Base Town: Bihar Sharif
Where: 100 Kms from Patna
How to reach: 15 km from Bihar Sharif and Rajgir
Best time to visit: Sept-February (post rains)
Time visited: Dec 2014
Stay: Kundalpur Dharmashala
Food: Hotmeals in Dharmashalas
Parking: Parking available intside premises
Tour Plan
Day 1: Madhuban - Rest and local Darshan
Day 2: The Climb-Vandana
Day 3: Parikrama (Pradakshina)
Day 4: Rest
Day 5: Gunawa-Guniyaj, Nawada, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Kundalpur
Day 6: Kundalpur-Rajgrihi-Kundalpur
Day 7: Gaya, Vaishali
Day 8: Vaishali Sightseeing, Patna

History as per Internet:
Believed to be the birth place of Bhagwan Mahavir, it is said that
he spent 22 years of his life at Kundalpur. The Nalanda University
close by which was set up in the 5th Century B.C developed into a great
centre for learning. Lord Mahavir is said to have made many visits
there. Lord Mahavir’s three Ganadhars Agnibhuti, Vayubhuti and
Indrabhuti were said to be born at this place. Several visits to this
place and preachings and sermons delivered here have made this place
very important. The temple is modern, built with a large open space and a
beautiful temple structure. There are 72 idols of Jinas in a separate
two storied building. There is also very good accommodation facility in a
large separate building for the devotees. Kundalpur is alos birthplace
of Gutamswamiji out of the eleven disciples of Lord Mahavira.






Nalanda
Unknown
Base Town: Bihar Sharif
Where: 100 Kms from Patna
How to reach: 20 Kms from Pawapuri, 5 Kms from Kundalpur
Best time to visit: Sept-February (post rains)
Time visited: Dec 2014
Stay: Kundalpur Dharmashala
Food: Hotmeals in Dharmashalas
Parking: Parking available outside premises
Tour Plan
Day 1: Madhuban - Rest and local Darshan
Day 2: The Climb-Vandana
Day 3: Parikrama (Pradakshina)
Day 4: Rest
Day 5: Gunawa-Guniyaj, Nawada, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Kundalpur
Day 6: Kundalpur-Rajgrihi-Kundalpur
Day 7: Gaya, Vaishali
Day 8: Vaishali Sightseeing, Patna

History on Internet:
Nalanda was a
large Buddhist monastery in the ancient kingdom of Magadha. University
had a long and illustrious life which lasted almost continually for 800
years from the fifth to the twelfth century CE. It was a completely
residential university believed to have 2,000 teachers and 10,000
students. At its peak, the school attracted scholars and students from
near and far with some travelling all the way from Tibet, China, Korea,
and Central Asia.[8]:169 Archaeological evidence also notes contact with
the Shailendra dynasty of Indonesia, one of whose kings built a
monastery in the complex. It includes stupas, shrines, viharas
(residential and educational buildings) and important art works in
stucco, stone and metal. It is said that Mohammaad Bakhtiar Khilji
destroyed Nalanda.



The study rooms









Stupas


Some pillars have Jain Carvings


Pawapuri
Unknown
Base Town: Gonava Village Nawada
Where: Patna-Ranchi Road, Bihar
How to reach: 23 Kms from Gunawa-Nawada, 38 Kms from Rajgir
Best time to visit: Sept-February (post rains)
Time visited: Dec 2014
Stay: Dharmashalas
Food: Hotmeals in Dharmashalas and hotels around
Parking: Parking available outside premises
Tour Plan
Day 1: Madhuban - Rest and local Darshan
Day 2: The Climb-Vandana
Day 3: Parikrama (Pradakshina)
Day 4: Rest
Day 5: Gunawa-Guniyaj, Nawada, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Kundalpur
Day 6: Kundalpur-Rajgrihi-Kundalpur
Day 7: Gaya, Vaishali
Day 8: Vaishali Sightseeing, Patna

Pavapuri known as Pava and Apapapuri was a city in ancient times
forming a part of Magadh territory. It is said that at that time
Bhagwan Mahavir walking from Champapuri had arrived here and was
spending his “Chaturmas” at the Rajjugashala of king Hastipal. Bhagwan
finally attained Moksha during in the last moments of the last “Prahar”
of the Amavasya night. There are five main temples in Pawapuri - the Jal
Mandir, the Gaon Mandir, the Samosaran, the New Samosaran and another
temple built by Bibi Mehetab Kumari. Apart from these temples there is a
Digambar Jain Mandir near Jal mandir.

