Fact File

Taranga Hills Mehsana

Located in the plush green Aravali mountain range, Taranga Hills are known to have deep connections with Jainism and Buddhism. The three peaked hill is at a distance of around 20 kilometers from Vadnagar and are known to have many Jain monks striding about the banks of the Saraswati River barefooted robed in a simple white cloth.

The mountains as well as the village derive their name from the Taranmata Devi shrine which is on top of the hill. The goddess, also known as Dharanmata is actually the Buddhist goddess Tara. This is an old shrine that displays many broken terracotta images of Gautama Buddha. There are also four images carved on a stone plate and brick walls. There are also some rock shelters for them.

As your feet take you upward towards the Taranga Jain Derasar, the hills suffused with greenery and fresh air welcome you to one of the best preserved temples of Gujarat. This temple (Derasar in Sanskrit) is known to be one of the best preserved and also the least restored places of religious importance in the entire Gujarat. People often refer to it as a testament of dedication and true devotion to the Lord by the Solanki Rajputs. While the Taranga Hills are known to be off the beaten path of normal tourists, it is known as one of the most treasured architectural marvels of India.

The Derasar houses a magnificent 5 meters tall sculpture of Bhagwan Adinath, the 2nd Tirthankar of the Jains sitting peacefully as if entranced into a world of unspeakable inner peace and tranquility. This lingering sculpture is contrasted marvelously by the sensual and fluid movements of dancing Gods, Goddesses and Maidens, all of them in excellent detail! The two other peaks are known to have temples dedicated to other Jain Tirthankars Bhagwan Neminath and Bhagwan Mallinath who are known to attained “moksha” or omniscience here. As such, it is no wonder why this place holds an important place in the life of Jains today. Taranga Hills of Mehsana are also considered one of the five important Mahatirthas  for followers of Jainism.

History

While it was the Digambara sect of Jains who originally inhabited Taranga Hills, it is also said that close to 35,000,000 monks attained moksha here. At some point during the 12th century, Solanki King Kumarpal, who himself belonged to the Svetambara sect, is known to have selected this site for the erection of the present day temple dedicated to Lord Ajitnath. This construction was inspired by sage Kalikasarvajna Acharya Henchandra. The construction was completed in the year 1200, the Vikram Era.

Best Time to Visit

As is the case with any temple in Gujarat, the best time to visit is during the winter months of November to February. The heat here is known to be unbearable for many.

How to Reach Taranga Hills

By Road

Taranga Hills are at a distance of 130 km from Ahmedabad. There is the Ambaji shrine which is around 50 km from here. The city of Mehsana is located 56 kms from the hills. There are private as well as state buses that travel to and from Mehsana and Ahmedabad. These buses will drop you at a place called Timba from where you can get a shared or a private vehicle to reach Taranga.

By Rail

The major railway stations near the hills are Visanagar and Mehsana city. There is a slow train that travels every two hours to and from Mehsana. The hills are at a distance of approximately 5 km from the train station.

By Air

Ahmedabad is the nearest airport located at a distance of around 125 km from Taranga Hills.