Vastupal-Tejpal & Mallinath Jain Temples
Junagadh, Gujarat · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
High on the sacred hill of Girnar, above the town of Junagadh, a tightly packed group of marble and stone Svetambara Jain derasars crowns the first plateau of the climb, reached by a long stairway of several thousand stone steps (or, today, a cable-car to the nearby Ambaji ridge followed by a shorter walk). Among these shrines stand temples traditionally associated with Vastupal and Tejpal, the celebrated brother-ministers of the Vaghela court in the early 13th century, the same patrons remembered for the exquisite Luna Vasahi at Dilwara on Mount Abu. On Girnar their endowment is honoured in a cluster that includes shrines to Mallinath and other Tirthankaras, set close to the great Neminath temple that anchors the whole Jain sanctuary here.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Girnar Taleti bhojanalayas and temple canteens (pure-veg Gujarati thali)
- ✦Geeta Lodge, Junagadh (long-running pure-veg Kathiyawadi thali)
- ✦Pure-veg Gujarati thali restaurants near Kalwa Chowk, Junagadh
- ✦Farsan and sweet shops near Junagadh bus stand
About
High on the sacred hill of Girnar, above the town of Junagadh, a tightly packed group of marble and stone Svetambara Jain derasars crowns the first plateau of the climb, reached by a long stairway of several thousand stone steps (or, today, a cable-car to the nearby Ambaji ridge followed by a shorter walk).
- Among these shrines stand temples traditionally associated with Vastupal and Tejpal, the celebrated brother-ministers of the Vaghela court in the early 13th century, the same patrons remembered for the exquisite Luna Vasahi at Dilwara on Mount Abu.
- On Girnar their endowment is honoured in a cluster that includes shrines to Mallinath and other Tirthankaras, set close to the great Neminath temple that anchors the whole Jain sanctuary here.
- Girnar is one of the most revered tirths of Jainism, held sacred as the place associated with Neminath, the 22nd Tirthankara.
- The Vastupal-Tejpal and Mallinath shrines share the plateau's dense, fortress-like arrangement of walled compounds, carved doorways, pillared mandapas and rows of image niches.
- The workmanship is characteristically Solanki-Vaghela: lotus ceilings, finely chiselled brackets and delicate figural bands, weathered by centuries of sea-facing wind yet still legible.
- The setting is as memorable as the carving — black volcanic rock, drifting mist, and long views over the Gir plains toward the coast, with the higher Hindu summits of Amba Mata, Gorakhnath and Dattatreya rising beyond.
- Pilgrims and unhurried travellers treat the climb as a half-day undertaking, ideally begun before dawn.
- Modest dress is expected, leather items are left outside the shrines, and photography inside sanctums is generally restricted; follow the posted rules and the guidance of temple staff.
- Carry water, and pace the steps.
- For food, the pilgrim belt is reliably vegetarian.
- At Girnar Taleti, the base of the hill, simple bhojanalayas and temple-run canteens serve pure-veg Gujarati thalis, khichdi, rotla and chaas.
- In Junagadh town, long-running pure-veg thali houses — Geeta Lodge among the best known — lay out unlimited Kathiyawadi thalis, while pure-veg Gujarati restaurants near the bus stand and Kalwa Chowk offer fresh farsan, thepla and sweets.
- Everything here is fully vegetarian; there is no need to hunt for a meat-free table.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Girnar Plateau (Jain Temple Complex), Girnar Hill, above Junagadh, Junagadh, Gujarat, 362001
How to Reach: On the Girnar plateau above Junagadh, Gujarat. From Junagadh (about 5 km to Girnar Taleti base) take an auto-rickshaw or taxi to the foot of the hill, then climb the stone stairway of several thousand steps; a ropeway runs to the nearby Ambaji ridge, cutting the remaining walk. Junagadh has good rail links across Gujarat; the nearest airports are Rajkot and Keshod.
More places in Junagadh
- Girnar Parvat & the Great Step ClimbGujarat's tallest peak near Junagadh, climbed by roughly 9,900 stone steps past Jain and Hindu shrines to five sacred summits.
- Girnar Ropeway (Udankhatola)One of Asia's longest passenger aerial ropeways, gliding pilgrims from Girnar's base to the Ambaji plateau in minutes above the Gir forest.
- Neminath Jain Temple (Girnar)The principal Jain shrine on Girnar hill, dedicated to Neminath, the 22nd Tirthankara — a supremely revered Jain nirvana-tirth reached by a long climb of stone steps above Junagadh.
- Ambaji Mata Temple (Girnar)A revered Amba Mata Shakti shrine high on the Girnar heights above Junagadh, the first major Hindu temple reached on the long summit-stairway pilgrimage.
- Uparkot FortAncient hilltop citadel above Junagadh with rock-cut stepwells, Buddhist caves and old cannons, dramatically restored beneath Girnar's peaks.
- Gorakhnath Peak & TempleThe highest summit of Girnar (about 1,031 m), crowned by a Nath-sampradaya shrine to Guru Gorakhnath, reached by a long stone stairway with sweeping Saurashtra views.
- Guru Dattatreya Peak & ShrineA white hilltop shrine on Girnar's farthest summit enshrining Guru Dattatreya's sacred footprints, reached by a near-10,000-step climb.
- Bhavnath Mahadev TempleAn ancient Shiva temple at the foot of Girnar near Junagadh, the spiritual anchor of the taleti and the heart of the Bhavnath Maha Shivratri Mela.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were Vastupal and Tejpal?
They were brother-ministers of the Vaghela court in Gujarat in the early 13th century, remembered as great patrons of Jain architecture. They are famously associated with the Luna Vasahi temple at Dilwara on Mount Abu, and Jain tradition credits them with endowing shrines here on Girnar as well.
How do I reach the Jain temples on Girnar?
The temple complex sits on the first plateau of Girnar hill above Junagadh. From Girnar Taleti at the base you climb a stone stairway of several thousand steps; a ropeway to the nearby Ambaji ridge shortens the walk. Most pilgrims start before dawn to beat the heat.
Is there an entry fee?
There is no ticket for temple darshan. The ropeway to the Ambaji ridge is a separate paid service if you choose to use it instead of climbing the full stairway.
What should I keep in mind when visiting?
Dress modestly, remove leather items before entering the shrines, and respect restrictions on photography inside sanctums. Carry water and pace the steep climb. Follow the posted rules and the guidance of temple staff throughout.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the Girnar Jain temples?
The whole pilgrim belt is pure-vegetarian. At Girnar Taleti, simple bhojanalayas and temple canteens serve Gujarati thalis, khichdi and chaas. In Junagadh town, pure-veg thali houses such as the well-known Geeta Lodge offer unlimited Kathiyawadi thalis, alongside farsan and sweet shops.