Parasnath

Parasnath is an ancient mountain peak and in the Parasnath hill Range. It is located towards the eastern end of the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Giridih district (Hazaribagh district in British India) of the Indian state of Jharkhand, India. The hill is named after Parshvanatha, the 23rd Jain Tirthankara who got salvation here. In this connection there is Jain pilgrimage Shikharji on the top of hill. The hill also known as Marang Buru (great mountain, the supreme deity) by Santhals and other autochthonous of the region in religious context. At 1365 m Parasnath is the highest mountain peak in the state of Jharkhand, and is theoretically inter-visible (by direct line of sight on a perfectly clearIday) with Mount Everest over 450 km eyeteeth. There is a beautiful Jain temple on the mountain peak known as "Svarna Bhadra koot " ("cottage of golden grace " ).The temple is made of marble.There is another marble jain temple on hill known as Jal Mandir. It is easily accessible from Parasnath railway station. Shikharji This is one of the most holy and revered sites for the Jain community. They call it Sammed Sikhar. It is a major pilgrimage site. Out of 24 Tirthankaras of Jains, 20 got nirvana on Parshvnatha Hills. On the mountain, there are the Shikharji Jain temples, an important tirthakshetra or Jain pilgrimage site. For each Tirthankara there is a shrine (gumti or Tonk) on the hill. The Jaina temple is believed to be constructed by Magadha King Bimbisara. Cunningham noted stone structures in the village, which he describes as a remnant of a Buddhist stupa datable to 2nd Century BCE. Although the site was noted by Cunningham, no excavation held till date. An Ancient idol of lord parasnath is located in valley at Palganj.The idol is believed to be 2500 year old.