Jainism in Bihar

Author(s): P C Roy Choudhary
Publisher: P C Roy Choudhary Patna

Page 41

CHAPTER IV
PARAS NATH HILL. As mentioned before Paraspath bill in Hazaribagh district is admittedly the most sacred spot for the Jains. According to tradition a number of earlier Tirtbankars bad obtained their Nirvan on the summit of the bill.
Parasoath is about 4481 ft. high and it is at about the 200th mile of the Grand Trunk Road from Calcutta. The proximity of the Grand Trunk Road makes the hill easily accessible. This is a spot where tourism could easily be developed. The Grand Chord railway line also has the station known as Parasnath Road. This is also easily accessible from Isri station. There is a Rest Bungalow at Dumri about a mile from Isri station. The summit of Paraspatb hill could either bo reachod from its steep southera side or the visitor could proceed about 10 miles from Isri by the road towards Giridih and take the road to Madbuban from the 16th mile and the bill could be climbed from the northern side. Ponies or Dandies could be arranged at a short notice.
The Temple at Parasnath at the summit could be seen from the distance of many miles. There are two routes to Paraspath. There is one route from Nimia Ghat (also known as Isri Bazar) to the top, one mile of wbich is motorable and the rest is a climb of five miles. The other route is from Madhuban which ruas to about six miles. After 27 miles there is a stream which is called “Gandharb Nala”. Further . up there is another stream “Sita Nala", and the section of the hill from Madubhan to Gandharva Nala is not regarded as very sacred by the Jains. But the portion of Gandharva Nala up to the summit is held to be very sacred.