The importance of GIRNAR PARIKRAMA from the religious point of view is much more. People from all over INDIA come to undertake this tough route, even without bothering about the harsh cold of forest.
Here are the individual distances of places located on the app. 36 KM. long parikrama route:
'Bhavnath' to 'Zina Bava Ni Madhi' = 12 Kms.
'Zina Bava Ni Madhi' to 'Malvela' = 8 Kms
'Malvela' to 'Bordevi' = 8 Kms.
'Bordevi' to 'Bhavnath' = 8 Kms.
Apart from religious point of view, the parikrama is equally important from social point of view because people of different castes and community come together on this pious occasion. They come to know about the different assets of different community. Here each and every person lives with other people without any differences.
The parikrama is organized every year on KARTAK SUD 11 TO 15 according to the Indian moon calander.
The parikrama starts from DUDHESHWAR TEMPLE at BHAVNATH TALETI. Then people pass through dense forest via the INTWA NI GHODI [ghodi is like pass in mountains - a buldge shape in which one has to first climb the elevation and than climb down the elevation].
After they pass this ghodi, they reach ZINA BAVA NI MADHI located very near to the largest dam of JUNAGADH district-HASNAPUR DAM. Pilgrims do a night halt here. A very beautiful temple named CHANDRA-MAULESHWAR is situated here. The probability of lions sighting here is maximum. This place is also known as RANIYO KUVO. But there is an important notice for the pilgrims that, the entry to this place is banned. You have to have the permission from Dept. of Forests to enter this temple.
Then there are two options for the pilgrims from Zina Bava Ni Madhi.
First option is to directly reach MALVELA and the other option is to reach Malvela via SARKHADIYA HANUMAN.
'Sarkhadiya Hanumaan' is the best Hanumaan temple in Junagadh. It is located amidst dense forest. Lion roars are almost common at this place. Chances of being confronted by deers is also maximum. Pilgrims can also visit Suraj-Kund from Sarkhadiya Hanuman.
Pilgrims reach MADVELA from either of the above mentioned routes. A very beautiful temple is located at MADVELA. As pilgrims start moving from MADVELA, the toughest ghodi is about to welcome them. This toughest ghodi is known as NAL-PANI GHODI OR MADVELA NI GHODI. This ghodi is so inclined that the maximum no. of accidents are reported from this place. Many aged pilgrim finds it difficult to cross this ghodi. Once the pilgrims reach the top of the ghodi, there is a forest hut located which counts the no. of pilgrims undertaking the parikrama. Now the pilgrims have to climb down the steep elevation of nalpani ghodi. After they climb it down, they reach BORDEVI.
BORDEVI is a temple of GODDESS. It is surrounded by Mango trees on three sides of the temple. Places like KAALA-GHUNO AND TATANIYO GHUNO are places which carry water all the year round. TATANIYO GHUNO or KHODIYAR GHUNO gives shelter to Crocodiles. Lucky people are able to see a crocodile with the golden earing. People who had lived in the concrete jungle like very much in this natural jungle. Bordevi is surrounded by unleashed nature on all 4 sides.
Pilgrims now start moving towards BHAVNATH TALETI from Bordevi. This is the end of tiresome, yet fruitful GIRNAR PARIKRAMA.
Carved figure of a lion - Buddhist art
The Darbaar hall
