Sammed Shikharji
Also known as: Shikharji · Parasnath Hill · Sammet Shikhar · Madhuban
The holiest tirth in Jainism. Twenty of the twenty-four Tirthankaras attained nirvana on this ridge, Parshvanatha among them, and the summit named for him gives the hill its other name. The pilgrimage is a circuit of the tonks marking each nirvana, walked in one very long day that begins in the dark.
- Both traditions
- Tradition
- Siddhakshetra
- Kind of kshetra
- Madhuban
- Nearest town
- Yes
- Staying there
Why this place
The holiest tirth in Jainism. Twenty of the twenty-four Tirthankaras attained nirvana on this ridge, Parshvanatha among them, and the summit named for him gives the hill its other name. The pilgrimage is a circuit of the tonks marking each nirvana, walked in one very long day that begins in the dark.
Associated with
- Twenty of the twenty-four Tirthankaras
- Parshvanatha
Tradition
Revered by every Jain tradition without exception, and this is the clearest "both" on the whole list. Digambar and Śvetāmbara pilgrims walk the same parikrama; both maintain establishments at Madhuban.
Getting there
- By rail
- Parasnath station on the Delhi–Kolkata main line, then road to Madhuban.
- By air
- Ranchi; Kolkata for more connections.
Best season
October to March. The hill is hard going in the heat and slippery in the rains.
Do you know the pedhi office number?
We could not find a telephone number for Sammed Shikharji anywhere we could stand behind. If you know it — or you have rung the pedhi yourself — tell us, and it helps every pilgrim after you.
Give us the numberThe form arrives already filled in with this tirth. The only thing you have to type is the number.
Is this your institution? Claim or correct this listing
Community-sourced contacts
From jaintirthkshetra.com, a community directory. These are not published by the trusts themselves, and most are the personal mobiles of named office-bearers rather than office lines — so please confirm before you travel, and be considerate about when you call.
The Śvetāmbara kothi at Madhuban. Digambar establishments operate there too — both traditions maintain accommodation at the foot of the hill.
Directory record: Shri Samet Shikar Tirth At Post- Madhuban, District- Giridiha, Jharkhand - 825329 · Shri Samet Shikar Tirth At Post- Madhuban, District- Giridiha, Jharkhand - 8 · Giridih, Jharkhand · jaintirthkshetra.com · 2026-08-16
Is this your number, and you would rather it was not here? Tell us and we will remove it.
The climb, and what to expect
The full parikrama is a very long day on foot — climb, ridge circuit and descent — and pilgrims routinely start around two in the morning to finish before the heat. Doli bearers work the route. This is the most physically demanding of the great tirths; plan for it honestly, and do not attempt the full circuit unprepared.
Staying there
Madhuban at the foot of the hill is entirely given over to pilgrim accommodation, with many dharamshalas and bhojanshalas run by Digambar and Śvetāmbara trusts.
Sources
Every entry says where its facts came from. Community directories are often the only place a dharamshala or a landline is written down, so we keep them — and label them.
- Wikipedia — ShikharjiWikipedia