20 Famous Jain Temples in India that you must visit

20 Famous Jain Temples in India that you must visit. There are many beautiful Jain temples in India. But here we have compiled a list of 20 Famous Jain Temples in India that you must visit, not only for worship but to experience the exquisite architecture of these temples.

We will not be able to cover all the Famous Jain temples as there are a lot. If you have any suggestions, please tell us in the comment section below. 

(This list is not in any kind of order, but just used to keep the list of temples organised.)

20 Famous Jain Temples in India:

(1) Gomateshwara (Bahubali) Temple, Karnataka

Location: It is situated in a town named Shravanabelagola in Karnataka. It is the most famous Jain pilgrimage in South India.

The statue of Gomateshwara (or Bahubali) situated here is one of the five monolithic (carved out of single rock) statues of Bahubali in Karnataka, India.

It is the tallest monolithic statue of Bahubali in the world with a height of around 57 feet (or 17.3 meters). The other four statues are located in Karkala (42 feet), Dharmasthala (39 feet), Venur (35 feet) and Gommatagiri (20 feet).

On August 5, 2007, it ranked at the top of the list of seven wonders of India with having 49% of total votes in its favour.

It is one of the most famous Jain temples in India. Here, a special event or festival named “Mahamastakabhisheka” is held once in 12 years. Recently this event is held in February 2018.

During this festival, abhisheka of the statue is performed by washing it with gallons of water, milk, honey and eight different types of sandal paste.

(2) Dilwara Temples, Rajasthan

Location: Dilwara Temples are located around 3 kilometres away from Mount Abu in Rajasthan.

There are five Jain temples here, with each one having its unique identity. Each one is named after the small village in which it is located. These are:

• Vimal Vasahi, dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara, Rishabha.
• Luna Vasahi, dedicated to the 22nd Jain Tirthankara, Neminatha.
• Pithalhar, dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar, Rishabha.
• Parshvanath, dedicated to the 23rd Jain Tirthankara, Parshvanatha.
• Mahavir Swami, dedicated to the last Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira.

Many people considered them the most beautiful Jain temples around the world. These are a great example of the architectural perfection of ancient times. The detailing is just scintillating and marvellous.

(3) Palitana Jain Temples, Gujarat

Location: Palitana Jain temples are located on the Shatrunjaya hills in the city of Palitana in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, India.

Along with Shikharji in Jharkhand, the two sites are considered the holiest of all pilgrimages places by Jain community.

Palitana temple complex consists of around 863 marble carved temples spread mostly in the cluster of nine.

The main temple is dedicated to Adinatha or Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara.

It is also believed that 23 out of 24 Tirthankara (excluding Neminatha) have sanctified the hills by their visits.

(4) Shikharji, Jharkhand

Shikharji is also known as Sammed Shikharji. It is the holiest tirtha (pilgrimage site) for the Jains.

Location: Shikharji is located on Parasnath hills in Giridih district, Jharkhand.

It is believed to be the place where 20 out of 24 Tirthankaras along with many other monks achieved Moksha (liberation).

The trek through the Parasnath Hillock that spans over 27 Kms (one way) is once in a lifetime experience and is unforgettable.

(5) Ranakpur Jain Temple, Rajasthan

Location: Ranakpur Jain temple is situated in Ranakpur village in Pali district, Rajasthan.

It is dedicated to Adinatha or Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara in Jainism. The temple has many exquisite features.

Over 1444 marble pillars support the temple. All the pillars are distinctly carved and no two pillars are the same. It is also said that it is impossible to count all the pillars.

There is also a carving of diety Parshvanatha (23rd Tirthankara) with 108 heads of snakes and numerous tails. One cannot find the end of the tails.

(6) Sonagiri Jain Temples, Madhya Pradesh

Location: Sonagiri Jain Temples are 60 km away from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh.

The main attraction of this temple is the Idol of Chandraprabhu (8th Tirthankara) which is 11 feet high.

Sonagiri Jain Temples are also known as Laghu (small) Sammed Shikhar because of its similarity with Sammed Shikharji.

It is spread over 132 acres. There are 77 Jain temples with Temple No. 57 is the main temple where the idol is Lord Chandraprabhu is established.

(7) Bawangaja, Madhya Pradesh

Location: Bawangaja is located in Barwani district in Madhya Pradesh.

It is famous for the largest monolithic statue of Rishabhanatha / Adinatha (1st Jain Tirthankara) which is 84 feet (26 m) high.

Also, the area has 11 Jain temples apart from the statue.

(8) Hanumantal Bada Jain Temple, Madhya Pradesh

It is one of the oldest Jain temples in India dated back to 1686 CE.

Location: It is situated in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

Visually the temple looks like a fortress with many shikharas. It is the largest independent Jain temple in India as it has 22 shrines.

Also, it is the only temple in India where Goddess Padmavati is worshipped.

(9) Khajuraho Temples, Madhya Pradesh

Location: These are located in Khajuraho town, Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, India.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are total 25 temples in the complex including both Hindu and Jain temples.

These temples are famous for their nagara style architecture and erotic sculptures.

There are 4 Jain Temples among 25 temples namely Parshvanath Temple, Ghantai Temple (Lord Adinatha), Adinath Temple and Shantinath temple.

(10) Girnar Jain Temples, Gujarat

Location: These temples are located in Girnar mountains in the Junagadh District, Gujarat, India

These temples are sacred for both sects of Jainism i.e. Digambaras and Svetambaras.

The main temple is dedicated to Lord Neminatha (22nd Tirthankara). It is believed that he attained Keval Gyan and Nirvana here.

