Parasnath Hills - Jain pilgrimage centre and hill forest in Jharkhand, India
Parasnath Hills are a range of hills in northern Jharkhand. The highest peak is 1350 metres.
Understand
This range is one of the most important pilgrimage centres for Jains. They call it Sammed Sikharji. The hill is named after Parasnath, the 23rd Tirthankara. Twenty of the twenty-four Jain Tirthankaras attained salvation on this hill. According to some, nine Tirthakaras attained salvation on this hill. For each of them there is a shrine (gumti or tuk) on the hill. Some of the temples on the hill are believed to be more than 2,000 years old. However, although the place has been inhabited from ancient times, the temples may be of more recent origin.
About 50,000 Jain pilgrims visit Sammed Shikharji every year.
The Santhals call it Marang Buru, the hill of the deity. They celebrate a hunting festival on the full moon day in Baisakh (mid April).
Get in
Best time to visit is from October to March when the weather is pleasant.
By road
Parasnath Hill is on Grand Trunk Road NH 2.The nearby place for reaching Parasnath is Ranchi 190 KM, Bokaro 40 KM, Jhumri Tileya 80 km Dhanbad 60 KM and Hazaribagh 80 km
By rail
Parashnath station on the Howrah-Delhi grand chord line is the base for a visit to Parashnath. The adjacent town is called Isri or Isri Bazar. It has got some Jain dharmashalas. There is a Dak Bungalow at Dumri about a mile from the station. There is small station at Nimiaghat from where also Parasnath Hill is accessible, but the said route is not the popular one, people only travel by this route once a year. Best is to take 36 seat bus/rental car from Isri Bazar for Madhuban and the metalled trek route of 9 km to Shikharji (Parashnath).
- Parasnath - one passenger train in the evening is available for Dhanbad. Almost all the major trains running on The Grand Chord line (Delhi to Kolkata) stop at Parasnath station. These include New Delhi - Kolkata Rajdhani Express, Puri - New Delhi Purushottam Express, Mumbai- Howrah Mail, Ahmedabad-Asansol Parasnath Express. In view of the tourist volume, Parasnath station has been built as a model station by Indian Railways.
Get around
The summit of Parasnath Hill can be reached either from the southern or the northern side. There are two recognized routes to Parasnath Hill.
The southern approach is from Isri Bazaar, to the top, is motorable for about 2 km, the rest being a climb of 8 km.
The northern approach is a 13 km route from Madhuban village on the Dumri-Giridih road. Madhuban is about 40 km from Giridih and about 10 km from Parasnath rail station/ Isri Bazaar/ Dumri, all on Grand Trunk Road (NH 2). Buses ply along this route from Dumri to Giridih and stop at Madhuban village. Hired cars or taxis are available at Isri Bazar, just outside the rail station. There are a number of Jain temples at Madhuban.
After 3.5 km from Madhuban there is a stream called Gandharva nala and further up there is another stream Sita nala. The Jains hold the portion from Gandharva nala up to the summit as very sacred. It is easier to reach Parasnath from its northern side.
Ponies and dandis for the climb can be arranged at short notice. Jeeps and such power-driven vehicles can be hired to carry visitors for a considerable distance up the hill. Thereafter they have to walk.
Area landmarks
- Parashnath railway station, 23.9879°, 86.0375°.
- Nimiaghat railway station, 23.9322°, 86.0763°.
Note: The attached map is slightly erroneous. Dumri is wrongly shown, so is the road from Dumri. Dumri is where the Forest Rest House is marked.
See
Parashnath Hill Top
- Shri Sammed Sikharji, 23.9612°, 86.1369°.
- 31st Tonk of Bhagwan Shri Parshavnath, 23.9635°, 86.1295°.
- 30th Tonk of Bhagwan Shri Neminath, 23.9625°, 86.1299°.
- 29th Tonk of Bhagwan Shri Ajitnath, 23.96197°, 86.13001°.
- Chaprakund, 23.96292°, 86.13497°.
