beautiful columns and rosewood, and
rise up to a high dome.
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Ambaji
Ambaji on Arasur
hill is a 
major Shaktipith of India, a temple of the mother Goddess Amba mata,
attracting pilgrims in numbers beyond comprehension. The temple is
of considerable importance to Hindus. Ambaji is set in the
Arravallis. Climbing the Gabbar hill beside Ambaji is an important
pilgrimage.
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DWARKA
Dwarka is one
of the 4 principal dham yatras of Hinduism, the others being
Puri, Badrinath-Kedarnath and Rameshwaram. It ranks with Ayodhya,
Banaras, Mathura, Gaya, Kanchipuram and Ujjain among the holiest temple
cities of India. Dwarka was the home of Lord Krishna, who moved
to this pretty coastal town with the entire Yaduvanshi clan to
set up capital. Marine excavations off the Dwarka coast have
revealed important evidences of 4 ancient cities, which probably
includes the Dwarawati of the Krishna lila. In the 15th
century, Dwarka was a major sea port. Today, it is not only a
major pilgrimage but a pleasant spot for a beach holiday.
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DWARKADISH
TEMPLE(JAGAT MANDIR)
The a ncient Dwarkadish temple, has often been renovated, and the carvings
outside date from around the 16th century, the walls to
about 12th century. A highlight of the temple is the 19th
century shikara tower. The multi-pillared sabha mandapa
leads to a 60 pillared sanctum sanctoruim dated by scriptures
2500 years. Incredibly detailed sculpture decorates the entire
temple.
TIMINGS
6-12,17-21 hrs
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RUKMINI TEMPLE
Dating to the
12th-13th century, the Rukmini temple has
beautiful carvings, specially on the pillars of the Sabha Mandapa.
The temple was built in honour of Rani Rukmani, princess of
Vidharba, who was to be married to Sishupala, but eloped with
Lord Krishna.
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OKHA
30 kms from
Dwarka, the tip of the western coast of India, Okha developed as
major port under the Gaekwad rulers of Baroda. It is a fishing
port. There is a govt guest house at Okha facing the sea.
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BEYT DWARKA
Offshore from
Okha, the island of Beyt Dwarka is associated with Lord Krishna. The
main temple here, built in the 19th century, has
several shrines and images of Lord Krishna and his 56 consorts. There
are several other temples on the island. Excavations have revealed
some Harappan period artifacts. There are some nice beaches and
coral formations to the north and east of the island. Numerous
dharamshalas and guest houses offer accommodations at the island.
Another important Krishna temple is the Rachodji temple at Dakore.
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MOUNT GIRNAR
Rising up on the outskirts of Junagadh is Mt Girnar, whose 3660 foot high
summit is
 crowned
by some of the finest and most religiously important temples in Jain
religion. The fortification around the temple is called Deva Kota and is
associated with Rao Khegaji of Kutch. The enclosure is well filled with
temples of both Hindu and Jain religions, but only 5 Jain temples are really
impressive, though it is also worth looking at some smaller temples like the
granite shrine built by Rao Bhojraj of Kutch.The
temple complex of Mt Girnar has been an important place of Jain
pilgrimage from the 3rd century BC. The 900 meter high
peak itself has considerable religious significance for Hindus.
There is a Muslim shrine too on the peak. Mt Girnar has fantastic
views of the surrounding hills, forests and the picturesque city
of Junagadh. 10,000 steps lead to the temples on the peak.
At the foot of
Mt Girnar, Damodar Kund is the place where lord Shiva and Goddess
Parwatis’ garment fell during an ariel cruise. Bhavnath is an
important Shiva temple at the foot of Mt Girnar.
Other important
Jain pilgrimages are Jagadiya near Rajpipla, Sankeshwar near
Radhanpur, Mahudi near Gandhinagar, Badreshwar and Naliya in Kutch,
Poshina and Kumbhariyaji near Ambaji, Taranga in north Gujarat, Patan
near Mehsana, to name but a few.
