Sammed Shikhar Ji Teerth

About Sammed Shikhar Ji Teerth

Shikharji, is located on Parasnath hill in Giridih district, Jharkhand, India. It the highest mountain in the state of Jharkhand. It is the most important Jain Tirtha (pilgrimage site) for the Jains. It is believed to be the place where twenty of the twenty-four Jain tirthankaras along with many other monks attained Moksha. Its distance to cover is ~27 kms by walk to climb up and down the hill and takes approximately 12 hours to complete. Basically this journey can be divided into 3 parts-

1. From accommodation to First Tonk "Gautam Gandhar Swami"
2. Pray at all tonks
3. From Parshwanath Tonk to back at accommodation

How To Reach:-

By Train:-
Nearest Railway Station is Parasnath (PNME) which is about 25 kms away from Shikhar Ji.
If pilgrims are coming from New Delhi, then can choose any of the below 4 trains:-

This time table is as on July 31, 2019.

Another stations are:-

• Giridh (GRD) - Around 46 kms away from Parasnath. No direct train available.
• Dhanbad Jn (DHN) - Around 58 kms away from Parasnath. 11 direct trains available.
• Gomoh (NSC BOSE J GOMO) (GMO) - Around 33 kms away from Parasnath. 13 direct trains available.

Special Note : Night travelling by Road in these areas is strictly not advisable due to security reasons.

By Air:-

Nearest Airport is Giridh Airport which is about 37 kms away from Parasnath.

Another airports are:-

• Dhanbad Airport - Around 50 kms away from Parasnath.
• Bokaro Airport - Around 66 kms away from Parasnath.
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Airport, Deoghar - Around 110 kms away from Parasnath.

The best way to reach Sammed ShikharJi is to via railway network and deboard on Parasnath Railway Station.

Experience of Kolkata Rajdhani-

Upon boarding at New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS), we get welcome kit. It contains burger, popcorn packet, muffin, ketchup pouch, tea pouch one each and a cup of boiling water to mix tea pouch in it to make tea.

In dinner, we have ordered mix of Veg Thali and Jain Thali. Both having same menu except the no use of Onion & Garlic in Jain Thali. Veg thali was served cold as they catering get boarded (readymade) at NDLS station. Jain Thali is prepared in train upon order. Less spices so better to carry some salt and masalas with you to make taste. Thali was having Dal, Shahi Paneer, Mix Veg, Chapatis, Rice, Pickle, Curd. 😊 The vendor was not interested in serving curd. We explicitly asked him then he served. So, in case of any Doubt, Ask the Vendor.

Next morning, don't expect breakfast as it served around 8:00 AM while we reach station around 6:00 AM (if no delays) :).

Parasnath Station-

It is a very small station not havng much facilities. Once deboarded, you need to cross the footover bridge to come out of station.

Parasnath to ShikharJi-

Once you come out from the station, you need to hire cab (4 seater, 6 seater, 8-10 seater) to reach ShikharJi. They charge from Rs.250/- ~ Rs.600/- per trip depending upon the cab you are hiring. We hired 10 seater and paid around Rs.500/- after huge bargaining. In addition to it, you need to pay Rs.20/- as exit token of cab from the station. It's around an hour journey to reach ShikharJi. You may ask the driver contact number for return booking and confirm if he is ready for. It will ease you.

Accomodation-

Various accommodations are available in ShikharJi-

1. Digamber Jain Terapanthi Dharamshala
2. Shwetamber Dharamshala
3. Uttar Pradesh Prakash Bhawan
4. Others...

Below are the room rates & room view of Uttar Pradesh Prakash Bhawan-

Walk through-

Once you settle down in your booked accommodation, have some breakfast and get out in market to visit temples and purchasing. Before going market, please confirm with your accommodation manger if the lathi, prayer book, samagri bag is available there at reception. Few snapshots-

Purchase cotton socks, if you want to use them for next day journey. Purchase lathi, prayer book, samagri bag in case if these are not available at your accommodation reception. In the evening, make sure to have dinner before sunset and go to sleep early as you need to wake up in midnight to get ready for journey. As the journey starts around 2:30 ~3:00 AM, wake up according to it so that you get ready well in time. If you want doli, you will get them at the gate of accommodation. While hiring any doli wala, ask each and every thing. There are 3 types of doli-

1. Plain Doli
2. Chair Doli
3. Godi / Pitthu

However these doli are also available during the journey also. So, in case you don't wish to hire right now, you may get later on also.

All have different rates. Chart is given below-

Now, at the scheduled time, the journey starts, all pilgrims starts journey together by chanting Jai Kara's and Namokar Mantra. Try to remain close all family at the journey starts in night and there is no light during the journey and it is totally dark. The path is quite narrow so take precautions during journey. Doli walas are quite fast so they interrupt you often. Be calm and let them go. Apart from them, many cows will also meet during this. At many places, your feet may get stuck in cow dung 😉  so also keep an eye on path also. You will pass through Gandharv Nala and Sheetal Nala.

However you may/will find several tea snacks provider during the journey, it is advised to keep refrain from them as you are not on a picnic. Its a holy journey and if you can have fast (except water) for a day then it's good. 

By the morning, you will reach the first tonk "Gautam Gandhar Swami". From there second part of journey starts, visit all tonks and pray. Few snaps-

The last tonk is "Parshwanath Bhagwan" tonk. Several snack stalls are available here. In case, if you are keen hungry. Once complete your pray, then you may have snacks there. After here, you have to come down by the way through Dak Bangla route. This route get connect back to Sheetal Nala. From here the route becomes common.

Note:- Few bikes are also started to get you directly at "Parshwanath Bhagwan" / "Gautam Gandhar Swami" tonk. This way you save your first part of journey. Same way you may hire them to get down back. It's upto you and your will power 😉.

Once back to accommodation, you may take bath with warm water. Maalish walas may ask you for get maalish. Once again its your choice. Let's have a dinner and have a rest for next day journey back to your home.

Next day, get ready well in time and have breakfast. There are several other nearby places to visit. If you can add another day in your trip, you can visit these places. If not, at least, you may visit the Jain Temple just 50 meters near to Parasnath station. Its on the way to station (It in the gali which the taxi use to come out to main road from station).

Important:-

1. Carry torch (with new cells) for individual (each person will carry own torch) with broad lighting (avoid focus light torch).
2. Carry dinner & snacks for train journey.
3. Carry Cash as cards & digital wallets are not popular.
4. Carry extra pair of clothes as climate is not very much as per expectations.
5. Carry new pair of slippers (non leather) if you are not habitual of bare foot walk.
6. Carry some sort of disposable (paper) cutlery for having dinner/lunch in train.
7. Carry cap to keep your head safe from rain.
8. Carry samagri.
9. Carry an extra bag for keeping purchased items in case if your current luggage is completely full.
10. Ask for Lunch/Dinner packaging for return journey in Sammed ShikharJi with canteen manager.

NOTE:- I had tried to provide the information as much I can and I know. If anyone have any information/images that can be useful for other pilgrims for visiting Sammed Shikhar Ji, please send me the same using contact form or on jainsachin32@gmail.com. It would be highly appreciated to add the same on this blog.