Sammed Shikharji – Sacred Jain Pilgrimage Destination

Hello guys, welcome back to my blog. If you know even a little bit about Jainism, then you must have heard the name Sammed Shikharji. It is the most holy pilgrimage place for Jains, and many Jains dream to visit it at least once in their life. Today I am going to tell you about its history, the temples on the hill, the long trek that pilgrims do, and how you can reach there. So let’s start.

What is Sammed Shikharji?

Sammed Shikharji, also called Shikharji or Sammet Shikharji, is a Jain pilgrimage site on Parasnath Hill in the Giridih district of Jharkhand. The word Shikharji means “venerable peak”, as per Wikipedia. Small fact guys, Shwetambar Jains usually say “Sammet Shikhar” and Digambar Jains say “Sammed Shikhar”, and this small difference comes from the old Prakrit language.

Why is it so holy? As per Jain belief, 20 out of the 24 Tirthankaras attained moksha (liberation) on this hill, along with many other monks. The hill is named after Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara, who is believed to have attained moksha here in 772 BCE. Both Digambar and Shwetambar Jains treat it as their most important tirtha, and that’s why many people call it “Tirthraj”, the king of all pilgrimages.

Parasnath Hill is also the highest mountain in Jharkhand. I think it is really special that the holiest place of a religion is also the highest point of the whole state.

Quick Facts About Sammed Shikharji

Here is a quick table so you can get the main idea in one look.

Fact	Details
Other names	Shikharji, Sammet Shikharji, Parasnath Hill, Tirthraj
Location	Parasnath Hill, Giridih district, Jharkhand
Base village	Madhuban
Why holy	20 of the 24 Tirthankaras attained moksha here
Height	About 1,365 m (4,478 ft), highest peak of Jharkhand
Number of tonks	31
Pilgrimage walk	About 27 km (9 km up, 9 km around tonks, 9 km down)
Most sacred spot	Parshvanath Tonk (Suvarnabhadra Kut)
Nearest railway station	Parasnath Station, Isri Bazar (around 25 km)
Nearest airport	Deoghar (around 107 km)
Best time	October to March

History of Sammed Shikharji

Mentioned in Old Jain Texts

The oldest mention of Shikharji as a tirth is found in the Jnatrdharmakatha, one of the 12 core texts of Jainism, as per Wikipedia. It is also mentioned in the Parshvanathacarita, a 12th century biography of Lord Parshvanath. A 13th century palm-leaf manuscript of the Kalpa Sutra even has a painting of Parshvanath’s nirvana at Shikharji. So you can see guys, Jains have been coming here for a very long time.

Medieval Times and Akbar’s Farman

In the 13th century, Vastupala, the famous minister of the Vaghela kings of Gujarat, built a Jain temple here with 20 idols of Tirthankaras. Later, in 1583, Mughal emperor Akbar issued a farman (royal order) that gave the management of the hill to the Jain community under Acharya Hiravijaya Suri, to stop the killing of animals around it. In 1670, a Jain merchant from Agra named Kumarpal Lodha paid for building temples on the hill. I find it very interesting that even a Mughal emperor gave so much respect to this place.

The Jagat Seth Renovation

In 1725, the area came under the famous Jagat Seth banker family of Murshidabad. In 1768 CE they rebuilt the temples on the hill, and this is mostly the shape we see today. As per the book Jain Pilgrimage by Lalitprabhsagar, this big renovation also completed the Jal Mandir, seven temples in Madhuban, a dharamshala and the temple of Bhomiyaji.

Modern Times

After the Jagat Seth family died out in 1912, the hill came under a local zamindar of Palganj. Then in 1918, Seth Badridas Mukeem of Kolkata and Bahadur Singh Dugar of Murshidabad bought it on behalf of the Anandji Kalyanji Trust and renovated the old structures. More renovation was done in the 1980s. Today the Digambar and Shwetambar sects share the jurisdiction of the main temples.

Temples and Tonks on the Hill

What is a Tonk?

On the hill you will see many small shrines called tonks (also called kut or koot). As per Wikipedia, there are 31 tonks, and each one has the footprints (charan) of a Tirthankara carved in black or white marble. Since the tonks have footprints and not idols, both Digambar and Shwetambar Jains worship at them. I really like this, because one simple idea brings both sects together.

As per the Siddhachalam tonk guide, Tonk No. 1 is in the centre of the hill, Tonk No. 12 is the farthest to the east, and Tonk No. 31, the Parshvanath Tonk, is the farthest to the west. Some tonks also remember other holy souls, like Gautam Swami, the chief disciple of Lord Mahavira.

