Parasnath Hill Jain Temples

Parasnath Hill (Sammet Shikharji) in Giridih district, Jharkhand, is the holiest pilgrimage site in Jainism. Twenty of the 24 Tirthankaras (the founder-teachers of Jainism) are believed to have attained moksha (liberation) on this 1,365-metre hill — making it the most spiritually significant peak in the Jain tradition. The hill is named after Parshvanath, the 23rd Tirthankara (the most prolific in moksha tradition here). The pilgrimage route runs 27 km up and around the hill in a clockwise circumambulation, visiting 24 separate small marble temples (tonks) — one for each Tirthankara plus the larger Sammet Shikhar at the summit. The full circuit takes 8-10 hours of uphill walking; pilgrims in poor health hire dolis (palanquins) carried by 4 men. Many Jain pilgrims fast for the entire walk. Vigrahnath Cave near the summit is the spot where, according to Jain tradition, the deity Vigrahnath performed tapas. The 2023 controversy over a proposed road and tourism infrastructure caused widespread Jain community protests; access remains pilgrim-foot-only. Pair with the Madhuban base village (8 km) for accommodation.