We left Diu heading for Palitana but it wasn’t long before we realised we weren’t heading for Palitana at all. The only easy way to get back on track was to get a pass and drive through the Sasan Gir park, so that was it – two safaris in two days. This was the view through our windscreen for most of the morning:

We didn’t see any lions but just after we left the park we did see a camel being taken for a walk:

and a very unlucky driver sitting alongside his very unlucky truck:

We saw Palatina long before we reached it:

At first we didn’t realise what it was and turned off the main road down a side track which seemed to be going directly towards the hill. After a few minutes we came across a settlement and stopped to ask how we could get to the temple. A few games of charades later we came to understand that the temple was at Palitana and that we were being invited to stay for chai – result!

I went on a five minute tour of the village with our new host and arrived back to see Leishia surrounded by curious villagers:

Then came the inevitable photo-calls:

We had some very tasty chai and then we were on our way amazed, once again, at the hospitality of rural India.

Just along the road were more super sights:

  Nellie Sweet smile Jain nuns A common sight across India

We soon arrived at Palitana and booked into the only “hotel” in town (back to earth with a bump after the Lake Palace!) ready for an early start the next morning.

By 7am we were on the route up to the temples. The 3,800 step climb was fun mainly because we seemed to adopt the children of a family who were also on the way up the hill, here they are:

They were great kids and stayed with us the whole morning which proved to be very helpful in deciphering the practices and symbology of Jainism.

Everything is carried up the hill:

Including several of the pilgrims:

So what’s Jainism? Jainism is an ancient Indian religion far older than, for example,  Christianity. Jainism has been in decline for over 1,000 years mainly due to the rise of Hinduism and Islam. It has several core precepts including non-violence, spiritual independence and equality between all forms of life.

The latter was vividly demonstrated on the ascent; someone had taken the time to place a circle of rocks on the path to mark out an ants nest because a Jain would not want to accidentally step on an ant:

The climb was more than worthwhile, this is a shot of just a few of the 900 temples on the summit:

No more shots – photography was strictly forbidden.

As we were coming back down the hill the daily procession was making it’s way up placing a rose on every step:

The most interesting feature of the descent was the Jain nuns who descend at an amazing pace. I ran alongside one, she turned and said “Come with me but no touch” (apparently no man must ever touch a Jain nun). Anyway I ran down with her for a short stretch – she could run, and she was in full regalia!

Once we reached the bottom volunteers washed each pilgrim’s right foot with milk and water and gave us a bindi (the little dot on the forehead) and two rupees. They also gave us a meal voucher and we went off to the canteen for some Jain food.

A great day exploring a fascinating and ancient religion.