Travel Guide

Girnar Lili Parikrama 2026: Dates, 36 km Route, Rules

Girnar Lili Parikrama 2026 runs 20 to 24 Nov. See the 36 km route by stage, last year’s cancellation, plastic ban, water shortage, rules and travel tips.

Aarav Mishra November 6, 2026 · 15 min read

Girnar Lili Parikrama 2026: Dates, 36 km Route, Rules

The Girnar Lili Parikrama is a walk of about 36 km through the forest around Mount Girnar in Junagadh, Gujarat. It is held once a year, from Kartik Shukla Ekadashi to Kartik Purnima, and it draws lakhs of pilgrims. Lili means green, because the route runs through the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary. In 2026 the Junagadh administration and saints have announced the walk from 20 November to 24 November. This guide gives the 2026 dates, the route stage by stage, last year's cancellation and what it means for this year, the forest rules including the plastic ban, and a practical plan. We checked news reports from DeshGujarat, Loktej and Gujarat Samachar, the Utsav portal and tour sites up to 6 November 2026, and we mark every figure that is unconfirmed.

Quick Answer: Girnar Lili Parikrama 2026

The Girnar Lili Parikrama 2026 starts on 20 November at midnight and runs to Kartik Purnima on 24 November, according to Loktej on 6 November 2026. The route is about 36 km from Bhavnath Taleti through Zina Bava ni Madhi, Malvela and Bordevi. Plastic is banned in the forest, and children and elders are urged to postpone this year.

Item	2026	Status
Start	20 Nov at midnight (one passage says 20 and 21 Nov)	Loktej, 6 Nov 2026. Confirm the hour locally
End	24 November, Kartik Purnima (Dev Diwali)	Loktej; Purnima ends 8:25 PM IST by our calculation
Length	About 36 km	Utsav portal, DeshGujarat, Gujarat Samachar
Starting point	Dudheshwar Temple, Bhavnath Taleti	Utsav portal, DeshGujarat 2024
Entry fee	Free	Utsav portal
Plastic	Banned inside the forest	Loktej, High Court order and forest department orders
2025	Public walk cancelled after rain damage; saints did a symbolic walk	DeshGujarat, 31 Oct and 2 Nov 2025
2026 water	Some borewells dry; slight shortage	Loktej

Girnar Lili Parikrama 2026 Dates

Loktej reported on 6 November 2026 that the district administration, saints and public representatives inspected the route at Junagadh, including Collector Yogesh Chaudhary and the saint Indrabharati Bapu. The paper gives the start as 20 November at midnight and the end as 24 November, although one passage says "November 20 and 21". Our reading is that the clock midnight falls between 20 and 21 November, which is when Ekadashi is in force.

We checked the lunar dates with an astronomical library and the Lahiri ayanamsa. Ekadashi begins at about 7:17 AM IST on 20 November and ends at about 6:33 AM on 21 November, so the midnight inside Ekadashi is the night of 20 into 21 November. Purnima begins at about 11:45 PM on 23 November and ends at about 8:25 PM on 24 November. The same method fits earlier years. In 2024 Ekadashi ran from about 6:49 PM on 11 November to 4:07 PM on 12 November, and the walk was announced for 12 November. In 2025 Ekadashi ran from about 9:13 AM on 1 November to 7:33 AM on 2 November, and the walk was scheduled for 2 November. This is our inference from the pattern, not an official statement, so follow the administration's notice for the exact hour.

Year	Dates reported	Source
2023	23 to 25 Nov	Gujarat Samachar
2024	12 to 15 Nov, a day shorter because Teras and Chaudas fell on the same day	DeshGujarat, 8 Nov 2024
2025	Scheduled 2 to 5 Nov; public walk cancelled	DeshGujarat, 31 Oct 2025
2026	20 Nov at midnight to 24 Nov	Loktej, 6 Nov 2026

Tour sites such as Seekatour and TripSaffron also give 20 to 24 November, but they cite no official notice and TripSaffron calls it expected. We use them only as agreement, not as proof.

What Happened in 2025, and Why It Matters

On 30 October 2025 Junagadh Collector Anil Ranavasiya asked pilgrims not to arrive before 31 October because of unseasonal rain, according to DeshGujarat. The next day the administration cancelled the public walk. The paper reports that the 36 km route turned muddy, roads near Bordevi were slippery, and the Deputy Conservator of Forests said erosion had washed away nearly 80 percent of the mud-paved sections. Saints carried out a symbolic walk instead, beginning from the Rudreshwar Jagir Bharati Ashram near Bhavnath Taleti, and most devotees prayed at the foothills.

