Sonagiri is a small town near the Gwalior-Jhansi highway with over 100 Jain temples, and 77 of them sit atop a hill. Most of these beautiful temples were built during the 9th century. The sight of these white temples on the hill motivated me to add Sonagiri to our recent trip to Gwalior.
Drive to Sonagiri
It took us just an hour to reach Sonagiri from Gwalior. Our destination of the day was Orchha, but we decided to spend a couple of hours here first.
I knew we’d have to climb, but I was unsure about how long it would take. Many online sources mentioned 3,500 steps, but looking at the photos, it didn’t seem like such a long climb.
Our driver assured us that the climb wouldn’t take too long, which was reassuring.
At Sonagiri
Like all Jain temples, Sonagiri was clean and peaceful. The path to the temples was well-maintained, with plenty of places to rest. We had to take off our shoes and walk barefoot, which would have been tough in the summer, but it was pleasant in early March.
There was a group of Army personnel visiting the temple. They were incredibly fit and quickly disappeared from our sight. We took our time, stopping often for photos and videos.
Along the way, we saw many temples, but the main one was temple 57, the largest with an idol of Chandraprabha, the 8th Tirthankara. It was stunning, and there were great spots to take in the views nearby.
It only took us about 15 minutes to reach the main temple from the gate, not the 3,500 steps as mentioned online. Perhaps it would take longer if we visited all 77 temples.
Overall, Sonagiri was a wonderful place to visit.
Information and tips
- You only need about an hour to climb and visit the main temple.
- There are restaurants in the town.
- Dholis are available for people with walking disabilities.
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