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Taranga Hills, located in the Mehsana district of Gujarat, is an important pilgrimage site for Jains and Buddhists. The history and cultural heritage of these hills spans centuries, making this place unique.​

Location and Introduction

Taranga Hills is located in the Aravalli Range, about 128 km north of Ahmedabad and just 20 km from Vadnagar. These three-peaked hills are an important pilgrimage site for followers of Jains and Buddhism. There is a short climb to reach here, which allows tourists to experience the beauty and tranquility of nature. ​

History

The history of Taranga Hills dates back to the 4th to 5th centuries, when Buddhism was dominant here. Archaeological studies conducted in 1938 found Buddhist relics and caves, including Buddhist statues and other artifacts. These remains indicate that this place was an important center for Buddhist monks.

Later, in the 12th century, King Kumarpal of the Solanki dynasty built a temple dedicated to Jainism at this place. This temple was built under the guidance of Acharya Hemchandracharya and is still considered one of the best preserved Jain temples in Gujarat.

Taranga Jain Temple

Taranga Jain Temple, also known as Ajitnath Temple, was built in the 12th century. The architecture of this temple is very beautiful and one has to climb about 700 steps to reach here. The main sanctum of the temple houses a five-meter-high statue of Shri Ajitnath, who is the second Tirthankara of Jainism. The sanctum of the temple is decorated in red, while the exterior is made of white stone and bricks. The outer walls of the temple feature statues of dancing women, which are excellent examples of art. ​

Buddhist remains and caves

Remains of Buddhism are also found in Taranga Hills. The Taranmata and Dharanmata temples here house statues of the Buddhist goddess Tara Mata. The caves known as Jogida's Cave contain Buddhist statues and artworks, which testify to the dominance of Buddhism. ​

Facilities for tourists

Facilities are available for tourists in Taranga Hills. There are Svetambar and Digambar Jain Dharamshalas here, which provide accommodation and Jain food. Temple timings: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. ​

How to reach

• By road: Taranga Hills is about 130 kilometers from Ahmedabad, 50 kilometers from Ambaji Temple and 56 kilometers from Mehsana. Buses and private vehicles are available from Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Patan, Siddhpur and Ambaji. ​
• By Train: The nearest major railway station is Mehsana, which is 52 km away. A slow local train is also available from Mehsana to Taranga, which takes about 2 hours.
• ​By Air: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, is 130 km away.