Palitana is considered one of the most sacred Jain pilgrimage sites because:

• It sits on Shatrunjaya hill, where hundreds of marble temples are clustered in a single sacred complex. The hill is believed to have been sanctified by many Tirthankaras, especially Adinath (Rishabhanatha), and visiting the site is said to help purify karma and aid in attaining nirvana.
• The main temple at the top is dedicated to the first Tirthankara, and the entire hill is treated as a place where soul-purifying worship and discourses have taken place for centuries.
• There is a strict pilgrimage practice: no food is eaten or carried to the top, and climbers usually descend before evening, reflecting the discipline of the Jain path.

Differences between Digambar and Śvetāmbara views:

• Śvetāmbara Jains revere the Shatrunjaya temples as the holiest complex on the hill and maintain many shrines there.
• Digambar Jains also recognize Shatrunjaya as sacred, but they have a smaller presence on the site, with Hinglaj Mata (Hingraj Ambikadevi) being a notable presiding deity for them on the hill.

In short, Palitana’s sacredness comes from the Shatrunjaya hill’s long-standing Jain sacred tradition, the scale and beauty of the temple complex, and the strict, reverent pilgrimage it inspires.