Mangi-Tungi Digambar Jain Pilgrimage

Rising from the Selbari-Dolbari ridge in the Baglan (Satana) taluka of Nashik district, Mangi-Tungi is one of Digambar Jainism's most revered siddha kshetras — a place where, by tradition, countless munis and sages attained moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

• The two pinnacles that give the tirtha its name stand shoulder to shoulder above the plains: Mangi to the west and Tungi to the east, joined by a saddle of rock and reached only on foot up a long stone stairway.
• Pilgrims have climbed here for centuries, and the summit's austere silence, wheeling eagles and vast Khandesh horizon make the ascent feel like a passage out of the ordinary world.
• The site's modern fame rests on the Bhagwan Rishabhdev statue, a 108-foot standing figure of the first Jain tirthankara carved directly into the living rock of the Mangi hill.
• Consecrated in February 2016 after years of stone-cutting, it was recognised by Guinness World Records as the tallest Jain idol in the world, and its serene, downcast gaze has since drawn pilgrims and curious travellers from across India.
• Around and below it, the older heart of the tirtha survives: rows of ancient rock-cut caves and cells whose walls bear weathered images of tirthankaras, believed to date back many centuries.
• Reaching the shrines is a genuine trek — several thousand steps wind around both pinnacles past caves, small temples and viewpoints, so an early start, sturdy shoes, water and sun protection are essential; palanquin bearers (dolis) are usually available for those who cannot climb.
• The circuit of both hills is strenuous and best treated as a full day.
• Dress and behave modestly, as this is an active place of worship, and check local advice before setting out in the monsoon when the rock can be slippery.
• Food here is strictly sattvic and pure-vegetarian by faith.
• The pilgrim bhojanalaya (dharamshala dining hall) at the base near Tahrabad typically serves simple Jain thalis cooked without onion, garlic or root vegetables — ask for the Jain plate.
• For a fuller meal on the way, the nearby town of Satana has modest pure-veg lodges and thali houses; confirm the pure-veg or Jain option when you order, and carry fruit and water for the climb itself.