Can Boys’ Road Trips Be Spiritual Yet Special? Showcasing snapshots from our journey to Palitana — the world’s only vegetarian city.
Some journeys are measured in kilometers. Ours are measured in conversations, laughter, silence… and something deeper.
The fabulous four—a quartet bound by friendship since our college days—have a tradition. Every few years, we escape. Not to luxury, not to indulgence. But to something far more grounding—spiritual sojourns.
Our budget-tight, no-frills pilgrimage trips first taught us that the best memories rarely come from five-star hotels and world-class resorts. They come from shared rooms, from discussions over the dinner options, from quiet moments in temple courtyards — and from the friends who keep showing up, decade after decade.—these journeys have stayed with us longer than any designer experience ever could.
The Road That Brings You Back
This time, it began with a simple thought. Chi Chi expressed a desire to visit Palitana. Nayan turned intent into action—in days. Pratik enthused the group with his sporting spirit. A spontaneous plan. A familiar rhythm
We rolled out on Saturday afternoon, fueled by a leisurely Agashiye Gujarati thali and the kind of optimism that only a 200+ km drive ahead can bring. The Ahmedabad–Dholera Expressway is a revelation — smooth, scenic, and a quiet testament to how fast Gujarat is reshaping itself.
For us, though, distance has never been measured in kilometres. It’s measured in Raaz songs sung loudly and badly, in stories retold for the hundredth time, in debates about politics. By the time we pulled into Palitana, the journey had already done half its work.
Palitana — Where Stillness Speaks
Palitana is not just a destination. It is an divine experience. Words cannot describe the spiritual bliss.
Located in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district, it is home to the world’s largest Jain temple complex—over 900 temples atop the sacred Shatrunjaya Hill. A city where vegetarianism is not a choice—it is a way of life. A place where even the air feels quieter, more aware. The pilgrimage’s flagship temple is dedicated to Rishabhdev, the first Tirthankara.
We arrived in the evening, had a meal before sunset, and made our way to the Shatrunjay river for the aarti — a quieter cousin of the Ganga Aarti, but no less moving. Shatrunjay Aarti was special —soft flames, rhythmic chants, and a sense of surrender that words rarely capture.
Then came the part I love most about these trips: wandering through a small town as it winds down for the night. Something about these places — the unhurried streets, the familiar smells, the easy nods between strangers — that no big city can imitate.
The next morning began at 4 am and we started our ascent at 5 am. Over 3,000 steps lay between us and the summit. We drank no water until 7:30; Nayan, ever the disciplined one, had none at all. The body tires. The mind negotiates. But somewhere along the climb… something shifts. And then you arrive.
At the top—amidst white marble temples, carved devotion, and centuries of faith—there is a moment.
A pause. A presence. A feeling that you didn’t come here alone… you were called.
Darshan. Pooja. Gratitude.
Some experiences are not meant to be explained. Only felt.
I felt blessed simply to be there.
The descent was tougher. The sun harsher. The heat relentless. By the time we reached down, exhaustion had quietly set in.
And then we saw them. Young kids. On a mission to climb the hill 108 times in 30 days. Suddenly, fatigue felt… small. Perspective has a strange way of finding you when you need it most.
We reached and were welcome back with refreshing fennel seed jaggery water and simple food to re-energize us. We took a bath and rested for a while.
By evening, we were back exploring the town: Mehta’s famous pendas, gulkand sweet enough to slow you down, and Palitana’s own version of Jain bhel — no onion, no garlic, all flavour. And after a quick South Indian dinner, we commenced our return journey to Ahmedabad.
Bonding Beyond Bandwidth
As we recollected the spiritual bliss and small town beauty, we knew what was the real highlight.
Us.
We talked till 1 am that first night. Despite the long drive. Despite the early start the next morning. Because some conversations only happen face to face — not on Zoom calls, not in WhatsApp groups, not in the five-minute “how are you doing” check-ins that pass for friendship in adult life.
We teased each other like we were twenty again. We debated Diwali market predictions and what life might look like beyond it. We got philosophical at hours when we should have been sleeping. And somewhere between the climb, the chai, and the laughter, the trip stopped being about Palitana and became about us.
Because friendship doesn’t need an agenda. It just needs time.
So… Can Boys’ Road Trips Be Spiritual Yet Special?
Yes.
They can be chaotic and calming. Loud and deeply silent. Fun… and profoundly spiritual.
They can be silly. They can be both at once. And every now and then, they remind you why some friendships are worth driving 200 kilometres — and climbing 3,000 steps — for.
Because spirituality is not always found in isolation. Sometimes, it is found—
In shared climbs.
In tired smiles.
In inside jokes.
In journeys that take you back… to yourself.
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