Jal mandir as the name suggests is a temple in the middle of a lake blooming with lotuses.

Built in the shape of “Vimana” and there is a stone bridge from
the bank to the temple. It marks the spot where the mortal remains of
Lord Mahavira was cremated. It is said that the demand for his ashes was
so great that a large amount of soil was removed from around the
funeral pyre, creating the water tank.



Gunawa and Nawada
Unknown
Base Town: Gonava Village Nawada
Where: Patna-Ranchi Road, Bihar
How to reach: From Parasnath Railway Station-Jhumri Teliya-Nawada (5 Hrs)
Best time to visit: Sept-February (post rains)
Time visited: Dec 2014
Stay: Dharmashalas
Food: Hotmeals in Dharmashalas
Parking: Parking available outside premises
Gunawa

The temple is said to be built in 1925.
Nawada
It is said that when Bhagwan Mahavir attained Moksha in
Pavapuri, at same time, Bhagwan Mahavirs, first first disciple (Gautam
Gandhar), attained Kevaldyan in Gunawa. The temple is dedicated to Bhagwan Mahavir Temple. Old idols of Bhagwan Kuntunath, Bhagwan Parasnath.




Sammed Shikharji Parikrama
Unknown
Sammed Shikharji Parikrama
Base Town: Madhuban/Shikharji
Where: 23 Kms from
Parasnath Railway Station, Giridih district, Jharkhand
How to reach: From Parasnath
Railway Station and take a cab from there.
Best time to visit:
Sept-February (post rains)
Time visited: Dec 2014
Stay: Various Dharmashalas, Hotels
Food: Hotmeals in
Dharmashalas, few eateries outside
Parking: Parking
available inside Dharmashalas
Tour Plan
The Parikrama is divided into 3 main sections.
1) Madhuban-Dhokatta: 21 Kms (5 Hrs)
2) Dholkatta-GT Road-Nimia Ghat Temple: 13 KMs (2.5 Hrs)
3) Nimia Ghat-Madhuban: 19 KMs (5 Hrs)
Things to Carry
Time-Distance: 53 Kms around 14 hours to complete
When to Start: 4 AM.
What to carry: Light lunch & snack that you can eat even when
walking like Cucumber, Oranges, Dates and other dryfruits, Rajgira
Vadi/Chikki
What to wear: Shoes preferred but carry Floaters. Carry Jerkin/Sweater. It could be cold and chilly.
Medicines: Antiseptic & Bandages. You might get shoe bites and blisters.
Some loose coins. Its extreme poverty and its very remote. At every village, children would come after you begging.

Map from backpage of book- ‘Shikharji Guide’ by R.P.Pandit.
We started early at 4.30 AM. The weather was chilly and
breezy. Around 2.5 Kms after crossing 'Sita Nala' cross Pipradih village to
reach Pandedih village which is around 5kms. Now the both the extreme ends on
the Vandana- Chandraprabhu Tonk and Parshavnath Tonk are visible far away on
the right side.


From
Navadih village,we proceed to Baritond village. The clock read around 1.5+ hrs
and mobile app showed 8KMS. At around 14 Kms you will reach Chatrobeda village.



For almost next 1.5 hours the trail goes through dense jungle
across the mountains and valleys. The trail is prepared by forest
department. The fresh misty morning and eerie silence amongst the tall
trees makes this 7 km walk the most enjoyable.