The 2026 situation is the opposite. Loktej says there has been no rain this time, many borewells have dried up and water is slightly short. The administration is improving facilities over the next 15 days and preparing new borewells. It urges young children and the elderly to postpone the walk because of water scarcity and rising temperatures. The decision could still change if the weather changes, so check the Junagadh administration's notice in the week before you travel.

The 36 km Route, Stage by Stage

The Utsav portal and DeshGujarat describe the same four stages, which also match the commercial guides we read. The walk starts and ends at Bhavnath Taleti, at the foot of the hill.

Stage	Distance	What to expect
Bhavnath (Dudheshwar Temple) to Zina Bava ni Madhi	12 km	Forest track through the Intwa ni Ghodi pass, a climb and a descent. Pilgrims commonly halt for the night near Zina Bava ni Madhi, close to Hasnapur Dam
Zina Bava ni Madhi to Malvela	8 km	Direct, or via Sarkhadiya Hanuman, an optional detour with a visit to Suraj Kund
Malvela to Bordevi	8 km	The steep Nal-Pani Ghodi, where the Utsav portal says most accidents are reported
Bordevi to Bhavnath Taleti	8 km	Final leg back to the start

The stages add up to 36 km. Wikipedia gives a distance of 32 km and a two-day walk, which conflicts with the other sources, so we use 36 km. The official portal does not state how long the walk takes. A tour site says fit walkers can do it in 10 to 12 hours, but it gives no basis for that, so plan for a night halt if you are slow or elderly.

The Chandra-Mauleshwar Temple on the route cannot be entered without Forest Department permission, according to DeshGujarat and the Utsav portal. Gujarat Samachar reports that litter is concentrated at Bordevi, Sarkhadiya Hanuman and Malvela.

Rules: Plastic, Fire and Forest

Plastic is banned. Loktej says bringing plastic into the forest is banned under a High Court order and forest department orders. In 2024, Gujarat Samachar reported that the Junagadh authorities decided on a complete plastic ban in the Gir Eco Sensitive Zone, with only glass, clay and steel water bottles allowed in the Girnar sanctuary.
Take care with fire. Loktej warns of dry leaves this year.
Follow the forest guidelines. DeshGujarat reports that the Forest Department mapped the route and issued public guidelines.
Do not enter the Chandra-Mauleshwar Temple without permission.
Entry is free. The Utsav portal lists the cost as free, with the District Collector's office as organiser.

A tour site says the walk needs online registration with a QR code and an ID. We checked this. DeshGujarat reported on 18 July 2026 that the Girnar administration started a pilot online registration for pilgrims using the staircases and the ropeway, on a portal run by the Bhavnath temple, with a QR code at the site, an ID such as Aadhaar, voter ID or driving licence, and exit logging. The paper does not say whether it applies to the Lili Parikrama, so ask the administration before you travel.

Crowd, Food and Water

Gujarat Samachar reported about 11.45 lakh pilgrims on the first day of the 2023 walk, expecting about 12 lakh. DeshGujarat describes a general annual figure of around a million, and Wikipedia gives more than 800,000. These figures differ, but all point to a very large crowd. Loktej says millions are expected in 2026 and that the collector invited devotees from other districts and states.

Parabs supply water and annakshetras provide meals along the route, according to DeshGujarat, and about 65 food plots were approved in 2025. Do not rely on food or water at every point, since the 2026 water situation is tight. Carry your own steel or glass bottle, a refill plan and some dry snacks. Gujarat Samachar adds that about 15 organisations clean the route each year and that one volunteer group collected about four tonnes of plastic.

How to Reach Bhavnath Taleti

The Utsav portal lists the nearest railway station and town as Junagadh, about 7 km from the start, and the nearest airport as Keshod, about 45 km away. Gujarat Tourism's Girnar page gives Rajkot as the closest airport at 103 km, so confirm which airport your airline serves. Gujarat Tourism also says two express trains run on the Ahmedabad to Veraval line, and that ST and private buses run from other Gujarat cities. Our airport pickup, railway pickup, cab and intercity cab services can arrange the road from Rajkot, Ahmedabad or Keshod.

A Practical Plan

Check the Junagadh administration's notice in the week of 16 November for the exact hour and any route changes.
Reach Junagadh a day early, on 19 or 20 November, and rest.
Register online if the pilot registration applies, and carry a photo ID.
Start with the group at the official hour, with a steel or glass bottle and no plastic.
Plan a night halt near Zina Bava ni Madhi if you are slow, and take a torch.
Finish at Bhavnath Taleti, leave early from the crowd, and take your rubbish with you.

What to Carry

Worn-in shoes, because the ghodis are steep.
A steel or glass water bottle, glucose and dry snacks.
A torch or headlamp, a jacket for the night, and your regular medicines.
A photo ID, a power bank and a small cloth bag for waste.

