Girnar Temples (Girnar Parvat): Timings, How to Reach & Darshan Guide

Darshan timings at Girnar

Darshan timings by season
Season	Opens	Darshan	Closes	Status
Winter (Nov to Feb)	~5:00 AM	6:00 AM to 5:00 PM	~5:00 PM	Open
Summer (Mar to mid-Jun)	~5:00 AM	6:00 AM to 5:00 PM	~5:00 PM	Open
Monsoon (mid-Jun to Sep)	Open but not advised	Steps turn slippery and risky	~5:00 PM	Seasonal

Verify before you travel. Girnar has no formal seasonal shutdown like Palitana, but the climb is strongly discouraged in the monsoon because the stone steps turn dangerously slippery. Most pilgrims start the ascent between 3 and 5 AM in winter to beat the heat and be back down by early afternoon. The Dattatreya shrine at the summit and individual Jain shrines keep their own hours, and some Jain temples are locked through the midday window (roughly 11 AM to 3 PM); the Neminath temple generally stays open through the day. Confirm current timings locally before you travel.

Read the full Timings & Darshan Hours →

How to reach Girnar Temples (Girnar Parvat)

Girnar rises just east of Junagadh city. The trek begins at Girnar Taleti (Bhavnath Taleti), the base at the foot of the steps, which is a short drive from Junagadh Junction railway station and the city bus stand.

Reaching by rail, road and air
Mode	Point	Distance	Notes
Train	Junagadh Junction	approx. 6 km to Taleti	Main railhead, well connected to Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi. Autos and taxis run to Girnar Taleti.
Air	Keshod Airport	approx. 40 km	Nearest airstrip but very limited scheduled flights. Confirm operations before relying on it.
Air (hub)	Rajkot Airport (RAJ)	approx. 100 km	Practical airport with regular flights. Rajkot's newer Hirasar international airport is a bit further out.
Air (major)	Ahmedabad (AMD)	approx. 325 km	Largest international hub in Gujarat. Roughly 6 hours by road, or fly to Rajkot and drive on.
Road	Junagadh city bus stand	approx. 10 km	GSRTC and private buses reach Junagadh from across Saurashtra. Local transport onward to Taleti.

Read the full How to Reach →

Puja & aarti schedule

Hill opens, first pilgrims begin the ascent~5:00 AM
Ropeway service to Ambaji begins~8:00 AM
Morning puja and aarti, Amba Mata templemorning, approx.
Guru Dattatreya darshan at the summit~8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Evening aarti at Bhavnath Mahadev, Taleti base~7:00 PM (approx.)

Girnar is a cluster of independent shrines across several peaks rather than one managed temple, so there is no single official aarti timetable and individual timings shift with the season and the Hindu calendar. The Amba Mata, Gorakhnath, Dattatreya and Jain (Neminath) temples each keep their own rhythm; the times above are practical estimates. Verify on site or with the local trust.

Read the full Aarti & Puja Schedule →

Dress code & temple rules

Dress modestly and cover shoulders and knees; traditional wear (kurta-pajama or dhoti for men, saree or salwar for women) is ideal for temple entry.

Avoid shorts, ripped jeans, mini-skirts and sleeveless tops in the shrines.

Remove footwear before entering the Jain and Hindu temples; leather items are discouraged inside the Jain complex.

Photography of the main deities is often restricted; ask before you shoot inside a shrine.

Wear grippy walking or hiking shoes for the climb and carry water, a hat and sunscreen; the steps are steep, long and exposed.

Junagadh sits in a region where many temples expect vegetarian conduct; do not carry meat, eggs or alcohol on the hill.

Read the full Dress Code & Temple Rules →

Best time to visit & festivals

The comfortable window is November to February, when the climate is cool enough to attempt the 9,999 steps and the monsoon has passed. Summer is punishingly hot on the exposed staircase, and the monsoon makes the stone slippery. Time a visit to one of the two great Junagadh gatherings if you can handle crowds.

Major festivals
Festival	When	Significance
Girnar Lili Parikrama	November (Kartik Sud Agyaras to Poonam)	A five-day, roughly 36 to 37 km circumambulation around the Girnar massif, starting from Bhavnath. Lakhs of pilgrims walk the forested route. Peak
Bhavnath Mahashivratri Mela (Bhavnath Fair)	February to March (Mahashivratri)	Five-day fair at Bhavnath Mahadev temple at the Taleti base, famous for the midnight procession of Naga Bavas (naked ascetics) on Shivratri. Peak
Datar Urs and Parab Fair	varies (approx.)	Smaller observances tied to the Jamiyal Shah Datar shrine on the adjoining Datar hill and local fairs; secondary to the two main gatherings.

Read the full Best Time to Visit & Festivals →

Nearby temples & tirths

Somnath

First of the twelve Jyotirlingas, on the Arabian Sea coast.

approx. 90 km from Girnar →

Chotila (Chamunda)

Hilltop Chamunda Mata shrine on the Rajkot road, a short climb.

approx. 110 km from Girnar →

Palitana (Shatrunjaya)

The holiest Jain tirth, about 865 marble temples on a hill.

approx. 175 km from Girnar →

Read the full Nearby Temples & Tirths →

Where to stay

Most pilgrims stay at Girnar Taleti (Bhavnath Taleti), the base, where Jain and Hindu dharamshalas and bhojanshalas offer clean, inexpensive rooms and simple vegetarian meals geared to yatris; there are also basic dharamshala rest houses partway up near the Jain temple complex for those who climb over two days. Junagadh city, about 6 to 10 km away, has the widest choice of budget and mid-range hotels and is the practical base if you want more comfort. Book well ahead around the Bhavnath Fair (Mahashivratri) and the Lili Parikrama, when the town and base fill completely.

Read the full Where to Stay →

Frequently asked questions

How many steps are there at Girnar?

About 9,999 to 10,000 stone steps from the Girnar Taleti base to the Guru Dattatreya shrine at the summit. The Jain (Neminath) temples sit at the first tonk after roughly 4,000 steps, and the Ambaji temple is higher up at around 5,000 steps.

Is the Girnar climb open in monsoon?

There is no formal monsoon closure, but the climb is strongly discouraged during the rains because the steep stone steps become dangerously slippery. November to February is the safest and most comfortable window.

What is the nearest railway station to Girnar?

Junagadh Junction, about 6 km from Girnar Taleti. It is well connected to Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi, with autos and taxis running to the base.

How much is the Girnar ropeway ticket?

Approximately 400 rupees one way and 700 rupees round trip for adults, and about 350 rupees for children aged 5 to 10, with under-fives free. The ropeway runs roughly 8 AM to 5 PM up to the Ambaji temple. Confirm current fares before you travel.

Does the ropeway go all the way to the Dattatreya temple?

No. Asia's longest ropeway carries you only up to the Ambaji temple, around the 5,000-step level. From there the Gorakhnath peak and the Guru Dattatreya summit still have to be climbed on foot, another several thousand steps.

Is there an entry fee for Girnar temples?

No, darshan at the temples is free. You only pay if you use the Girnar ropeway, which is a separate ticketed service.

Compiled from public sources including Trawell.in - Girnar Hill, Junagadh · Wikipedia - Girnar ropeway · YatraDham - Girnar Ropeway timings and price · DeshGujarat - Girnar Lili Parikrama dates. Timings and seasonal closures change; confirm with the temple trust before travelling.

Girnar Temples: Timings, the 9,999 Steps, Ropeway and Complete Darshan Guide