- Shri Swambhdra Koot, 23.9592°, 86.1384°.
- 17th Tonk of Bhagwan Shri Vasupujya, 23.9578°, 86.1401°.
- 18th Tonk of Bhagwan Shri Abhinandanath, 23.9572°, 86.1404°.
- 12th Tonk of Bhagwan Shri Chandrahprabhu, 23.9637°, 86.1465°. Partly up the hill
- Tonks of 24 Jain Tirthankaras, 23.9959°, 86.1471°. At Hill Base (Madhuban)
- Jain History Museum, 24.0068°, 86.1489°. It houses a number of Jain scriptures, idols and manuscript. One can view the clear sight of Parasnath Temple using the telescope installed at the balcony of the museum.
- Jain temples - Samosharan temple and Bhomiyaji Asthan are two very famous Jain temples.
Note: Enlarge (+) the attached map to view a particular area in more detail.
Do
- Engage in religious activities.
- Climb the hill. There is a road going up for some distance.
- Panoramic views of the surrounding areas as one goes higher up the hill - Chandraprabhuji, Pushpnandanji, Goutamswamiji and Chaprakund.
- Madhuban is a popular picnic spot. BUT IT IS A SACRED PLACE FOR JAINS ALL OVER THE WORLD, HENCE THERE IS RESTRICTION FOR NON VEG AND ALCOHOL
Eat
There are small eateries, where vegetarian food is available.
Drink
Hard drinks strictly prohibited.
Sleep
At Madhuban
The Jains have provided rest houses at the foot of the hill at Madhuban. The food is strictly vegetarian at these places. Non-vegetarian food, even if brought from outside is not allowed.
- Bharatbarshiya Digambar Jain Tirthakshetra Committee, +91 6558 232270 (Office), +91 6558 232265 (Yatriniwas). This is speacially for Jains who do the parikrama of "6 miles uphill, 6 miles parikrama and 6 miles downhill". For the food in the evening one has to reach Dak Bunglow by 4:30PM. Food is served to only the pilgrims with staying permission. Hot water is available from early in the morning till 8AM Dormitory: ₹50 per head
- Shri Digambar Jain Siddhakshetra, 24.0031°, 86.1486°, +91 6558 232228, +91 6558 232209 (Beespanthi Kothi), +91 6558 232361, +91 6558 232231, +91 6558 232292 (Terapanthi Kothi).
- Niharika Dharmasala, +91 9431366638. Five storeyed building with modern amenities.
- Shaswat Bhawan (Shri Digambar Jain Shaswat Tirtharaj Sammesikhar Trust), Kund Kund Marg, Madhuban, 24.0101°, 86.1489°, +91 6558 232378, +91 6558 232314.
- Uttar Pradesh Prakash Bhawan, Kund Kund Marg, Madhuban, +91 6558-232366, +91 6558 232367, +91 6558 232371, +91 99393 24747, info@shikharjiup.org. ₹200-₹800
- Jain Swetambar Kothi, +91 6558 232226, +91 6558 232260.
- Kachhi Bhawan, +91 6558 232225, +91 6558 232308.
- Bhomiya Bhawan, +91 6558 232203.
- Madhya Sodh Sansthan, +91 6558 232257.
- Tyagi Varti Ashram, +91 6558 232261.
- Triyog Ashram, +91 6558 232252.
- Hotel Sapna, Madhuban, 24.0043°, 86.1472°, +91 6558 232234, +91 9431387272. AC Double ₹800, Non-AC single ₹100
- Shikharjii Continental, Madhuban, +91 6558 232429.
At Isri / Dumri
- Hotel Bhuvan, GT Road, Isri Bazar (Near Parashnath railway station), 23.9831°, 86.0342°, +91 6558 233 324.
- Forest Rest House, GT Road, Dumri, 23.9936°, 86.0207°.
Stay safe
- Shikarji Hospital, Madhuban, 24.0066°, 86.1482°.