On Monday morning, as pilgrims routinely started climbing the Shatrunjay hills in Gujarat’s Palitana, suddenly a lion came out of the bushes. It strolled for a while on the main staircase which pilgrims were climbing and went away.
Palitana, located around 4 hour’s drive from Ahmedabad, is a significant pilgrim place for Jains. The Shatrunjay hills located in Palitana is a sprawling beautiful complex of 3,000 Jain temples, mostly constructed over a period of 900 years, with the oldest dating back to 11th century. It is visited by over 5 lakh visitors annually from across the world, most of whom spend considerable time and energy in the challenging climbing of 3,500-3,800 steps to bow down at the main shrine.
The spine-chilling video showing an Asiatic lion calmly walking along the stone steps of Shatrunjaya Hill as devotees and jain monks fled in panic has gone viral on social media.
The incident, has once again highlighted the increasing overlap between wildlife habitats and human activity in the Saurashtra region of western Gujarat.
According to officials, the sighting took place when hundreds of devotees were either climbing or descending the steps leading to the revered Shatrunjaya temples, including the shrine of Adinath Dada. In the viral clip, fear and chaos are palpable as pilgrims scream and scatter upon spotting the big cat approaching along the narrow pilgrimage route.
A young man can be heard shouting in alarm, “Hey brother, it’s coming this way,” while some women urge others to stay calm and silent. In a striking moment of faith amid fear, a few devotees are also heard chanting “Jai Adinath,” continuing their prayers even as the lion walks past.
Forest Department officials later confirmed the authenticity of the video. Forest officer S.D. Baraiya said that Shatrunjaya Hill falls within a forested landscape where wildlife movement is natural. “Wild animals often use these trails to move between forest patches. Fortunately, no devotee was injured,” he said.
As a precautionary measure, forest staff temporarily halted the movement of pilgrims and intensified patrolling in the area. Devotees have been repeatedly advised to maintain silence if they encounter wild animals, avoid sudden movements, and refrain from attempting to film them.
This is not an isolated incident. Lions have been sighted on Shatrunjaya Hill multiple times in recent months, including a recent appearance roughly 1,500 steps from the main temple early in the morning. Officials estimate that around 20 to 25 lions inhabit the wider Palitana region, with several frequenting the foothills and shrublands around Shatrunjaya.
The Shatrunjaya range is considered part of the Greater Gir landscape. In recent years, Asiatic lions have expanded beyond the core Gir forest into coastal and hilly areas of Bhavnagar district, drawn by suitable terrain, water availability, and prey base. As a result, sightings near villages, highways, and pilgrimage routes have become increasingly common.
Lions are often reported from nearby areas such as Adpur, Anida, Gheti, Rohishala, and the Shatrunjaya foothills, particularly during evening and early morning hours. While such encounters create panic, officials stress that the department is working to ensure the safety of both pilgrims and wildlife through regular monitoring and public awareness.
The viral video, also shared by former IFS officer Sushant Nanda, has sparked widespread discussion on social media about wildlife conservation and the need for caution in forest-adjacent religious destinations.
Palitana’s intricately carved ornate marble jain temples are a major spiritual destination and a historic site. It has been in news recently for becoming the world’s first ‘Vegetarian City’.
Also read: Gujarat hosts world’s biggest water conservation meet
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