Parshvanath Tonk (Suvarnabhadra Kut)

This is the most sacred spot of the whole hill. It is built on the hilltop called Suvarnabhadra Kut, where Lord Parshvanath attained moksha. As per Wikipedia, Parshvanath’s footprint has a small chatra (umbrella) above it, and this is how you can recognise it from the other footprints. The temple has two floors, and pilgrims offer uncooked rice and sweets here. Every year on Moksha Saptami, the day of Parshvanath’s moksha, devotees offer Nirvana Laddu at this tonk.

Jal Mandir

Jal Mandir is a beautiful temple made of white marble on the hill. As per Siddhachalam, the main puja is done at the Parshvanath Tonk and the Jal Mandir. It is also one of the few places on the hill with bathroom facilities. One tip guys, puja at Jal Mandir needs proper clothes, so carry a clean change of clothes with you.

Temples in Madhuban, the Base Village

Madhuban is a small village at the foot of the hill, and it is full of temples and dharamshalas. As per the Siddhachalam yatra guide, here are some places you should not miss:

Bhomiyaji Temple: Bhomiyaji Maharaj is the protector deity of this tirth, and most pilgrims pray here before starting the yatra. The temple opens at 4 AM.
Shwetambar Kothi: It has a cluster of 11 temples, and the main deity is a 90 cm idol of Shamalia Parshvanath.
Jain Museum: It has a 6 feet idol of Lord Parshvanath, old art pieces of ivory and sandalwood, and it is said to be the only museum in India with all the postage stamps issued on Jainism.
Beespanthi Kothi: Around 400 years old, with a 25 feet standing statue of Bhagwan Bahubali, 24 temples for the 24 Tirthankaras and a 51 feet manastambha.
Terapanthi Kothi: It has the big Chandraprabhu Jinalaya with gateways similar to the Sanchi Stupa, and another 51 feet marble manastambha.
Kutchi Bhawan: It has 52 Jinalayas and a very beautiful spire.
Bhaktamara Temple: A Shwetambar temple set up by Acharya Ramchandrasuri, and the first temple to house a Bhaktamara Stotra yantra, as per Wikipedia.
Nandishwar Dweep Temple: A big Digambar temple that shows the Nandishwar Dweep from Jain cosmology.

One Jain temple in Madhuban also has a mural painting showing all the temples on the hill, so you can see the whole yatra on a wall before you even start. As per the Jain Pilgrimage book, a grand fair is also held at Bhomiyaji’s temple every year on Holi. Honestly guys, I think Madhuban alone needs one full day.

The Shikharji Yatra (Trek)

The full pilgrimage on the hill is about 27 km: 9 km going up, 9 km walking around the tonks at the top, and 9 km coming down, as per Siddhachalam. The path is cement paved. The first 4 km are mostly gentle, and after that it is mostly steps because the steep climb starts.

Timing

Most pilgrims start very early, around 3–4 AM. They reach the first tonk by about 9 AM, finish the tonks by about 1 PM, and come back to Madhuban by around 5 PM. A healthy person takes about 12 hours, and elderly people or families with kids can take up to 16 hours. You have to finish it in one day, because there is no place to stay on the hill except a government Dak Bungalow, which you must book in Madhuban first.

The Most Sacred Part

The section from the Gandharva Nala stream to the top is considered the most sacred part of the route, as per Wikipedia. Many devout Jains climb the whole path barefoot, as per Anantam IAS. If you have more energy and time, there is also a longer parikrama of about 54 km around the whole hill, which is only on foot through the forest.

Doli Service

If you cannot walk so much, you can hire a doli, which is a chair carried by doliwallahs. The cost changes with season and demand, roughly ₹2,000 to ₹5,000, as per Tata Neu. Book it one day before.

Facilities on the Way

There are tea and snack stalls on the route where you can buy water, tea and biscuits. But there is no proper food on the mountain, so carry some food with you. There are no lights and no toilets on the path, though you will find bathroom facilities at Jal Mandir, the Dak Bungalow and Chopda Kund. On the way back, the Jain kothis give refreshment to pilgrims at Gandharva Nala. If you ask me, this is not just a trek, it is a test of patience and faith.

Interesting Facts and Recent News

Parasnath Hill is about 1,365 m high, and on a perfectly clear day it is theoretically in direct line of sight with Mount Everest, which is more than 450 km away, as per Wikipedia.
Shikharji is one of the Shwetambar “Pancha Tirth” (five main pilgrimages), along with Ashtapad, Girnar, the Dilwara Temples of Mount Abu and Shatrunjaya.
The hill is also a protected wildlife sanctuary, with around 49 sq km of forest around the peak, as per Anantam IAS.
In 2012, the world’s first to-scale complete replica of Shikharji was opened at Siddhachalam in New Jersey, USA, for Jains living abroad.

