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{{About|the town in India|the former princely state|Palitana State|the hill near town|Shatrunjaya|the Jain temples on hill|Palitana temples}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Palitana
| settlement_type = Town

| image_skyline = View of Palitana.jpg
| image_alt = Palitana
| image_caption = View of Palitana
| pushpin_map = India Gujarat
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt = Palitana
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Gujarat, India
| coordinates = {{coord|21.52|N|71.83|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Gujarat]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Bhavnagar district|Bhavnagar]]
| established_title = 
| established_date = 1812
| founder =
| named_for = Padliptpuram
| government_type = નગરપાલિકા
| governing_body = પાલીતાણા નગર સેવા સદન
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =83.2
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 66
| population_total = 64,497
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 =
| population_demonym = પાલીતાણા વાસી
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2011 census data">{{cite web|title=Census of India Search details |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=548014|publisher=censusindia.gov.in|access-date=10 May 2015}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type =  STD code
| postal_code = 02848
| registration_plate = GJ-04(Bhavnagar)
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Pālītāṇā''' is a town in [[Bhavnagar district, Gujarat]], India. It is located 50 km southwest of [[Bhavnagar]] city and is a major [[pilgrimage]] centre for [[Jainism|Jains]].<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-02/rajkot/28091395_1_devotees-palitana-jain|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025064717/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-02/rajkot/28091395_1_devotees-palitana-jain|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-10-25|title=Pilgrims flock Palitana for Kartik Poornima yatra |date=2009-11-02|access-date= 2009-11-03}}</ref> It is first of the two <ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/welcome-to-palitana-worlds-first-vegetarian-city-in-indias-gujarat/as71049380.cms</ref> vegetarian cities in the world.

==History==

Palitana is associated with [[Jain]] legends and history. [[Rishabha|Ādinātha]], the first of the Jain [[tirthankara]]s, is said to have meditated on the [[Shatrunjaya]] hill, where the [[Palitana temples]] were later constructed.

The [[Palitana State]] was a [[princely state]], founded in 1194. It was one of the major states in [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]], covering 777 km<sup>2</sup>. In 1921 it had 58,000 inhabitants in 91 villages, generating a 744,416 Rs revenue.

In 1656, [[Shah Jahan]]'s son [[Murad Baksh]] (the then [[Subahdar|Governor]] of Gujarat) granted the village of Palitana to the prominent Jain merchant [[Shantidas Jhaveri]]. The management of the temples was assigned to the [[Anandji Kalyanji Trust]] in 1730.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/shatru.html | title = Shatrunjaya-Palitana Tirtha | author = Yashwant K. Malaiya | access-date = 2011-11-28 }}</ref>

During the [[British Raj]], Palitana was a [[princely state]] in the [[Kathiawar Agency]] of the [[Bombay presidency]]. Gross revenue, £42,000; tribute jointly to the [[Gaekwar of Baroda]] and the [[Nawab of Junagadh]], £700. The capital of the state was the Palitana town (population 12,800). It was ruled by a [[Gohil]] Rajput, with the title of [[Thakore sahib]] (also spelled ''Thakor Saheb'' or ''Thakur Sahib''), enjoying a [[salute state|9-guns salute]], of the Hindu [[Gohel]] dynasty, which received a privy purse of 180,000 rupees at the state's accession to independent India on 15 February 1948.
The last Thakore Sahib of Palitana was Shri Shivendrasinhji Bahadursinhji Gohel the 27th Thakore Sahib of Palitana, who got the title of His Highness after his father HH Thakore Sahib Shri Sir Bahadursinhji Mansinhji Gohel of Palitana died on 18 July 1964. HH Thakore Sahib Shri Shivendrasinhji Bahadursinhji Gohel of Palitana died on 29 June 1990, leaving behind his wife Rajmata Sonia Devi & his son Maharaj Kumar Ketan Shivendrasinhji Gohel of Palitana who reside in Mumbai. MK Ketansinhji is a restaurateur & is the Co-founder & Owner of Brewbot Eatery & Pub Brewery located in Andheri (W), Mumbai.

==Geography==
{{see also|Shatrunjaya}}
Palitana is located at {{Coord|21.52|N|71.83|E}}.<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/9/Palitana.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Palitana]</ref> It has an average elevation of 67 metres (219 feet). The Palitana dam, an irrigation resource, is on the [[Shetrunji River]].<ref name="JainAgarwal2007">{{cite book|last1=Jain|first1=S. Sharad Kumar|last2=Agarwal|first2=Pushpendra K.|last3=Singh|first3=V. Vijay P.|title=Hydrology and Water Resources of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZKs1gBhJSWIC&pg=PA750|access-date=22 December 2012|date=1 January 2007|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-4020-5180-7|pages=750–}}</ref>

==Jain temples==
{{main|Palitana temples}}
[[File:Palitana.jpg|thumb|Palitana temples]]

