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Shatrunjaya

Welll so I spent two days in Bhavnagar, a quaint little shithole on par with al-hudayda, Yemen, and Danang, Viet Nam, because an hour away was a Jain Temple complex atop a hill of 4000 steps. Sounded like fun to me. And it was. It takes two hours to climb and it was a very difficult climb. But it was amazing up there. Unfortunately, it was cloudy, so most of the pictures suck. But you can get an idea of what it's like. The guide books say there are 900 temples. I don't know how they count "temple." To me, it seemed like no more than 80.
Okay, it doesn't look like a long walk but it is. I've run four marathons and this walk nearly killed me.
Okay, it doesn't look like a long walk but it is. I've run four marathons and this walk nearly killed me.		 Jains worship 24 teachers. They make idols of them, and they look like this
Jains worship 24 teachers. They make idols of them, and they look like this		 There are two hilltops. This is one, photographed from the other.
There are two hilltops. This is one, photographed from the other.		 I know this is culturally insensitive, but it reminded me of the Bad Witch's castle in Wizard of Oz.
I know this is culturally insensitive, but it reminded me of the Bad Witch's castle in Wizard of Oz.		 So amazing.
So amazing.		 They dress the idols. I don't know why.
They dress the idols. I don't know why.
I honestly expected to see flying monkeys.
I honestly expected to see flying monkeys.		 Most the temples and idols are carved marble.
Most the temples and idols are carved marble.		 The hill is jammed with temples
The hill is jammed with temples		 Very nice details
Very nice details		 Ebony and Ivory
Ebony and Ivory		 Looking vaguely European
Looking vaguely European
v3/31/233431/3/48388075.DSC01767.jpg v3/31/233431/3/48388077.DSC01775.jpg Most the temples are simple inside. This one had a nicely painted ceiling
Most the temples are simple inside. This one had a nicely painted ceiling

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divesh solanki 16-Sep-2008 07:45
the temple is simply amazing and i wish every jain to visit this temple
spoonbender19-Jul-2006 12:08
If I had used the word shithole to describe something that had anything to do with Jainism, I would be happy to delete it. But since I didn't, I won't.

I said Bhavnagar is a shithole. and IT IS. it's a town about one hour by train from the Jain Temple Complex pictured here, and on the planet I live on, people are free to express their opinions about cities they visit. I've said it before and I'll now say it again. Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India IS A SHITHOLE.
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