National park · India
Parasnath Hills
Spend a morning on the southern trail (2 km (1.2 mi) motorable, then 8 km (5 mi) walk) for a quick summit, or a full‑day northern trek (13 km (8.1 mi)) from Madhuban; start before 8 am in summer, and visit October–March for the best weather.Spend a morning on the southern trail (1.2 mi (2 km) motorable, then 5 mi (8 km) walk) for a quick summit, or a full‑day northern trek (8.1 mi (13 km)) from Madhuban; start before 8 am in summer, and visit October–March for the best weather.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
approximate
Established
1986
Best months
Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
At a glance
- Country
- India
- Area
- 1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
- Exact park area not published (check).
- Established
- 1986
- Best months
- Oct–Nov
- Permits
- Not needed
Parasnath Hills is a sacred Jain pilgrimage range in Jharkhand, rising to 1350 m and offering several shrines and trekking routes.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national siteSacred Jain pilgrimage site; not a formal national park designation.
Size and age
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²) · national park since 1986
Exact park area not published (check).
Why go
- Visit the most important Jain pilgrimage site with 20‑plus shrines on the hill.
- Climb to the 1350 m summit for panoramic views of the surrounding plateau.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunAvoid
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepAvoid
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanCool, dry
- FebCool, dry
- MarMild, dry
- AprIncreasing heat
- MayHot, early monsoon
- JunMonsoon, slippery trails
- JulMonsoon, slippery trails
- AugMonsoon, slippery trails
- SepMonsoon tail
- OctDry, pleasant
- NovDry, cool
- DecCool, dry
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest birds and occasional leeches on the trekMay–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Ranchi
Bus or taxi 190 km (118 mi) via NH 2 to Isri, then local transport to Madhuban.Bus or taxi 118 mi (190 km) via NH 2 to Isri, then local transport to Madhuban.
4–5 h
From Giridih
Bus/taxi 40 km (25 mi) to Madhuban on Dumri‑Giridih road.Bus/taxi 25 mi (40 km) to Madhuban on Dumri‑Giridih road.
1 h
From Dhanbad
Train to Parasnath station, then taxi 60 km (37 mi) to Madhuban.Train to Parasnath station, then taxi 37 mi (60 km) to Madhuban.
3–4 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Madhuban base | Gate, dharmashalas, Jain museum, parking. | Open to all; ticket at gate. |
| Southern trail (Isri) | 2 km (1.2 mi) motorable road, then 8 km (5 mi) ascent to summit.1.2 mi (2 km) motorable road, then 5 mi (8 km) ascent to summit. | Open; vehicles may be hired. |
| Northern trail (Madhuban) | 13 km (8.1 mi) forest path covering all 20+ shrines.8.1 mi (13 km) forest path covering all 20+ shrines. | Open; guide/pony recommended. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are from official railway listings and approximate hill summit.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry ticket (gate at Madhuban or Isri) | Free | person | Fee not published (check). |
| Dormitory stay at Bharatbarshiya Digambar Jain Tirthakshetra | INR 50 (≈ under US$1) | person | ₹50 per head |
| Hotel Sapna AC double room | INR 800 (≈ US$10) | room | ₹800 per night |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Guided northern trek no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- ₹50≈ under US$1
- ₹800≈ US$10
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Check with the park or your operator before you go.
Park rules
- Vegetarian only
- No non‑vegetarian food or alcohol allowed in the hill area.
- Fire ban
- Open fires prohibited; carry out all rubbish.
- Nighttime restriction
- Do not stay on the trail after sunset; descend before dark.
Where to stay
In the park
Bharatbarshiya Digambar Jain Tirthakshetra dormitory
Simple shared rooms, ₹50 per head.
Near the park
Hotel Sapna
AC double ₹800, non‑AC single ₹100.
Safety
Heat and steep steps medium
Monsoon landslides high
Nighttime forest safety medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Madhuban base reachable by car; short walks to gate.
- Southern trail motorable section accessible, but steep final climb not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Respect vegetarian rules; avoid litter.
- Use local dharmashalas and purchase food from them.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Parasnath Hills?
There is no standard entry fee for pilgrims; non‑pilgrims may be charged a small ticket (check locally).
What are the best hikes in Parasnath Hills?
The short southern route (2 km road + 8 km walk) for a quick summit, and the full northern trek (13 km) covering all shrines.
When is the best time to visit Parasnath Hills?
October to March offers dry, pleasant weather; avoid the monsoon months June‑September.
Where can I stay near the hill?
Dormitory at Bharatbarshiya Digambar Jain Tirthakshetra (₹50) and private hotels such as Hotel Sapna (₹800 AC).
Is a guide required?
Not mandatory, but a guide or pony is recommended for the northern trek.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Parasnath Hills
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