Published By: Gurpreet Kaur

5 beautiful Jain temples in India that you should definitely visit

Here’s a list of Jain temples that are worth a go if you are in India

It would not be wrong to say that India is a diverse country. And amidst several Indian religions present, Jainism has found its place too. It is based mainly on three principles, namely non-violence (ahimsa), many-sided reality (anekantavada) and non-attachment (aparigraha). So if you wish to see that culture, here are the top Jain temples that you should witness:

Gomateshwara (Bahubali) Temple

Situated at Shravanabelagola in Hassan (Karnataka), the temple has a 57 feet high and 26 feet wide statue of Gomateshwara (also known as Bahubali), who is the first Tirthankara (Jain deity). The statue, made in black stone, is one of the world’s largest stone structures and devotees from all over the world come to this temple. It is well connected to Bengaluru and Mysore.

Sonagiri Temples

This place is a sacred Jain pilgrim center as it houses 103 temples from the 9th and 10th century. Since most of the temples are atop a hill in Datia (Madhya Pradesh), which is said to be once made of gold, it is hence named Sonagiri (The Golden Peak). The place is believed to be holy as crores of saints have attained Nirvana here, which is closely connected to the Gwalior airport.

Bawangaja Temple

This temple has the world's largest stone structure carved out of one single mountain and the statue of Lord Adinatha, the founder of Jainism, is 84 feet high. Well connected by road to Indore, it is certainly a must visit.

Dilwara Temples

Situated just 3 kilometers away from the Mount Abu hill station in Rajasthan, these sets of Jain temples are famous for the beautiful and artistic marble carvings. In the middle of the forest, the Dilwara Temples were built by Vastupal Tejpal in the 11th century and you can just bask in the beauty here, which is well connected by Udaipur, situated 185 kilometers away. The nearest railway station is Abu Road, which is about 29 kilometers away.

Ranakpur Temple

Between Udaipur and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, in the Pali district of the Aravalli Hills, lies the Ranakpur Temple. It is an important Jain pilgrimage center, again dedicated to Lord Adinatha. Famous for its intricate architectural style, it is made on 1,444 marble pillars and has three storeys. A marvel in its own right, this temple should be visited at least once.

So which temple are you heading to next?