About Sammed Shikharji

Sammed Shikharji (Parasnath Hill) at 1,365 m in Jharkhand is the holiest pilgrimage site in Jainism — where 20 of the 24 Tirthankaras (including Parshvanatha, the 23rd) are believed to have attained moksha (liberation). The hill has 20 Tonks (peaks/shrines) representing each Tirthankara's moksha site, connected by a 27 km circumambulatory path that serious Jain pilgrims walk barefoot (typically in 2 days). Over 200,000 Jain pilgrims visit each year, particularly from Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. The Jain community has developed excellent guesthouses and dharmashalas on the hill.

Sammed Shikharji has been a revered pilgrimage site for at least 2,500 years. The footprints of Tirthankaras are worshipped on each peak. In recent years, proposals to develop the area as an eco-tourism destination sparked nationwide Jain protests in 2022–23, which ultimately led to the Jharkhand government reaffirming the site's purely religious status.

Darshan & Aarti

🚌 How to reach

Last mile: Madhuban base town has Jain dharamshalas. Dolis (palanquins) available for elderly pilgrims on the 27 km hill circuit.

Where to stay

Estimated expense (per person)

Estimated for a short 2-day pilgrimage.

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