The Incredible Architecture of Jain Temples: Pearls in India's Crown
Jainism is a 4000-year-old tradition that quietly threads through India's cultural and religious landscape. In this journey, we meet temples celebrated not only for devotion but for architecture that many say has no equal. The Ranakpur temple, set among the Aravalli hills near Jodhpur and Udaipur, is a pilgrimage site that embodies both spiritual purpose and stone-born splendor.
In This Article:
Ranakpur Temple: Three Levels, 1,444 Unique Marble Columns
Built in the 14th–15th centuries from marble and dedicated to the Tirthankara Rishabhanatha, the temple rises on three levels supported by 1,444 marble columns, each one unique. Every square centimeter of the sacred space is carved with ornament, including depictions of Parsvanath with 1008 serpent heads and countless mythological tales. Access to this masterpiece comes through Udaipur as the gateway airport, with Falna (Pali) and Abu Road as nearby rail options.
Across the Subcontinent: Shravanabelagola and Delhi's Oldest Jain Temple
Shravanabelagola’s Gomateshvara temple in Hassan district, Karnataka, stands as a beacon of Jain sacred architecture. In Delhi, the Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is the oldest Jain temple in the city and among India’s most sacred, located in the historic Chandni Chowk district.
Pilgrimage Capitals: Palitana, Sonagiri, and Kulpakji
Palitana in Gujarat hosts the largest Jain temple complex in India, with sanctuaries dating back more than nine centuries to the 11th century. Sonagiri, in Madhya Pradesh, sits atop the Shatrunjaya hill; its main temple is known as the 'Golden Peak.' Kulpakji (Konalupaka) in Nalagonda district, Telangana, is a 2000-year-old temple celebrated in Jain tradition.
Kerala and Jharkhand: Dharamanath and Shikharji — Sacred Hills and How to Reach Them
Dharamanath temple in Kerala honors the 15th Tirthankara, Dharamanath. The nearest airport is Cochin International (42 km away). Shikharji sits on Parasnath Hill in Jharkhand, the state’s highest peak; Ranchi airport is 103 km away and Parasnath railway station lies about 23 km from Madhuban.