Just few kms before the Dholkatta village, as the jungle become
less dense, you begin to again see the mountain range on right and
almost 4 tonks-Chandraprabhu, Anantnath, Sheetalnath and Abhinandan are
visible.

Dhokatta (Dholkatta Nala)
was the first stop for rest and breakfast- It was close to 9.15 AM- around
4/4.5 hrs and distance should be 21 Kms. After 20 mins rest we proceeded
further.

After
10 mins walk you will come to diversion. A big dusty road prepared by Forest
Department goes straight to GT road via Dahia.
We took the right trail which was shortcut to GT road.

The toughest 8KM walk under blazing sun on hot tar was
tiring indeed. It was almost 12.45 PM and we had clocked almost 33 kms
and we had reached our second destination- Nimia Ghat.



The peaceful surroundings of Parshavanath Digamber Jain temple
helps to much needed relaxation. Time to remove shoes and have hearty
meal and refreshing chai from Pandit.
Around 2/2.15 we started the last stretch of 16 kms. Its straight
road from here. After about 1Km, leaving the main road we took a
diversion on the dusty trail on the left. Far away tucked in the
mountains is Parasnath Tonk clearly visible (circled).

After crossing Kodotond at 33Kms, we procedded further to khuntahar village, famous for its huge idol of Bajarangbali.
It was close to 4PM and we had clocked 39 kms. After
completing 10/11 kms walk from Nimia Ghat, the trial enters a dense forest but
this time its steep climb. As confusing trail take us up and down it was also starting
to get darker and darker.
The trail reached Mohanpur and it was pitch dark. Last
few kms of trail was more of dragging our sore feet
The final readings...

Sammed Shikharji Vandana
Unknown
Base Town: Madhuban/Shikharji
Where: 23 Kms from
Parasnath Railway Station, Giridih district, Jharkhand
How to reach: From Parasnath
Railway Station and take a cab from there.
Best time to visit:
Sept-February (post rains)
Time visited: Dec 2014
Stay: Various Dharmashalas, Hotels
Food: Hotmeals in
Dharmashalas, few eateries outside
Parking: Parking
available inside Dharmashalas
Day 2- The Climb- Vandana
(36Kms).

Note:
- Start climb early so
that you are back before its dark. It starts getting dark around 5.30/6pm. The
gates open at around 3AM.
-
In winter the
temperatures drop drastically and it’s cold throughout the day and very foggy
till 11AM. Typically if you stand in sun you will feel hot but if you move in
shadows the chilly winds bite you.
- If you are taking a
doli, you will need to book in advance a day earlier. But Doli are available at
lot of place. At every steep corner you would often meet someone asking for
doliJ
- Beware of monkeys.
- Carry some change if you
want to donate. Unfortunately there are lot small kids who would keep on
begging and it sad to see their plight.
-
Carry Dates, Cucumber Rajigra/Groundnut
Chikki for instant energy.
- The path is mostly
concretized except few places at the top and unless you take shortcuts.
We started at 4 AM
sharp. It was pitch dark but the crowd had already begun climbing. But as the
it started to dawn sun rose behind the Abhinandan Tonk.
Jal Mandir from top


The climb down



Madhuban view...well almost there, few more miles to go!