The Tourism Controversy

In February 2019, the Jharkhand government notified the Parasnath area as a tourist spot. In August 2019, the Union Environment Ministry declared an eco-sensitive zone around the Parasnath sanctuary and talked about eco-tourism there, as per Shankar IAS Parliament. When Jains came to know about this in December 2022, there were huge protests across India, because they felt tourism would hurt the sanctity of the hill. Sadly, a 72-year-old Jain monk who was fasting against the decision passed away in Jaipur.

On 5 January 2023, the Union Environment Ministry stayed all tourism and eco-tourism activities on the hill and said it is committed to protecting its sanctity, as per The Hitavada. Then in May 2025, the Jharkhand High Court directed the state government to enforce the existing ban on the sale and consumption of meat, alcohol and intoxicants on the hill.

Marang Buru: Sacred for the Santhals Too

Many people don’t know this, but the same hill is also very sacred for the Santhal Adivasi community, who call it Marang Buru, which means “Great Mountain”. As per Drishti IAS, their most sacred grove, Jug Jaher Than, is on this hill, and the famous Santal Hul of 1855 was launched from Marang Buru. Their Sendra ritual hunt on the hill has been a big point of conflict with the Jain value of non-violence. In 2023, some Santhal groups also protested that the new rules affect their own traditions, as per Deccan Herald. Honestly guys, I think both communities have deep feelings for this hill, so as visitors we should respect everyone’s beliefs.

How to Reach Sammed Shikharji

All routes lead to Madhuban, the base village of the yatra.

By Train: The nearest station is Parasnath Station (PNME) at Isri Bazar, Dumri, around 25 km from Madhuban. It is on the Grand Chord line, and even the Howrah Rajdhani Express stops here, as per Wikipedia.
By Air: The nearest airport is Deoghar Airport, around 107 km away (about a 3 hour drive). Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Airport is around 180 km away (about 4.5 hours), and Durgapur airport is about a 4 hour drive.
By Road: Shikharji is close to NH-2, the Grand Trunk Road. From Kolkata it is around 350 km, about 5–6 hours by road, as per Siddhachalam.

Where to Stay and Eat

Madhuban has many dharamshalas run by Digambar and Shwetambar societies, and most have their own bhojnalaya with simple vegetarian food. Some are really big, for example the Digambar Jain Terapanth Kothi has over 400 rooms. It is better to call and book in advance. As per TripXL, the food here is pure Jain food without root vegetables.

Best Time to Visit

October to March is the best time, and November and December are the most pleasant months, as per Tata Neu. The rainy season is not good for the yatra, and winter around Diwali gets very crowded and expensive, as per Siddhachalam. I would suggest planning 3 to 5 days, so you have time for rest, the yatra and Madhuban’s temples.

Some Simple Tips

Take proper rest the day before the yatra.
Carry a torch or headlight, because there are no lights on the route.
Carry a raincoat or umbrella, because weather on the hill changes suddenly.
Wear comfortable shoes you have already used, never new ones, and keep a walking stick for the way down.
In winter, wear layers, so you can remove them when your body gets warm.
Carry some dry food, glucose water and basic medicines.
Remember that meat, alcohol and intoxicants are banned on the hill, so respect the rules.

FAQs

Why is Sammed Shikharji so important for Jains?

Because 20 of the 24 Tirthankaras, including Lord Parshvanath, are believed to have attained moksha on this hill. Both Digambar and Shwetambar Jains consider it their most important tirtha.

How long is the Shikharji yatra?

It is about 27 km in one day: 9 km up, 9 km around the tonks and 9 km down. It usually takes around 12 hours, and up to 16 hours for elderly pilgrims.

Which Tirthankaras did not attain moksha at Shikharji?

Rishabhanatha attained moksha at Ashtapada, Vasupujya at Champapuri, Neminatha at Girnar and Mahavira at Pawapuri, as per a Treatise on Jainism.

Can non-Jains visit Sammed Shikharji?

Yes, visitors of all faiths can visit, but you must respect the rules of the tirth, like no meat and no alcohol.

What is the nearest railway station to Shikharji?

The nearest railway station is Parasnath Station at Isri Bazar, around 25 km from Madhuban.

Final Words

So guys, this was all about Sammed Shikharji, from its history and tonks to the temples of Madhuban and the long 27 km yatra. For Jains it is the king of all pilgrimages, and even for others it is a very peaceful place full of faith and nature. I have tried to explain everything in simple words, and I hope this helps you to plan your visit. Keep visiting The Indian Architecture for more such blogs.

Sources

Facts checked on Oct 18, 2026.