In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Palitana
Spend a full day in Palitana: climb Mount Shatrunjaya (≈2 h), visit the Jain museum and explore the hilltop temples; no overnight stay.
Palitana is a Jain pilgrimage town in Gujarat, known for over 850 marble temples on Mount Shatrunjaya. The climb takes about two hours, and the main attractions fit comfortably into one day. Overnight stays are not permitted inside the temple complex.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (heat) / Jul–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,200–1,800 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,800–2,500 excl. bed · High ₹2,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · All services 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bhel with pomegranate seeds | ₹50–100 |
| Photography inside temples | ₹40 |
| Shri Vishal Jain Museum entry | ₹6 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BHJ · Bhavnagar Airport
- 51 km (32 mi) by road; limited flights to Mumbai32 mi (51 km) by road; limited flights to Mumbai
- AMD · Ahmedabad International Airport
- Major hub, 150 km (93 mi) by roadMajor hub, 93 mi (150 km) by road
Typical fares
- Bhavnagar → Palitana (bus)
- ≈ ₹150–200, 1 h 30 min
- Autorickshaw (short ride)
- ≈ ₹30–50 per km
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Autorickshaws (chhakada) and occasional horse‑carts; hire for short trips to the base of the hill.
See and do
Known for
- Mount Shatrunjaya Jain temples
- Shri Vishal Jain Museum
- Jambudweep cosmic model
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bhavnagar | Bus from Palitana bus station, about 1 h 30 min | ≈ 2 h total |
| Ahmedabad | Train to Bhavnagar (≈2 h) then train to Ahmedabad (≈3 h) | ≈6 h total |
| Jambudweep Temple (foothill) | Autorickshaw from town base, 10 min | ≈30 min total |
Sleep
- Vijay Vilas Palace
- Heritage dharmashala, 4 km (2.5 mi) from town; single ₹1,200, double ₹2,400Heritage dharmashala, 2.5 mi (4 km) from town; single ₹1,200, double ₹2,400
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much does this cost? | यह कितना है?yah kitna hai? |
| I would like a room for two nights | मैं दो रातों के लिए कमरा चाहूँगाmain do raaton ke liye kamra chaahunga |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Overnight stays inside the temple city are prohibited; only dharmashalas outside are allowed.
- Dress modestly (no shorts, sleeveless tops) and remove shoes before entering temples.
- Climbing 3,572 steps is steep; allow 2 h and bring water.
Palitana is generally safe for pilgrims; main risks are heat, steep steps, and modest‑dress enforcement.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Palitana yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mount Shatrunjaya Jain temples
- Shri Vishal Jain Museum
- Jambudweep cosmic model
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Palitana coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Palitana, revision 5274889 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5274889
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/palitana). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.