Spritualy is often found in the hardest challenge we ever face - sid
( View from the Top of the muntain, on a clear day, picture is my own )
Parasnath Hill is the range in the Eastren India in the state of Jharkhand. Not many people know about it as it is not a tourist place. It is a place of pilgrim to people who believe in faith called JAINISM.
Not a lot of people know about this faith as well, as they are only 5 million in a country of 1 billion. This makes them super minority.
But this post is not about the religion it self. But more about the trek of parasnath hill.
Background of Parasnath Hill
It has been believed that 20 Thirthankars ( Gods) of Jains attained the libration on this hill. Hill is just 1365 Meters in height. But the Fun fact is on a very clear day ( if that happen), Mount Everst should be visible which is 450 Kms in the north. They allign perfectly.
Though Jain community extend exclusive right to the hill. there are local tribe of santhals too, which claim that the hill is also their deity.
There are 27 temples on the main ridge whcih connect multiple hills in the region.
The over all path is 27 Kilometers. And the temples are small. Some of them belived to ancient. But they all have been rebuilt over time and are well taken care of.
About the trek
Sunrise views are mesmerising on the top. ( I am going to post pictures later in the blog). Since this is a pilgrim trek. Lot of people do it without eating or drinking anything. There are two tracks, one goes around all 26 temples and is of 27Kms. Another is 9 Kms straight up. and another 9 to come down.
Most of the path is Cenmented ( it was dne in ast 10 years), as people go there bare foot. but still it poses some real good challenge. The first 6 kms has two mini waterfalls/spings in the way which orignates deep with in the jungle. water is really clean and is amazing. to drink.
I did the main trek multiple times. best time is springn, but if you are going in rainy season beware, the chances to be hit by lighting is really high on hill top. I have seen a temple destroyed by lighting strike as the conductor pole was not there ( Broken somehow)
What to do and how to reach
You can reach to this lace via Rail ( you need to reach station Name PARASNATH) and then you have to take a taxi to madhuban ( which is a village at the base of the hill)
At madhuban you wiwll get a lot of option to stay, you can get cheap stay from 50 INr per night to over 1500 per night.
Most of the inns are controled by religious organisations belonging to jains. So if you are non Jain. You might not get any accomodation in peak season ( Moonsoon, Holi and Diwali)
Trek s 8 -12 hours long atleast. Most of it is comfirtable hke, though on the direct path to top last 3 kms are quite a challenge. but if you are taking the longer route challenge is greater for you will get many stretches which test your will power.
You start at 3 Am or 4 am depending upon the time of year you go there.
In peak season of moonsoon, you can start your climb at 1 AM as well though you need to have torch etc with you. Since it is protected wildlife reserve and a Naxalite insurgent area, lease be in group for your own safety.
I did thiss in Moonsoon last year so pictures are of last season also, i started at 3.30 Am s
At the break of dawn in the clouds
I am not there yet! it is mid way, you have to cross 3 hills before you begin the climb to main hill.
Just before the first temple ( 1 km before) the view is amazing. Lush greenery is refreshing, you can stop in between as there are many breakpoints in between, where you can rehydrate. Though temprate was under 10 degree centrigrade. But i was sweating like a pig there. The hike generate a lot of heat.
The last 2 kms are quite challenging on the longer route as it involves steep climb and steps in between.
Also while i was hiking up Clouds came really low on another point here is the view :
Easier part if the trek look like this
Looks like a paved way for motorcycle. At the easiet part it is really walk in park.
At the top of the ridge :
To me it looked like a scene from the lord of the rings, but without the ice.
Walking in the jungle was surreal, it was meditative in its own unique way to complete the hike. You can be a spritual person or not. There is something for you in this place.
It took me 3 hours to decend, at the good speed. if it rains the way really get slippery
Some interesting experiences
While i was traveling through i saw a bull fighting with another one at the lower part of the trek, Rarely i have seen such a fierce battle between animals. ( Have not clicked them, as i was scared about my own life)
When i was climbing up, i prayed to god that it should not rain, and voila it never rained though there was so many clouds. In fact in one part, cloud condenced in the trees and it starte to drizzle. The place has such an amazing spritual aura to it. You can meditate hours if there are less people to disturb you.
Also it is a common belief that you need to be a good sould to be able to climb the hike. And even have good karma to be able to enter in the temple which are built on the hills.
At the end it was a fulfilling jourey.. I hope you liked it. In the era of instagram, I choose to post unedited pictures here. May be i should post the full editted shoot of that area sometie in future.
You can check my insta for more updates about m y travel
I go by the name of sidmaximusjay on instagram.
Till next time
Cheers
Sid😀😀😀