View from Parshavnath Tonk
View from Chandraprabu Tonk

While
everyone say its 27kms Here is how my app showed on mobile-- I had set
the target as 25kms but then it turned out it was 27 miles and 27 kms.
It was 36KMs which we completed in 12hours!!!
Sammed Shikharji
Unknown
Base Town: Madhuban (Shikharji)
Where: 23 Kms from
Parasnath Railway Station, Giridih district, Jharkhand
How to reach: From Parasnath
Railway Station and take a cab from there.
Best time to visit:
Sept-February (post rains)
Time visited: Dec 2014
Stay: Various Dharmashalas, Hotels
Food: Hotmeals in
Dharmashalas, few eateries outside
Parking: Parking
available inside Dharmashalas
Tour Plan
Day 1- Madhuban
History as per Internet:
The place is called Sammed Śikhar or Sammet Shikhar,
meaning the peak of concentration because it is a place where twenty of
twenty-four Tirthankaras attained a state of mokṣa through meditative
concentration. It is situated on a group of eight hills called the
Parasnath Hills in Giridih, Jharkhand. The base of Sammed Shikharji is
called Madhuvan because of the trees sprinkling with drops and crystals
of Madhu (Honey) all around the bottom of the mountain.The earliest
reference to Shikharji as a tirth (place of pilgrimage) is found in the
Jñātṛdhārmakātha, one of the twelve core texts of Jainism: at Shikharji,
Mallinātha, the nineteenth Jina practiced samadhi. Shikharji is also
mentioned in the Pārśvanāthacarita, a twelfth century biography of
Pārśva.

Note:
- Best to book room in
Dharmashala in advance
- Food (Dinner) is
available inside in Dharmashalas mostly till 7PM. Some Dharmashalas like
BeesPanthi has canteen which is open from 5AM till 10pm and offer snacks like
samosa, kachori, poha, upma,, jelbi, tea, coffee, milk etc.
- If you need Doli, you
will need to book, in the evening prior to you day of climb.
- Hot water is usually available
somewhere in Dharmshala but you may need to carry the buckets to your room.
Some help is available and usually these guys carry up and charge 10rs/bucket.
- Start early to climb so
that you are back before its dark. It starts getting dark around 5.30/6pm. The
gates open at around 3AM.
-
In winter the
temperatures drop drastically and its cold throughout the day and very foggy
till11AM. Carry enough warm clothes. Sweater, mufflers etc are available in
local market too.
Started journey by
Assansol EXP from Mumbai to Patna.The train was supposed to reached at 3.35pm
on Dec 25 but due to extreme fog we reached almost at 8.45PM!. Thankfully we
were able to change platforms and catch Hatia Express at 9.45 PM. Reached Parasnath Station at 3.10 AM on Dec 26. Cabs
had already lined up although service starts at 4 am when the forest gates open. We went to Beespanthi Dharmashala which
is 20KMS away from Parasnath Station in Madhuban. Luckily we had booked a room in advance
and we got the keys after the office opened at 5AM.
In the morning we went
around town and visited local temples. Town landscape. It’s all about this narrow lane which is the main artery of the town with shop spread across this road.
Continuously honking
designer rickshaw.
Beespanthi Kothi is believed to 400 years old and situated
right at the foothills of the mountain. It has 11 temples inside the premises
and the main Parshavnath Bhagvan temple is believed to be built around 1815.
The Dharmashala has around are 300+ rooms, 25+ bunglows, 3 Bhojnalayas and 1
canteen.
Terahpanthi Kothi
This huge Kothi has around 8 Temples and 3 Chaitalayas. The
main temple is of Pusphadanta Bhagvan.
Digamber Jain Museum
The muesum has large number of scenes depicting Vrishabhnath Bhagvans poorvabhav and Panchakalyanike of Adinath Bhagvan.
Jain Museum
The double storied museum has several historical Jain artifacts
and idols especially in elephant tusk and Chandan wood. There is collection of
Jain Stamps and Grain of rice with Parshavanth Bhagwan idol carved meticulously.
There are
around 50 scenes depicting various incidences from the period of Vrishabnath
Bhagvan till today age.
The Shikharji mountain peaks can be observed through a binocular.
Jain Stamps in Jain Museum

Jain Old Manuscripts in Jain Museum
Madhyalok Shod Sansthan Digamber Jain Temple
The Parshavnath Temple is said to be built in 1996 and has huge library. Worth watching is Dhyan-gufa.

Gunyatan Digamber Jain
Temple

Railway Timetable
Room Booking Phone Numbers

Important Phone Nos

Places to visit around Shikahrji

Parikrama with Vehicle

It was a long day and after a hearty dinner at 6.30 PM we
straight went to bed. We were hoping to start the climb next day at 4AM
sharp!
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