Palitana is the world's only mountain that has more than 900 temples.<ref>http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/JM-world---s-only-mountain-that-has-more-than-900-temples-4225137-PHO.html</ref> The Palitana temples and whole mountain are considered the most sacred pilgrimage place (''[[Tirtha (Jainism)|tirtha]]'') by the Jain community, and is the world's largest Temple Complex. There are more than 3000 temples located on the [[Shatrunjaya]] hills, exquisitely carved in marble. The main temple on top of the hill, is dedicated to the first ''[[Tirthankara]]'' [[Rishabhanatha]] (Rishabhadeva). The temples were built by generations of Jains over a period of 900 years, from the 11th century onwards. The temples are managed by the [[Anandji Kalyanji Trust]] associated with the [[Kasturbhai Lalbhai]] group. From the foot of the hill to the top there are about 3,800 stone steps to facilitate climbing.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2004/06/04/stories/2004060402020600.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040923132241/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2004/06/04/stories/2004060402020600.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2004-09-23|title=Glistening spires of Palitana temples |author=R. Krishnamurthy|date=2004-06-04|access-date= 2009-11-09}}</ref>

The temples are exquisitely carved in marble, veritable prayers in stone. To an observer, these appear to be ivory miniatures when seen from a distance. Created by master craftsmen, the most important temple is that of the first teerthankara, Shri [[Rishabha|Adishwar]]. It has ornate architectural motifs, though in its overall plan it is simpler than the Choumukh. Other notable temples are those of Kumarpal, Vimalshah and Sampriti Raja. Kumarpal Solanki, a great Jain patron, probably built the earliest temple. The temple has a fabulous collection of jewels, and these can be seen with special permission. The temples date from 11th to the 20th century. From 1865 to 1910 it was ruled by King Dhanpat.

'''Belief'''

Every devout Jain aspires to climb to the top of the mountain at least once in his lifetime, because of its sanctity. Not just the temples on the Hill are sacred, but as per Jain Scriptures entire Hill is sacred right from top to bottom. The journey is arduous. The walk up the stone stairway hewn into the mountain face takes about an hour and a half. For those unable or unaccustomed to the strain, sling-chairs are available at a bargain. The code for the climbers is stringent, in keeping with the rigours of the Jain faith. Food must neither be eaten nor carried on the way. The descent must begin before it is evening, for no soul can remain atop the sacred mountain during the night.

==Vegetarianism==

In 2014, Palitana became the first city in the world to be legally [[vegetarian]]. It has outlawed, or made illegal, the buying and selling of meat, fish and eggs, and also related jobs or work, such as fishing and penning 'food animals'.<ref>http://www.worldcrunch.com/culture-society/in-india-the-world-039-s-first-vegetarian-city/india-palitana-food-meat-fish-gujarat/c3s17132/#.VDV3R_ldWSq</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.indiadivine.org/news/hinduism-in-the-news/in-india-the-worlds-first-vegetarian-city-r861|title=In India, The World's First Vegetarian City|date=2015-03-07|work=IndiaDivine.org|access-date=2017-03-18|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/the-vegetarian-town-they-wouldnt-hurt-a-fly-but-the-jains-upset-palitana-with-meatfree-plea-9588087.html|title=Jain monks want a ban on the sale of non-vegetarian food|date=2014-07-06|work=The Independent|access-date=2017-03-18|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Jain Vegetarian Laws in the City of Palitana : Indefensible Legal Enforcement or Praiseworthy Progressive Moralism? | year=2015 | url=http://liu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A825610&dswid=-2038|publisher=Linköping University, Department of Culture and Communication, Centre for Applied Ethics | last=van Popering | first=Ruben}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{As of|2011}} India [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Palitana had a population of approximately 64,497. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Palitana has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 57%. In Palitana, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.

According to 2011 Census of India, 91.77% of the population was reportedly [[Hindus]] with other religious communities making up rest of the population.

==Transportation==
; By air

The nearest airport at [[Bhavnagar Airport|Bhavnagar]] lies at a distance of 51 kilometres from Palitana, with daily flights to [[Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport|Mumbai]], [[Surat International Airport|Surat]] and [[Ahmedabad Airport|Ahmedabad]], 215 kilometres away by road, has an international airport with regular flights to many important cities.

Keeping in mind the religious and tourism travel, the State government has initiated the process of land acquisition for a new airport at Palitana as part of its plan to establish 11 new airports in Gujarat. The pre-feasibility study has been handed over to the [[Airport Authority of India]] (AAI).<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-10/ahmedabad/29402801_1_new-airports-aai-palitana|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106205748/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-10/ahmedabad/29402801_1_new-airports-aai-palitana|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-11-06|title=Guj to get 11 new airports, renovate 10 defunct strips |date=2011-04-10|access-date= 2012-03-01}}</ref>

; By rail

Palitana has a small railway station, [[Palitana railway station]], that is connected to Sihor and Bhavanagar. Most of the trains stop at [[Sihor]], which is connected to Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

; By road

There are hourly buses for Bhavnagar from Palitana. Regular buses are also available for Ahmedabad, Talaja, Una, and Diu. The total journey time to Una or Diu is around 6 hours as the roads are in good condition. Taxis are also available on hire for Palitana from Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad or Vadodra. The bus stand is situated 800 meters away from the Palitana railway station.

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Holy cities]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Bhavnagar district]]
[[Category:Jain pilgrimage sites]]
[[Category:Vegetarianism in India]]

Palitana - Revision history

Akash Arora: small changes

WikiDwarfBOT: Cleanup:

imported>Materialscientist: Reverted edits by 203.188.229.38 (talk): not providing a reliable source (WP:CITE, WP:RS) (HG) (3.4.10)