Speak to your doctor before the walk if you have a heart, knee or blood sugar problem, are pregnant or are over 60.

Where to Stay

Junagadh fills up for this walk, and we have no occupancy data, so we cannot say how early to book. Decide where you will finish, because you will return to Bhavnath Taleti and not to the hotel. Our hotel booking can compare rooms in Junagadh, and our custom package can add Dwarka, Somnath or Rajkot.

Other Dates This Week

The walk overlaps Dev Uthani Ekadashi, Tulsi Vivah and Dev Diwali. For these see our Akshaya Navami and Ayodhya 14 Kosi Parikrama guide, the Dev Deepawali guide, the Kartik Maas guide and the Jalaram Jayanti guide for Saurashtra. Our Gujarat Diwali guide covers festival travel in the state.

For Gujarati Families Abroad

Use the Kartik dates to plan a pilgrimage trip. If you come from the USA, Canada or the UK, plan the Girnar walk after your arrival rest, and read our guides on the trip from the USA and London to Ayodhya for the Ayodhya leg of a longer trip.

Plan Your Gujarat Trip with Your Travel Partner

Your Travel Partner is a travel company based in Ayodhya that arranges trips across India and abroad. We plan the road, the stay and the timing around a festival, for visitors from every state and from other countries.

Airport or railway pickup: airport and railway.
Road transfers to Junagadh and Bhavnath: cab and intercity cab.
Rooms: hotel booking.
Girnar with Somnath, Dwarka or Ayodhya: custom package.
Send your dates, city and group size on WhatsApp or the enquiry form.

We do not sell parikrama passes or collect donations. The walk is free. See the packages page, our reviews, about us and the cancellation policy.

Common Mistakes

Carrying plastic bottles or bags into the forest.
Assuming the walk always takes one day. Slow walkers halt for the night.
Starting without checking the administration's notice, after 2025's cancellation.
Taking children or elders during a water shortage.
Going into the Chandra-Mauleshwar Temple without permission.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Girnar Lili Parikrama 2026?

It starts on 20 November at midnight and runs to Kartik Purnima on 24 November, according to Loktej on 6 November 2026.

How long is the Girnar Lili Parikrama?

About 36 km, according to the Utsav portal and DeshGujarat. Wikipedia gives 32 km.

Where does the Girnar parikrama start?

At the Dudheshwar Temple at Bhavnath Taleti, at the foot of Girnar, according to the Utsav portal.

What is the route of the Girnar parikrama?

Bhavnath to Zina Bava ni Madhi (12 km), Malvela (8 km), Bordevi (8 km), and back to Bhavnath (8 km).

Was the Girnar parikrama held in 2025?

No. The public walk was cancelled after unseasonal rain damaged the route, and saints held a symbolic walk, according to DeshGujarat.

Is plastic allowed on the Girnar parikrama?

No. Loktej says bringing plastic into the forest is banned under a High Court order and forest department orders.

Is there an entry fee?

No. The Utsav portal lists the walk as free.

Can children and elderly people do the parikrama in 2026?

The administration urges young children and the elderly to postpone it this year because of water scarcity and rising temperatures.

Is there a water shortage in 2026?

Loktej reports that many borewells have dried up and water is slightly short, and the administration is preparing new borewells.

How long does the parikrama take?

The official portal does not say. A tour site says 10 to 12 hours for fit walkers, but gives no basis. Plan a night halt if you are slow.

Do I need to register online?

DeshGujarat reported a pilot online registration for Girnar staircases and the ropeway from 18 July 2026. It does not say whether it applies to the parikrama, so ask the administration.

Which is the nearest railway station?

Junagadh, about 7 km from the start, according to the Utsav portal.

Which is the nearest airport?

The Utsav portal says Keshod, about 45 km. Gujarat Tourism says Rajkot, 103 km. Check which airport your airline uses.

Why is it called Lili Parikrama?

Lili means green. The route runs through the green Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is why environmental rules apply.

Can Your Travel Partner arrange my Gujarat trip?

Yes. We arrange pickups, cabs and hotels. We do not sell passes or collect donations.

Conclusion

The Girnar Lili Parikrama 2026 starts at midnight on 20 November and ends on Kartik Purnima, 24 November. The walk is 36 km through a forest with a plastic ban, and this year water is short. Check the Junagadh notice before you travel, carry a steel or glass bottle, and avoid bringing children or elders. For cabs, hotels and a Saurashtra plan, message us on WhatsApp.

Sources

Aarav Mishra Verified Author

Travel Writer · Your Travel Partner

Ayodhya-based travel writer and Ministry of Tourism (India) certified guide. 12+ years guiding pilgrims across the Ayodhya–Varanasi–Prayagraj Holy Triangle. Every guide is fact-checked against current temple timings and local transport before publishing.