The Girnar Race

Girnar Parvat in Junagadh district is popular both as a pilgrimage site as well as a retreat for trekkers. Girnar Parvat has a terrain different from the golden sands of Gujarat and the verdant Gir Forest making it unique. Devotees visit Girnar Parvat all year round, and Datar Peak is considered to be sacred by both Hindus and Jains. There are several temples here such as the Neminath Temple and the Meravasi Temple, which are considered sacred by people of the Jain community. Many things take place at and around Girnar. It includes the Girnar Parikrama Festival and the Bhavnath Fair, held during January and February. The remarkable thing about these festivals is that both Hindu devotees and Jain devotees come together during these festivals in huge numbers. The other thing that binds all communities at the Girnar is Annual Mount Girnar Ascending Descending Competition.

After they pass this ghodi, they reach ZINA BAVA NI MADHI located very near to the largest dam of JUNAGADH district-HASNAPUR DAM. Pilgrims do a night halt here. A very beautiful temple named CHANDRA-MAULESHWAR is situated here. The probability of lions sighting here is maximum. This place is also known as RANIYO KUVO. Then there are two options for the pilgrims from Zina Bava Ni Madhi. The first option is to directly reach MALVELA and the other option is to reach Malvela via SARKHADIYA HANUMAN. ‘Sarkhadiya Hanumaan’ is the best Hanumaan temple in Junagadh. It is located amidst dense forest. Lion roars are almost common at this place. Chances of being confronted by deers are also maximum. Pilgrims can also visit Suraj-Kund from Sarkhadiya Hanuman. Pilgrims reach MALVELA from either of the above-mentioned routes. After visiting all the above places now the pilgrims have to climb down the steep elevation of NALPANI ghodi. After the devotees climb it down, they reach Bordevi. Bordevi is a temple of GODDESS surrounded by Mango trees on three sides of the temple. It is 10 Km away from Bhavnath Taleti. It is the last spot of the Girnar Parikrama.

The ascent of Mount Girnar, which is the highest peak in Gujarat has the starting line near Mangalnathji Ashram in Bhavnath Taleti, the foothill of Mount Girnar. The event is professionally organised and videographed. The Junagadh district administration and Department of Youth and Cultural Affairs used to organise Open Gujarat Mount Girnar Ascending and Descending Competition for youths of Gujarat. Later it was open for the entire country. However, the organisers trimmed the Open Gujarat event for the year 2015 to the only ascent of the mountain to meet the criteria laid down by Guinness World Record authority. This is not for the faint-hearted people and there is a selection criterion set to participate. People participate from across the states. They first need to get registered themselves in any of the categories they belong to. The categories are 1) boys and 2) girls. These two are further divided into three categories: 1) senior, 2) junior.

This is an exciting event covered by all state media. The race does not cover the entire mountain and does not go up to the highest peak at 3666 feet. The boy's category covers a distance of approx. 5000 steps whereas for girls the distance is restricted at 2000 steps.