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Neminath temple
The greatest of the temples on the summit is the rectangular Neminath
temple, built from
 1128
AD and completed in 1159 AD. The temple surrounds a collonaded courtyard,
with delicate carvings of the Tithankars of Jainism. Further up from the
Neminath temple, the Amba temple is where newely wed Hindus gather to pray
for a happy marriage, and a Muslim shrine where childless women prey for
children. The trio of temples which forms Mallinath mandir, shrine of the
22nd Tirthankar, were erected in 1231 AD by Vastupal and Tejpal, the 2
brothers responsible for such marvels in marble as the Dilwara temples of Mt
Abu. The corbelled domes and beautifully carved interior domes are
highlights of the temple. Other important temples lie to the left of
Neminatha temple-the temple of Rishabdeo with 24 Tirthakaras carved in 1442,
a 15th century Parshwanath temple called Meravaksi, the modern Panchbhai
temple, 1803 AD Parshwanath temple with a cobra protecting the marble image
and the 12th century temple built by Kumarapala of the Solanki dynasty,
which is responsible for many of the finest Jain andindu temples in western
India-Dilwara, Taranga, Kumbariyaji, Palitana, Modhera, Patan, Diu, Ghumli,
Gope and a part of Somnath-and restored in 1824 AD.
Around half way down from the temple cluster, you can detour for the hill
of Guru Datatray whose very footprints are holy to 2Jains, the Kalika hill
and Kamandal temple. At the foot of Mt Girnar is Damodar kund and the
Bhavnath temple both of considerable importance to Hindu pilgrims.
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PALITANA
Palitana is
one of the most important pilgrim spots for Jains. The Shetrunjaya
hill,
 with
it’s 863 temple covered mountain summit, 600 meters over the
town is considered by many Jains to be more important then the
temple covered hills of Bihar, Gwalior, Mt Abu and Girnar.
Palitana was the capital of a princely state of the Gohil Rajput
clan, was known for it’s Kathiawadi horses, and has a number of
palatial buildings. It is also one of the greatest tourist
attractions in Gujarat for foreign tourists.
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SHETRUNJAYA HILL
The peak is a
3 ½ km climb of over 3500 steps from the town. The cluster of
over  800
temples are divided into tuks.The largest and highest tuk
is the Khartavasi tuk, with the 16th century Adinatha
temple with images of the tirthankars, the 19th
century Vallabhi temple with it’s finely clustered spires and the
massive 1836 AD Motisah temple. Other important temples are the 16th
century Adiswara temple in the Vimlavasi tuk, the Ramaji Gadhariya
temple and the 18th century Bhulavani. Other important
temples can be seen in the Sakara Premchand Tuk, Ujambi Hemabhai
tuk, Sheth Hemabhai Vakatachand tuk and other enclosures.
Throughout the
cluster you can see detailed carvings, beautiful idols and
images, jeweled statues and intricate toranas. Sunrise
behind the temples is a great sight. You can enjoy views from
the summit of the hills and the river Shetrunjaya. On a clear
day, the Gulf of Cambay sea coast can be seen. The summit can
be visited from 7-19 hrs.
The temple
covered Shetrunjaya hill, 2000 ft over Palitana town, believed to span 863
shrines in all has some really exquisite marble temples of great religious
and artistic importance, containing arches, carved pillars and bejeweled
idols. The temples date from 11th to the 20th century. The summit is the
most revered of Jain temple complexes, surpassing those of Mt Abu, Gwalior,
Girnar and Bihar. Palitana town is a good place to shop for textile related
handicrafts and has a Jain kala sansta.
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108
SAMVASARAN MANDIR :
The temple in the town of Palitana has 108 idols and sculptures.
JAIN MUSEUMS :
Palitana has 2 trust run Jain museums. The Shri Vishal Jain Kala
Sansthan and the Stapitya kala graha, with cloth paintings,
manuscripts, palm leaf books, book covers, ivory sculpture and
paintings on ivory and figurines
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