There are a total of five Tonks on Girnar Hill where the fifth tonk is of Lord Neminath’s footprints.

There are about 16 Jain temples in total with the Neminath Temple being the largest among all.

(11) Kupakji or Kolanupaka Temple, Telangana

Location: Kulpakji also Kolanupaka Temple is located in Kolanupaka village, Nalgonda district, Telangana, India

• It is a 2000-year-old temple.
• Temple consists of there idols – Lord Rishabhanatha, Lord Neminatha, Lord Mahavira.
• Idol of Lord Rishabhanatha (or Lord Adinatha) is also known as “Manikyaswami” – It is carved out of green stone.

(12) Shri Mahavirji Jain Temples, Rajasthan

Location: It is located in Shri Mahaveerji village, Hindaun city, Karauli district, Rajasthan, India

• It is a famous and important Jain pilgrimage site.
• An annual fair is organised in Shri Mahavirji around Mahavir Jayanti. 
• There are a total of five temples namely
  • Atishaya Shetra Shri Mahavirji
    • • Main deity: Lord Mahavira
      • Here, 78cm high Statue of Lord Mahavira is found during the digging of the earth. It is carved out of sandstone.
  • Shantinath Jinalaya 
  • Parshvanatha Jinalaya
  • Kirti Ashram Chaityalaya
  • Bhavya Kamal Mandir 

MUST READ: Why Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated? Mahavir Janma Kalyanak

(13) Navagraha Jain Temple, Karnataka

Location: It is located in Varur village, Hubli city, Karnataka.

• It is an important Jain pilgrimage site.
• The main deity of the temple is Lord Parshvanatha.
• The temple consists of the largest monolithic idol of Bhagavan Parshvanatha in India with a height of 61 feet (18.6m) and weighs 185 tons.
• The temple also houses statues of 8 other Jain Tirthankara.

(14) Tijara Jain Temple, Rajasthan

Location: It is located in Tijara town, Alwar district, Rajasthan.

• Main deity – Lord Chandraprabhu (18th Tirthankara)
• In 1956, a white stone idol is Chandraprabhu is retrieved from underground.

(15) Dharmanath Jain Temple, Kerala

Location: It is located in the Mattancherry town of Kochi in Kerala, India.

• As the name suggests, this temple is dedicated to Lord Dharmanath (15th Tirthankara).
• The sculptures and designs of the temple are similar to those in Dilwara Jain Temples near Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

(16) Jain Temples in Ellora Caves, Maharashtra

Location: Ellora caves are 29 Kilometres away from Aurangabad in Maharashtra, India.

• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• There are a total of 100 caves out of which 34 are open to the public. 5 out of 34 are Jain caves (caves 30 – 34).
• Technically, these caves are not temples but contain carving of Tirthankaras, Yakhsa (male nature deity), Yakshi (female nature deity) etc.
• Five caves are:
  • Chotta Kailasa – Cave 30
  • Cave 31
  • Indra Sabha Temple – Cave 32
  • Jagannatha Sabha – Cave 33
  • Cave 34

(17) Lal Mandir, Delhi

Location: It is located in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, India

• It is known as Lal Mandir because it is made up of red sandstone.
• Main Deity – Lord Mahavira
• There is also an avian veterinary hospital in a second building behind the temple known as Jain Birds Hospital.
• It is a one of its kinds hospital where about 15,000 birds are treated every year.

(18) Jal Mandir, Pawapuri, Bihar

Location: It is located in Pawapuri, Nalanda district, Bihar, India.

• Jal means Water and Mandir means temple. That’s why it is also known as Water Temple.
• This temple is dedicated to Lord Mahavira.
• It is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Jains.
• On the night Deepawali, Lord Mahavira attained Nirvana or Moksha and leave his body. Jal Mandir was built at the location where he was cremated.
• This temple is built within a tank of water filled with red coloured lotus flowers.
• Foot impressions or “Charan Paduka” of Lord Mahavira are worshipped in this temple.

(19) Nakoda Parsvanatha Temple, Rajasthan

Location: It is located in Mewanagar village, Barmer district, Rajasthan, India.

• Main Deity – Lord Parshvanatha – Black coloured idol of Parshvanatha in the Lotus (Padmasana) position with a height of 58 cm.
• This temple is world famous for the miracles of Nakoda Bhairava, also known as Nakodaji. He is the protective male deity.
• There is also a popular belief that Prasada (sweet offering) is to be eaten within the temple complex. If it is taken outside the complex, then misfortune might happen.

(20) Chaturmukha Basadi, Karnataka

Location: It is located in Karkala, Karnataka, India.

• It is a symmetrical Jain temple.
• Chaturmukha means four faced and basadi is a term used to refer Jain temples in South India. That’s why it is known as Chaturmukha Basadi because it has four symmetrical faces.
• This temple is completely carved out of granite rocks.
• The temple has idols of Lord Aranatha (18th Tirthankara), Lord Mallinatha (19th Tirthankara) and Lord Munisuvratanatha (20th Tirthankara).

BONUS:

Trilok Teerth Dham

Location: It is located in Khekra, Bada Gaon, Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.

• It is famous for its shape as it is built in the shape of Jain Emblem.
• On the top of the temple, there is a statue of Lord Rishabhanatha (or Lord Adinatha) which is 31 feet tall.
• Main deity – Lord Parshvanatha

Saavira Kambada Basadi, Karnataka

Location: It is located in Moodabidri, Karnataka, India.

• It is known for its 1000 pillars.
• This temple is dedicated to Lord Chandraprabhu.